The Breakfast Club

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 9:00 am, we are excited to be meeting with Steven Sawyer, MSSW, LICSW, who will be presenting “The Impact of the Facilitator in Group Therapy.”

The group modality is widely used in treatment programs and often primarily seen as a treatment delivery method, but group therapy can be more than just a treatment method depending on how the group is facilitated. A therapy group can provide a relationship-oriented environment where relationship issues can be addressed within the group process and as part of an overall treatment program structure when there is a focus on the member to member interactions.

For example, relationship stability, significant social influences, and social rejection are dynamic risk factors that play out in how group members interact with (or avoid) group peers.

These offense related dysfunctional relationship dynamics present an opportunity to facilitate meaningful connections in the therapy group while concomitantly relieving the pain of social isolation and pattern of perceived rejection they experienced prior to treatment.

How the facilitator engages the group with each other as opposed to engaging in “individual therapy in the group” is key to how the group functions.

Sign up below, and we will send you the Zoom link to join and share with your colleagues.

On Tuesday, September 8th, we will feature a 45-minute training with Kevin M. Powell, Ph.D. on “Key Strengths-Based Interventions.”

There is growing awareness and empirical support for utilizing a Strengths-Based Approach (SBA) when providing mental health services to children, adolescents, families, and adults. SBA is an effective approach when working with clients who are struggling with a variety of presenting problems, including harmful sexual behaviors. This presentation will provide participants with information about key strengths-based interventions (Powell, 2015; 2026), which target eleven areas of healthy development.

The training will be followed by our monthly updates and networking. Please sign up below to RSVP if you haven't already joined our training email list.

On Tuesday, October 13th, at 9:00 a.m., we will host our monthly meet and train with Dana Putnam, Ph.D., presenting “Enhancing Disclosure and Accuracy in Forensic Interviews with Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses.”

Forensic psychological evaluations of individuals convicted of sexual offenses require careful integration of clinical interviewing skills, awareness of bias, and strategies that enhance the accuracy and completeness of obtained information.

This presentation offers practical guidance for conducting forensic interviews in these cases, drawing on the experience of a psychologist who has completed more than 1,000 sexual offense–related evaluations. It outlines an effective interview structure and a structured approach to rapport-building. The role and purpose of the mental status examination in sexual offense evaluations are reviewed, along with considerations for eliciting a thorough sexual history.

The presentation also addresses techniques for discussing sensitive topics in ways that promote disclosure and reduce defensiveness. Additional focus is given to reviewing and processing offense-related reports with interviewees, including approaches for exploring discrepancies and eliciting the individual’s account of the offense.

Overall, the goal is to provide evaluators with practical strategies to improve the quality, accuracy, and clinical utility of information obtained in forensic psychological interviews.

The training will be followed by updates from stakeholders in our specialty in California and networking opportunities.

On Tuesday November 10th at 9am, please join us for our monthly Breakfast Club! Our 45 minute training will be followed by updates from stakeholders in our specialty in California and networking opportunities.

On Tuesday morning, December 8th, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., please join Sean Clark, LPC, CCSOT, who will be presenting “Helping Teens Navigate Pornography: Clinical Strategies.”

Access to pornography is more prevalent than ever, and adolescents are increasingly struggling to make sense of the content they encounter. As legal policy fails to keep pace with rapidly evolving material, clinicians and counselors are often left responding after youth have already caused harm, with many citing pornography as a significant influence on their behavior.

This training addresses the intersection of pornography literacy, sexual scripts, consent and sex education, and sexual compulsivity treatment in adolescent populations. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how pornography shapes sexual attitudes and decision-making in developing youth, and what evidence-informed strategies can help redirect that trajectory.

Designed to be resource-forward and immediately applicable, this training provides practical tools for counselors working with youth who have engaged in problematic or illegal sexual behaviors. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to help young clients critically process what they have been exposed to, strengthen their decision-making, and develop healthier frameworks for understanding sexuality and relationships.

Sign up below, and we will send you the Zoom link to join and share with your colleagues.

Join us for our monthly Breakfast Club meeting on January 12th at 9 am. We’ll provide a 45-minute training followed by our monthly updates and networking. Please sign up below to RSVP if you haven't already joined our training email list.