2023 Pre-Symposium Seminars - Tuesday

The National Symposium on Sexual Behavior of Youth
Be a Voice, Not an Echo
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
9:00a - 12:00p
1:30p - 4:30p
Two 15-minute breaks will be provided.
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Seminar P-1

Risks & Resilience: Youth with Illegal Sexual Behavior: Characteristics, Assessment, & Treatment
Sue Righthand, Ph.D.

During the past 20 plus years there have been significant changes in our understanding of youth who engage in problematic, illegal and/or abusive sexual behavior.  We now have increased knowledge of the varied characteristics of these youth, their offense patterns and trajectories as well as their assessment and treatment needs.

This training will provide a current review of characteristics of youth with problematic, abusive or otherwise illegal sexual behavior, re-offense rates, evidence-informed and supported assessment approaches and interventions. 

  1. Identify important characteristics of youth who commit sexual offenses
  2. Differential normative and problematic sexual behavior
  3. Identify relevant risk and protective factors
  4. Describe evidence-informed and effective interventions when considering heterogeneity among youth and their alternative pathways
  5. Identify assessment approaches for this population

    Seminar P-2

    Beyond Self-care: Managing Secondary Traumatic Stress through a Skills-Based Model (CE-CERT)
    Susan Schmidt, PhD, Amanda Mitten, MA, LPC, and Ashley Galsky, PhD

    This full-day training will provide a thorough overview on the Components for Enhancing Clinician Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT) model. CE-CERT is a skills-based approach to improving the well-being and effectiveness of those individuals working with the traumatized population. The five core components of CE-CERT: Experiential Engagement, Reducing Rumination, Conscious Narrative, Reducing Emotional Labor, and Parasympathetic Recovery, and the acquirable skills within each will be taught through both didactic and experiential activities.
    1. Identify the practical application of the CE-CERT model of supervision to reduce compassion fatigue
    2. Identify assumptions and myths associated with secondary traumatic stress
    3. Identify the 5 core components of the CE-CERT model
    4. Describe how to apply the associated micro-interventions throughout the day

      Seminar P-3

      Rewiring Our Approach: Talking Tech, Teens, and Sex
      Alex Rodrigues, PsyD

      As a result of greater access to the Internet and its ever-expanding resources, individuals, especially adolescents, are at risk of being exposed to inaccurate, and in some cases, dangerous sexual content.  The proposed presentation will provide those interacting with adolescents with a helpful framework for addressing the intersection of technology and sexuality with youth.  For instance, attendees will learn about the potential risk and benefits that the Internet offers regarding sexual education, why adolescents’ development and neurobiology places them at greater risk of unsafe online behavior, key resources that can help frame the issue for adults, and emerging interventions designed to address such issues with teenagers and help facilitate their growth as responsible digital citizens. 
      1. Explain the potential risk and benefits that the internet offers regarding sexual education
      2. Identify risky sexual digital content that adolescents are routinely confronted with in daily activities
      3. Explain how much content can affect adolescents’ sexual understanding
      4. Give examples of ways to engage adolescents in a collaborative approach when discussing technology, teenagers, sex

        Seminar P-4*

        *Please note - attendees will participate in a 1.5 hour session on Monday, February 20, 2023 from 3:30p - 5:00p.
        Implementation of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Preschool and School-Age Children with Trauma-Related Problematic Sexual Behavior
        Benjamin Sigel, PhD, Roy Van Tassell, MA, LPC, and Kate Drewry, PhD

        Though preschool and school-age children with problematic sexual behavior (PSB) can present without co-occurring diagnoses or symptoms, it is common for these children to present with a history of experiencing potentially traumatic events and concerns of posttraumatic stress. Assessment, clinical decision making, and treatment may pose a challenge for providers when children present with both posttraumatic stress symptoms and problematic sexual behavior. As such, this presentation will provide an overview of PSB in children as well as information on assessment and clinical decision making. The primary focus of the session will focus on learning how to implement TF-CBT using evidenced-based strategies to reduce or eliminate trauma-related PSB in children. Case vignettes will increase participant’s knowledge and understanding of applying this information to their clinical practice.

        Attendees will participate in six monthly, hour-long, consultation calls following the training to assist in implementation with clients. There is an application for this training, a pre-test of knowledge, and pre-work that includes readings as well as a web-based training. Attendees need to be professionally license eligible, successfully completed TF-CBT training (i.e., web-based, in-person, and consultation calls), and successfully completed three TF-CBT cases using a standardized assessment measure to assess progress (two of these cases must have actively involved caregivers) to participate in this advanced TF-CBT training.
        1. Identify guidelines regarding determining where sexual behaviors fall on a continuum of typical, concerning, problematic
        2. Cite an overview of traumatic stress and common reactions in pre-school and school-aged children
        3. Identify strategies o assess if the problematic sexual behavior is driven by trauma experiences and sequela
        4. Describe strategies for clinical decision making in cases of children with problematic sexual behavior and trauma experiences

          Seminar P-5

          Navigating Romantic Relationships Safely with ASD: Tips for Maintaining Personal Safety and Enjoying Healthy Personal Connections 
          Kimberly Spence, PhD

          This workshop is intended for providers, care-givers, and community stake-holders supporting youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and will specifically address suggestions for engaging in safe romantic relationships involving physical and emotional intimacy. Strategies for effectively communicating within relationships, dating safely, maintaining socially appropriate boundaries, and skills for navigating challenging personal interactions will be reviewed along with suggestions for the development of interventions. On-line safety, as well as pornography will be discussed in addition to strategies to assist youth in maintaining personal safety in all environments. Current research regarding individuals with ASD who engage in sexually inappropriate behavior, as well as evidence-based teaching techniques to improve appropriate social interactions between youth with ASD and their same-aged peers will be reviewed, along with case study illustrations. Examples of intervention plans and suggestions for program development will be discussed in addition to recommendations for: differentiating various types of friendships, developing personal safety plans, and assisting youth in avoiding behavior defined as sexual harassment.
          1. Identify 4 peer-reviewed methodologies for instructing youth with autism spectrum disorder about engaging in safe, romantic relationships
          2. Identify multiple resources to aid in the instruction of sexuality education of youth with ASD
          3. Demonstrate knowledge of current literature related to evidence-based, sexuality education of youth with ASD
          4. Identify strategies to discuss on-line safety and pornography with this population to personal safety