Strengths-Based Concepts and Interventions for Sex Offense-Specific Services
Presented by: Kevin Powell, PhD
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020
Workshop Description
Within the field of sex offense-specific (SOS) services, there is growing awareness of the importance of embracing a Strengths-Based Approach. At-risk (at-promise) youth and adults often enter SOS services presenting with mistrust, defensiveness, hopelessness, and/or shame. A strengths-based orientation helps create an environment in which these clients begin to feel psychologically safe, open, and engaged in services. Strengths-based practices assist clients in developing the skills and knowledge for how to lead interpersonally healthy, prosocial lives. If we want clients to learn how not to be sexually abusive and lead prosocial lives, we need to do more than just teach them ‘what not to do’, we need to teach them ‘what to do’.
This training will highlight strengths-based concepts and interventions that are essential for effective SOS services including:
1) Strategies for establishing trusting, positive Relationships
2) Interventions for promoting Hope
3) Meeting Basic Human Needs
4) Strategies for enhancing Openness and Honesty
5) Exploration of Approach Goals
6) Assessing and promoting Protective Factors (internal attributes & external factors) linked to Resilience
7) Targeting dynamic risk factors with Strengths-Based Alternatives
8) Utilization of Solution-Focused questions
9) Promoting characteristics associated with Healthy, Prosocial Relationships
10) Helping clients to be Informed-Consumers about their treatment and life
11) Creating a Strengths-based, Collaborative, Multi-Disciplinary Team
The training content is relevant for all SOS providers across the continuum of care, including clinicians, direct care staff, probation officers, parole officers, case workers, teachers, and caregivers. The content is applicable for those working with youth and/or adult clients.
Teaching Objectives
Participants will…
1) Gain knowledge about ‘what is’ a Strengths-Based Approach.
2) Learn strategies for forming trusting, positive relationships with clients and their families.
3) Gain knowledge about ‘protective factors’ associated with ‘Resilience’ in youth and adults.
4) Be introduced to several other Strengths-Based interventions, including strategies for promoting hope, meeting basic human needs, enhancing client’s openness and honesty, targeting risk factors with strengths-based alternatives, facilitating the exploration of approach goals, and utilizing solution-focused questioning.
Speaker Biography
Kevin M. Powell, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, trainer, and consultant who has been providing assessment and treatment services to at-risk (or what he likes to call ‘at-promise’) children, adolescents, young adults, and their families for the past 3 decades. He has worked in schools, community-based agencies, a hospital, and residential programs including 20+ years in a maximum-security detention center. Dr. Powell is also an adjunct faculty member at Colorado State University in the Department of Psychology where he is conducting research on protective factors associated with resilience in youth and adults (Powell, et al, 2020).
Kevin has written several book chapters focusing on strengths-based, sex offense-specific services. He has also authored a book titled, A Strengths-Based Approach for Intervention with At-Risk Youth (2015) and a children’s book, Our Very Special Bodies (2014). His children’s book helps increase children’s knowledge about their bodies and promote open communication within families to help reduce the risk of childhood sexual victimization.
Dr. Powell presents nationally and internationally on a variety of strengths-based topics to promote resilient, prosocial development in youth and adults. Additional information can be found at www.kevinpowellphd.com.
Note: Continuing Education credits are not available for Post-Conference Tickets.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.