Risk Need Responsivity

Presenter: Andrew Tamanaha, Ph.D. & Adriene Meier, Ph.D.

This workshop introduces and reviews literature support for the human service principles of risk, needs, and responsivity in treatment, management, and supervision of individuals who have sexually offended. The history of the Risk Need Responsivity (RNR) Model will be presented. Risk and need assessment tools and strategies will be discussed. Implementation of the responsivity principle, methods for engaging individuals who are resistant to treatment efforts, and discussion of how responsivity improved treatment will also be presented.

Goals/Learning objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify three core principles that underlie the RNR Model.

2. Participants will be able to discuss current risk assessment practices and apply this knowledge to assessing individuals who have sexually offended.

3. Participants will be able to identify at least five criminogenic needs every day in individuals who have sexually offended.

4. Participants will be able to identify at least two strategies for engaging individuals resistant to treatment and the change process.

Dr. Andrew Tamanaha has worked for the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) since completing his degree from the Palo Alto University in 2005. From 2006-2016 he provided sex offender treatment to individuals who were court committed to Patton State Hospital and who also had a variety of severe mental health challenges. He was also involved in the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral psychology training program and instructed on sex offender treatment, sex offender risk assessment, and diagnostic clarification. In 2016 he transferred to DSH-Sacramento where he continues to conduct sexually violent predator evaluations. He served on the executive board of the California Coalition of Sexual Offending (CCOSO) and CalATSA. He has provided trainings at the CCOSO annual training conference and local chapter meetings.

Dr. Adrienne Meier is a forensic psychologist and the founder and CEO of InPsych. She has been retained and qualified as an expert on various civil and criminal forensic cases related to mental health and sexual deviance and offending. She received specialized training in forensic psychology during an APA-accredited internship at New York University's Bellevue Hospital Center. She has also worked within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the California Department of State Hospitals, New York Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. In terms of research, Dr. Meier has published several articles on forensic psychology and developed manuals for sex offender treatment. She also collaborated with the Los Angeles Police Department to evaluate their redesigned academy training program and continues to investigate issues related to forensic psychology and policing. She formerly served on the board and was conference co-chair of the California Coalition on Sexual Offending and she continues to be an active member in several psychological organizations (CalATSA, APA, CPA, and APLS).

This workshop costs $25.00 for ATSA/CalATSA members and $35.00 for non-members. It is free for students.

 Psychological Services, Inc. will offer continuing Education Units.

The American Psychological Association approves Psychological Assessment, Inc. (PAI) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PAI maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

October 21, 2025 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PST