Our Safe Haven:
Navigating the Complexities of Group Therapy with Individuals Who Have Harmed Others

Moderated by: Steven Sawyer, MSSW, LICSW, ATSA-F and David Prescott, LICSW, ATSA-F

Please Note: This session is not eligible for CE credits due to its informal conversational format.

Professionals working with individuals who have committed sexual offenses in group settings face unique challenges that require skill, self-awareness, and ongoing support.

In these Our Safe Haven sessions, we invite you to join Steven Sawyer and David Prescott to explore the complexities of group intervention, from addressing denial and minimization to managing difficult group dynamics and safeguarding the wellbeing of clinicians. Each session begins with a focused theme, evolving naturally into an engaging, attendee-driven conversation shaped by shared experiences and professional insights:

Session 01: Let’s Talk Denial, Minimization, and Offense-Supportive Beliefs
November 11, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET
Discuss the impacts when clients deny responsibility, minimize harm, or rationalize behaviors in group therapy sessions. Share strategies for fostering engagement, supporting accountability, and encouraging meaningful progress in the therapeutic process.

Session 02: Let’s Talk Managing Group Dynamics
December 5, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ET
Explore how to thoughtfully match group members and group composition, give everyone meaningful space, and maintain accountability for harmful attitudes and behaviors. Discuss ways to build peer support and promote confidentiality, creating a nonjudgmental environment where clients can safely explore their issues in their individual treatment plan without fear of traumatization.

Session 03: Let’s Talk Co-Facilitator and Systemic Issues
December 16, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET
Examine the challenges of co-facilitating groups, including interpersonal stress and burnout risks. Discuss standards for providing high-quality, consistent group interventions, address concerns about inadequate supervision or quality of care, and share resources for ongoing training.

These sessions are more than a discussion—they are opportunities to network, build skills, exchange ideas, and contribute to shaping best practices in this field. Join us to connect with like-minded professionals, gain actionable insights, and make a meaningful impact on the quality and safety of group work in sexual behavior treatment.

To ensure that each session is workable, we will limit the number of attendees. Registration for each session will, therefore, be on a first-come-first-served basis. We are charging a non-refundable fee of $8.00 to reserve your spot.

Your personal privacy is our highest priority. These sessions will be recorded for liability purposes only. The recordings will not be shared with attendees or distributed outside of Safer Society Foundation.

Like any group discussion, everyone will have a responsibility to keep it a safe, professional, and confidential space. We will adhere to the codes of ethics of our professions, mandatory laws, and other professional standards. The Safe Haven series is intended to be supportive; not formal supervision, consultation, or legal advice.