Conference Agenda & Session Information
KEYNOTE: David S. Prescott, LCSW, LICSW, ATSA-F
How do we thrive in this work and become more effective?
What have we learned about reducing the harms of abuse in the past 40 years? What have we learned about professional sustainability? What have we learned about getting better at our work? What have we learned about finding joy in helping to prevent sexual abuse in our communities?
While our field has rightly discussed the importance of self-care in our work, very little focus has been placed on what research shows about becoming more effective as a practitioner. This presentation illustrates what research has found about what does and doesn’t contribute to professional development and will offer observations on current trends in treatment and how people make difficult changes.
David Prescott: 6 Strategies for Improving Your Working Alliance Skills
Studies have found that the therapeutic alliance is among the most important elements of treatment. Indeed, virtually all models and techniques of treatment are predicated on having a solid working alliance. However, some established forms of bias (such as self-assessment bias and the illusion of explanatory depth) can interfere with the development of a solid therapeutic alliance. This workshop focuses on six critical areas of building a therapeutic alliance. It discusses what we know about the “therapeutic factors” of all treatment models and explores a range of implicit biases that can interfere with the development of the alliance. The workshop considers elements of trauma-informed care that are specific to populations of people who have abused others. It also discusses the formation of “approach goals”. Finally, there is an overview of what is known about intrinsic motivation, and a brief overview of motivational interviewing.
David Prescott: Rapid Approaches to Understanding and Treating Complex Cases (x2)
This workshop uses fictionalized case examples to illustrate how treatment and supervision professionals who work with adolescents and adults can conceptualize cases, develop or revise an individualized treatment or supervision plan, and get treatment or supervision on the right track. Like fitting puzzle pieces together, the workshop shows how to combine an understanding of the working alliance with principles of the Good Lives Model and Motivational Interviewing to get one’s work with clients moving in the right direction. This workshop will be particularly helpful to you if you’ve ever found yourself getting stuck with a client.
Arlene Lechner, M.Ed & Melissa Hochberg, M.Ed: How People with Disabilities Accused of Sex Crimes Struggle within the CJS (x3)
The American Journal of Public Health (McCauley, 2017) states people with disabilities are 13% more likely to be arrested than their peers. People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities are disproportionately accused of sex crimes and face barriers in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Misinterpretation of social/sexual norms leads to arrests and/or wrongful convictions. Suspects, defendants and incarcerated individuals face fear, prejudice and lack of understanding during all steps of the legal process. Professionals in the CJS often lack the knowledge to take disabilities into consideration to ensure justice for people with disabilities accused of sex crimes
Michele Laaksonen, PhD, LCP, CSTOP: Treating the Overlap of Domestic and Sexual Violence
A substantial portion of individuals with a sex offense have experienced domestic violence, particularly in childhood, and/or have perpetrated their sex offense against intimate partners or family members. Many treatment programs focus on treating sex offending, treating domestic-violence offending, or treating offenders’ own victimization histories. This session will help prepare therapists to address these issues within a comprehensive psychoeducation and therapy program.
Michele Laaksonen, PhD, LCP, CSTOP & Senior PO Christy Everhart: Exploring the Relationship between Sex Offending and Gangs (x2)
Extant research provides insights into the characteristics of, needs of, and intervention responses to those who are gang members, sex offenders, and victims of both crimes. However, little is known about individuals with sex offending histories who join or are members of gangs despite notable empirical support to provide interventions tailored to the specific needs of clients. This session will provide an overview of known research and theoretical insights as well as open discussion on this topic.
Lauren N. Jenkins, LCPC, LPC, CCTP, C-DBT: The Emotional Cost of Caring-Making Space to address Chronic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
This presentation will discuss the emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of
working in the caring and service professions and within helping systems, as well as explore strategies to address Chronic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout. Attendees will learn ways to tap into the power of resilience and how to implement a trauma-informed framework while supporting self-care both individually and organizationally.
Alexandria Wall, LPC: Human Trafficking 101: Identification, Impact, and Response
This training offers a foundational understanding of human trafficking, including key definitions, red flags, and common misconceptions. Participants will gain insight into how traffickers operate, which populations are most at risk, and the psychological and emotional impact on victims. The session also reviews the legal framework and best practices for engaging and supporting survivors in a trauma-informed and ethical manner.
Alexandria Wall, LPC: No One Hurts Us Like Family: Familial Trafficking (x2)
This training explores the dynamics of familial trafficking, when victims are trafficked by parents, caregivers, or other relatives. Participants will learn how this form of trafficking differs from other types, key red flags and risk factors, the profound impact on victims, and how to assess whether reunification is appropriate. The session emphasizes trauma-informed approaches and practical strategies for intervention and support.
Jeffrey Aaron, Ph.D: Understanding and Engaging Resistant [Sexually Reactive] Youth (x2)
Young people can be challenging to engage in the best of circumstances, and those in treatment for sexual offenses may be particularly likely to be resistant. From intentional misrepresentation and distortion to minimizing to disengaging, youth may present in ways that prevent meaningful treatment progress. This presentation will discuss ways to identify such presentations, their underlying meaning, and strategies to challenge and re-engage resistant youth, with a focus on presentations common in youth with sexually reactive behavior.
