Training Description
Best practices in the assessment of treatment progress in youth who have sexually abused have evolved considerably over the past several decades. ATSA Master Class begins by exploring key terminology, including what professionals mean when discussing treatment, treatment progress, and the how and why of change. Developmental aspects of adolescence, criminal trajectories, and sexual development are then examined in the context of six key principles that professionals should consider when assessing treatment progress. As treatment completion is associated with reduced recidivism risk, characteristics of effective treatment providers and treatment programs are identified. Research on the differences and similarities between sexually abusive adolescents, non-sexual juvenile delinquents, and sexually abusive adults is then presented. Finally, methods of collecting session-by-session data on indicators of treatment progress are highlighted, and special topics including the measurement of sexual deviance and trauma are discussed.
Trainer Biography
David Prescott, LICSW serves as Director of Professional Development and as a Clinical Director for the Becket Family of Services. Devoted to building healthy lives and safe communities, he has produced 14 books and numerous articles and chapters in the areas of assessing and treating sexual violence and trauma. Mr. Prescott is a current Fellow and Past President of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), which awarded him the 2014 Distinguished Contribution Award. He also received the 2007 Bright Lights Award from the National Adolescent Perpetration Network. He is a Certified Trainer for the International Center for Clinical Excellence and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. He has lectured around the world, including most recently in Australia, Japan, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Romania, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He also serves on the editorial boards of three scholarly journals: Motivational Interviewing: Training, Research, Implementation, and Practice, the Journal of Sexual Aggression, and Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment.
Learning Objectives
This training is designed to help you:
- Examine seminal research findings in the history of sexual offender treatment
- Discuss key developmental considerations in the treatment of sexually abusive youth
- Review structured instruments designed to assess treatment progress in sexually abusive adolescents
- Describe the important role of trauma-informed approaches to treatment for sexually abusive adolescents
- Identify the key characteristics of effective treatment providers and programs for sexually abusive adolescents