Strategies for Overcoming Gender Differences When Working with Male Clients
This webinar is for women entering the criminal justice system as mental health professionals, especially those specializing in domestic violence and sexual offending. It is also recommended for male mental health professionals interested in understanding the dynamics of working with female colleagues and male clients to be better allies, colleagues, co-therapists, or supervisors.
An increasing number of women are entering the ranks of mental health professionals in the criminal justice system (including specializing in domestic violence and/or sexual offending). The relational intricacies of female therapists’ treatment of men present special challenges. Graduate programs in psychology rarely address gender dynamics. Thus, early-career women often enter the workplace unprepared to address issues that arise when working with male clients.
In this webinar, Dr. Must and Dr. Pflugradt discuss clinical topics pertinent to women working in the criminal justice system. The speakers also address the different contexts of this work, such as community-based programs and institutional settings. This discussion is recommended for male mental health professionals interested in learning more about these dynamics to be better allies, colleagues, co-therapists, or supervisors.
Who's Presenting
Shoshanna Must, PhD
Shoshanna Must is a full-time practitioner and Clinical Director for New York City office of Empire State Forensics. She is also on the board of the New York State Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (NYSATSA), and an active member of the City Bar Working group which is dedicated to registration reform. She is also the author (with Gretchen Sofocleous, Ph.D.) of a chapter on challenges related to pregnancy in the book, Women Working in Criminal Justice: A Guidebook for Navigating Professional Challenges, by Laura Jakul and Bobbi Walling and published by Safer Society.
Dawn Pflugradt, PsyD, LP, LCSW
Dawn M. Pflugradt, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist (Iowa and Wisconsin) and licensed clinical social worker (Wisconsin) specializing in forensic, correctional, and clinical psychology. She holds advanced degrees in clinical bioethics, clinical psychology, and social work. Dr. Pflugradt has been qualified as an expert witness in multiple jurisdictions. Dr. Pflugradt works as a risk assessment specialist and sexually violent person evaluator for a midwestern Department of Corrections, maintains a private forensic psychology practice, and holds an appointment as professor of psychology at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology. She also serves on the scientific advisory board for the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO), is an ATSA Fellow, and a SAARNA certified STATIC-99R, STABLE-2007, ACUTE-2007 and ODARA trainer.
In addition to her years of clinical experience, Dr. Pflugradt has published numerous articles, practice guidelines, books, and book chapters in the areas of developmental neuropsychology and criminology, the latter focusing on individuals who commit sexual and violent crimes.