Mario Dennis, Ph.D & Erin Whealton: Providing Effective Testimony in Legal Matters
Mental health professionals working with sex offenders may be required to provide court testimony on behalf of their clients. We believe MHPs have the skills to handle court appearances, and with additional coaching they can provide effective testimony. This workshop will focus on the skills and techniques MHPs can use in court hearings and help attendees reduce the stress of court hearings and provide useful information to the court and attorneys.
Monica Flanagan, LCSW, CSOTP: Counterfeit Deviance: Considerations During Adjudication & Supervision for Offenders with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disabilities.
Many justice-involved individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disabilities exhibit behaviors that appear sexually deviant, predatory, or willfully noncompliant, but are actually driven by other factors. Using case examples, this presentation will provide insights for legal stakeholders and probation officers regarding behavior that may reflect Counterfeit Deviance rather than true deviant sexual interests or intent. Participants will leave with strategies to strengthen presentence recommendations, support fair adjudication, and implement supervision approaches that enhance both justice and public safety.
Monica Flanagan, LCSW, CSOTP: Counterfeit Deviance: Considerations for Risk Assessment & Intervention Planning for Offenders with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disabilities.
Many justice-involved individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disabilities display behaviors that appear sexually deviant or predatory but are actually driven by other developmental or cognitive factors. This presentation uses case examples to help treatment providers and evaluators recognize Counterfeit Deviance, and will provide practical strategies to improve risk assessment accuracy and intervention recommendations that more accurately reflect clients' true needs and risk profiles.
Pennie Hockenberry & Stacey Ginesin, Ph.D: Partnering for Justice: How Pennsylvania Supports Victims and Offenders
This session offers a comprehensive look at Pennsylvania’s system, highlighting how the PA Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) and the PA Sexual Offender Assessment Board (SOAB) work together to uphold victims’ rights while promoting offender accountability and success on supervision. Attendees will learn about cross-agency collaboration, strategies to support victims, and approaches that balance advocacy with effective offender supervision. Ideal for criminal justice professionals, victim advocates, probation officers, and policymakers seeking practical insights and real-world examples.
Michael P. Lasher, PhD LCP CSOTP: The Dynamics of Dynamic Risk & Need Assessment: A Primer for Supervision & Treatment Practitioners
The field of sexual offense management and prevention saw a boom of research in the early 2010s related to dynamic risk assessment (e.g., Hanson et al., 2015; McGrath et al., 2012; Wong et al., 2013). Dynamic risk assessment refers to the process of assessing acutely changing and/or relatively stable factors that have been found to correlate with sexual and non-sexual criminal recidivism. In concept, individuals in the community who are managing these changeable factors, or even working to reduce the presence of the these factors, should be at lower chance to commit new offenses; on the other hand, individuals who are either not managing the presence of these factors in their lives or showing an increase in the proportion of these factors may be at greater risk to commit new offenses, either acutely or over time. As a method of addressing the Risk and Need factors of effective correctional interventions (Bonta & Andrews, 2023), dynamic risk assessment has become a mainstay of practice in our specialty.
This seminar will provide a briefing on the current advised use of three of the most commonly used dynamic risk and need instruments related to sexual offending behavior: the STABLE-2007 (Brankley et al., 2017), the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS; McGrath et al., 2013), and the Violence Risk Scale – Sex Offender Version (VRS-SO; Wong et al., 2003). This training will not provide a comprehensive explanation of each tool’s use; instead, this will focus on the comparative strengths and weaknesses of each instrument as they have developed over the last 15 to 20 years, both from correctional supervision and treatment provision perspectives. Included in this will be a primer on statistics in risk assessment research so that participants may become better consumers of scholarly literature related to this topic.
Brianna Moore, et. Al: Where Do All The Civilly Committed Go?: A Glimpse Into VCBR’s Services
VCBR is the sole inpatient residential treatment facility for civilly committed SVP’s. Since its inception, not only has the field grown, so has our facility and the number of services that we provide. To create more opportunities for program growth and development and educate new members in the field, VCBR will provide updated information about what our facility looks like, review the numerous services provided both within and outside of the facility, and educate others about the diagnosis, treatment, and care of our residents.
David Boehm – Ethics
Keith Fender – Ethics
Terry Tinsley & Jennifer Lang - Ethics
CLOSING: Meagan J. Brem, PhD
Exploring the Application of Cyber Abuse Research to Sex Offender Treatment and Management
Technological advancements in recent decades allow individuals to stay virtually constantly connected via social media, GPS location sharing, and smartphones. While undoubtedly offering benefits for worldwide personal connections, the ubiquitous presence of these technologies has yielded new mechanisms for surveilling, threatening, harassing, and otherwise abusing children, adolescents, and adults: cyber abuse. This presentation will provide an overview of the state of cyber abuse research and explore its application to sex offender treatment. Audience members will learn about the tools and methods individuals use to monitor, harass, and abuse their victims, including the latest technological advancements that allow for covert cyber stalking. Emerging research on the co-occurrence of cyber abuse and intimate partner/sexual violence will be discussed, with a particular focus on risk factors that may increase the likelihood violence and recidivism. This presentation will also include interactive elements to help audience members develop skill in assessing cyber abuse among offenders and promoting healthier online activities.
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Continuing Education (CE's)
The Virginia Board of Health Professions, via the Board of Psychology, will distribute VSOTA Continuing Education Credits at its conference and training events.
The 2025 conference will offer 11.5 CEs.
For information on obtaining CEs at VSOTA events you may contact