The 35th Training On Management & Treatment of Sexual Offenders is April 6th - 7th, 2022

Research has established a link between early adversity and social, emotional, medical, cognitive, relational, and behavioral difficulties across the lifespan.  Persons convicted for sex offenses have high rates of early maltreatment, family dysfunction, and/or other trauma.  This 3-hour session will summarize research describing the prevalence and impact of trauma and its contributions to criminality, dynamic risk, self-regulation problems, addictions, distorted cognitive schemas, maladaptive coping, and unhealthy relational patterns.  Participants will be introduced to SAMHSA’s principles of trauma-informed care (TIC).  Participants will learn to view criminal behavior problems and rehabilitative goals through the lens of trauma.  TIPs (trauma-informed practices) will be offered to enhance evidence-based sex-offending treatment strategies that reduce risk.

Learning Objectives (3 hours):

1. Participants will become informed about cross-disciplinary research describing the impact of early childhood trauma on neurocognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral development.

2. Participants will learn to view sexual offending, self-regulation problems, and dynamic risk within the context of trauma.

3. Participants will be able to describe and implement SAMHSA’s principles to incorporate trauma-informed care into practice.

Afternoon Workshop: Translating TIC into SOTX Practice: Advanced Skills

Trauma-informed assessment will focus on dynamic risk, diagnostic considerations, and case conceptualization through the lens of trauma.  This half day session will offer a new paradigm for thinking specifically about SOTX treatment goals through the lens of trauma: enhancing client accountability (not simply offense culpability), correcting distorted cognitive schema about self and others (not just distortions about sexual abuse), activating general, sexual, and emotional self-regulation capacities (which translates to relapse prevention), engaging in positive relationship-building and healthy communication skills (reducing intimacy deficits), and

improving the ability to understand the perspectives of others (AKA empathy). Group facilitation skills will be offered to help clients process and apply treatment concepts.

Learning Objectives: (3 hours)

1. Participants will learn to incorporate trauma-informed assessment methods in their case

conceptualizations and diagnostic considerations.

2. Participants will learn to incorporate TIC principles into SOTX goals, with specific and practical

strategies for evidence-based risk-reduction programming.

3. Participants will learn group facilitation skills to address trauma-related interpersonal and relational patterns within group treatment sessions.

This presentation pertains to social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, victim advocates, addiction specialists, correctional/probation/parole officers, and other medical staff.  By encouraging the adoption of trauma informed assessments and service delivery systems, we can improve psychosocial well-being, reduce recidivism, and disrupt the cycle of lost potential. 

BASED ON THE NEW BOOK BY DAVID B. WEXLER, PH.D. AND HOLLY B. SWEET, PH.D.

The rise of the #MeToo movement has generated a seismic shift in how we view sexual harassment and other once overlooked issues in the relationships between men and women.  This presentation will explore ways to distinguish and address transgressions that range from the truly violent to the subtly bullying to the simply gross and juvenile.  The focus will be on helping men who offend or are confused, as well as offering strength-based strategies to help women confront sexual misconduct in personal, academic and professional settings.  There will be a special emphasis on couples whose relationship and sexual dynamics have been impacted by #MeToo histories, with strategies for effective couples counseling that help each partner understand how #MeToo issues are undermining their relationship. 

Based on Dr. Wexler’s new book, #MeToo-informed Therapy: Counseling Approaches for Men, Women, and Couples (with co-author Dr. Holly Sweet), the presentation will guide treatment providers in helping men realize the causes and consequences of their #MeToo behavior, as well as how to make “real” apologies for sexual misconduct they have engaged in.  You will learn clear strategies for confronting male entitlement in a way that actually gets through to men, help men examine ways in which they may have unknowingly “crossed the line” with women, intensify empathy for the confusion and paralysis that many survivors of sexual harassment experience, and help couples form more meaningful empathy and alliances about issues of sex, gender, and power.

In this workshop, you will learn to:

• Develop clear strategies for confronting male entitlement in a way that actually gets through to men;
• Explain how to help men examine ways in which they may have unknowingly “crossed the line” with women in their lives;
• Explore the confusion and paralysis that many survivors of sexual harassment experience to assess how best to help them heal and move forward;
• Help bridge the gap in couples when histories of sexual harassment and sexual assault are affecting their relationship;
• Discover how to help couples examine gender roles and expectations to improve clinical outcomes.

Cultural humility is the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are more important to the client. In order to engage in competent and ethical practice, sociocultural factors in the assessment and treatment of individuals who sexually offend are important to examine. Further, examining one’s competence to effectively engage in such clinical practice is critical. Participants will become informed of cultural considerations in the assessment and treatment of individuals who sexually offend. This presentation will assist participants in identifying cultural factors (i.e., racial/ethnicity, language, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, etc.) during assessment to better inform clinical practice (assessment, treatment, and risk management) in working with individuals who sexually offend.  Apryl Alexander

COVID-19 has impacted us all greatly, both personally and professionally. Even though it is easy to concentrate on the negative, did it possibly redefine what we do and provided opportunities to enhance supervision and treatment after the pandemic?

This workshop will explore how virtual supervision and treatment can be used in addition to traditional in person interactions to enhance outcomes. The presenters will discuss the current research and will provide and demonstrate tips, tools, and techniques to improve virtual interaction. Officer will be able to increase the “dosage” of supervision while targeting criminogenic needs. Treatment providers will be able to increase the impact of treatment. Many of the techniques that are discussed can easily be applied across a variety of disciplines such as treatment providers and teachers. It is time that you take it to the next level. 

The workshop is based on the presenter's Amazon best-selling book "Sibling Sexual Abuse: A Guide to Confronting America's Silent Epidemic." In this session the presenter will discuss the reasons why sibling sexual abuse is a silent epidemic, highlight relevant research concerning its prevalence and how sibling sexual abuse can devastate families and communities. Sibling sexual abuse is a crisis that affects individuals and families across the world yet we do not hear it discussed in public discourse. The presenter will outline ways to confront and work towards stemming the tide in the battle against this epidemic. Participants will leave equipped with the ability to distinguish sibling sexual abuse from healthy childhood sexual curiosity, will have an understanding of the nature and severity of this problem, and will know how to recognize and how to act when sibling sexual abuse is disclosed. Participants will also understand why the team approach is important in making treatment decisions and in the family reunification process. 

This presentation will focus on practicalities and approaches for conducting sex offender evaluations. While court-ordered evaluations will be highlighted, other types of assessments, such as recidivism and actuarial risk will also be discussed. The challenges of interviewing the offender and dealing with his resistance and managing countertransference will be discussed. Finally, Dr. Dennis will discuss effective report-writing and providing court testimony.

This session will cover how to utilize evidence-based practices to enhance client engagement in treatment services, increase client ‘s active participation is sessions including individual and group settings.  Learn some quick and useful evidence-based practices one can use from an assessment to assist with further sessions.  Learn techniques to promote change from a client, without you doing all the work.  Learn concise clear therapeutic tools to be effective in brief sessions as well as being able to add to the quality of the group process.  Focused on EBP and skills to work with the challenging client and increase positive outcomes.  Resource lists will also be available from the training to promote continuing learning.