Group Therapy with Sexual Abusers: Engage the Potential of the Group
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Training Description
Group-based interventions are the most common modality for treating adult sexual abusers and are used in most structured programs. Defining the type of group (e.g., psycho-educational, support, psychotherapy) defines the process and goals of the group interactions. Group theory informs us that underlying group dynamics are operating in all types of groups and those dynamics can support or undermine the success of treatment. Group theory and the inherent relational nature of groups tells us that one reason we use groups to treat this population is that the relationships that are possible in a group format offer a unique and multifaceted venue for clients to learn new skills and contribute to treatment progress of other group members. The webinar will begin with a short summary of the relevant research. It will then focus on cohesion as a core concept and discuss essential elements such as group agreement and structure, facilitating member to member interaction vs. individual focus, facilitating the emotional climate, and key therapeutic factors. Using the group process to address attachment issues and assessment of group process using available instruments will be introduced.
Trainer Biography
Steven Sawyer, MSSW, LICSW, CGP is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and the founder and President of Sawyer Solutions, LLC, a private clinical and consulting practice. He has published articles and book chapters on a program for men who use prostitutes, sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, a book on group therapy with sexual offenders, sex dysfunction in sex offenders, and sex offender treatment program outcome research. Over the past 30 years he has assessed and treated hundreds of men who have committed sexual crimes and has supervised the treatment of several thousand men in sexual offender treatment. In his clinical practice he provides clinical and consultation services to individuals, families and organizations, serves as a consultant to catholic religious orders on matters of sexual abuse prevention and management, provides clinical supervision services for the State of Minnesota, operates a treatment program for adults who have committed a sexual offense, manages a program for men who pay for sex, and provides individual, conjoint and family therapy.
Jerry L. Jennings, PhD is Vice President of Clinical Services for Liberty Healthcare Corporation. Dr. Jennings plays a major role in the development of innovative, best practices treatment programs in both facility and community settings for a diverse array of challenging and vulnerable clinical populations, including sex offenders, SVPs, felony ISTs, insanity acquittees, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring disorders. He has published over 50 journal articles, book chapters and books, including 10 focused on the treatment of sex offenders and battering men. In addition to co-authoring Group Therapy with Sexual Abusers: Engaging the Full Potential of the Group Experience (2016), he has also published The Mindfulness Toolkit for Counselors, Teachers, Coaches and Clinicians of Youth (2013); Responsibility and Self-Management: A Client Workbook of Skills to Learn (2007); and Breaking the Silence of the Lambs: A Clinician’s Memoir (2014).
Learning Objectives
This training is designed to help you:
- Discover core principles for forming and facilitating effective sex offender groups
- Examine how to maintain group cohesion and a positive therapeutic climate
- Review how groups go through developmental stages requiring differing levels of facilitation
- Learn techniques for managing resistance and differing types of attachment disorders
