Long Distance Consultation An integral component of sex offender treatment is the implementation of a treatment plan. The clinical staff of the Institute for Sexual Wellness will travel to provide 'on-site' services.

Our staff is available to provide telephone consultation and teleconferencing to both healthcare providers and individuals seeking treatment.

services

Training: Professional Workshops

Vicarious Traumatization: The Hazard of Working with Sex Offenders

Few client populations present as many personal and professional challenges to law enforcement as sexual offenders. It is well documented that therapists working with sex offenders can be significantly impacted by their work in ways that can produce disruptions in affect regulation and expression, interpersonal relationships, and sexuality, in addition to symptoms of psychological trauma, such as nightmares and intrusive imagery.[1] The term vicarious traumatization was coined by McCann and Pearlman[2] to describe pervasive changes that occur within clinicians over time as a result of working with clients who have experienced sexual trauma.

The psychological well being of the individual working with the sex offender is paramount to the delivery of effective management of sex offenders. As such, it is imperative that the clinician or correctional official become familiar with their response to offenders and ways to address psychological trauma or victimization.

The first part of the lecture series introduces the concept of vicarious victimization by examining universal emotional reactions to child sexual abuse, the impact of the professional's gender, the role of socioeconomic and professional status and the effect of personal experiences. The second part of the lecture series focuses on ways to manage secondary trauma and job related stress.

Part One: Introduction to terms, concept of secondary trauma, who is susceptible to secondary trauma? Theoretical basis of secondary trauma, psychological symptoms associated with secondary trauma.

Duration: 50 minutes

Part Two: Management of secondary trauma and job related stress. Use of case examples.

Duration: 50 minutes

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[1] Ennis L, Horne S: Predicting Psychological Distress in Sex Offender Therapists. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment 15 (2); 149-57, 2004.

[2] McCann I, Pearlman L: Vicarious Traumatization: A Framework for Understanding the Psychological Effects of Working with Victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3, 131-149, 1990.