AGENDA

Preventing Child Sexual Violence through Assessment, Treatment and Safe Management

April 8 & 9, 2026 | Virtual Event

The 2026 MASOC & MATSA joint conference is a two-day virtual event. Participants may attend one or both days. Register by March 20 to take advantage of our early bird rate.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2

Day 1: Wednesday, April 8

All times are in Eastern.

8:30 – 9:00

REGISTRATION

9:00 – 9:15

WELCOME

9:15 – 10:15

MASOC KEYNOTE
Do Not Bypass the Center: The Labyrinth Path of Healing

Manni Coe

Manni Coe is an author, traveler, guide, and brother. His most recent book, Little Ruins, was born from a simple but profound truth offered by a friend: “We all have a little ruin inside us.” This keynote gently explores those ruins — not to sensationalise trauma, but to illuminate how healing can unfold with patience, courage, and care.

Drawing on philosophy, lived experience, and therapeutic insight, Manni reframes suffering not as a badge of honour, but as a space where transformation becomes possible. Using the labyrinth as a metaphor, he explores why healing requires us not to avoid pain, but to trust the process and find the courage to return to what we have fled. He explores forgiveness honestly and rigorously: not as a denial of justice, but as a mindset that frees the injured without absolving wrongdoing. Manni offers an invitation: to slow down, to remove fear, to create systems which fund and value effective therapy, and to remember that healing, forgiveness, and justice cannot be rushed, but they are possible.

Manni Coe grew up in Yorkshire and Berkshire, England is the second of four brothers. He studied Latin American History & Culture at Edinburgh University which took him on adventures to South America before he finally settled in Spain. He now lives between Andalusia, Spain and Dorset, England. He works as a private tour guide in both Spain and around the world. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling memoir “brother. do. you. love. me.” and the recently published “Little Ruins.”

10:15 – 10:30

BREAK

10:30 – 12:00

WORKSHOPS | Session 1

MASOC
1A. Bridging the Age Gap: Examining the Emerging Adult Population through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Candice Waltrip, PsyD and Michele Leslie, PsyD

This presentation will focus on a snapshot of the efforts involved in engaging with the emerging adult population (ages 18-25). Discussion will include the clinical presentations of adolescents and adults and how they overlap. This presentation will also cover nuances in treatment and assessment approaches, to aid in appropriate clinical and systemic intervention across developmental stages. Particular focus will involve the utilization of research, attendee participation and real-world application of these techniques in various case examples.

MATSA
1B. Pedophilia and CSEM Offenses: Etiological and Typological Considerations

Sonja Krstic, PhD

Recent research has demonstrated that pedophilia is a distinct category, such that one is either a pedophile or not a pedophile, but that not all individuals who commit sexual crimes against children are pedophiles. Moreover, a growing body of literature has focused on identifying meaningful differences between individuals convicted solely of non-contact child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenses and those convicted of contact or mixed (contact + CSEM) offenses. It is important, both theoretically and clinically, to identify characteristics that differentiate essential pedophiles from others who commit sexual crimes against children. This session synthesizes emerging findings on etiologically meaningful differences among individuals convicted of child sexual offenses, including those involved exclusively in non-contact child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenses versus contact or mixed offenses. Drawing on work using the MTC:CM4 typology, particularly Knight’s fixated–low social competence type, the presentation highlights evidence linking pedophilic interest and behavior to elevated neurodevelopmental symptoms, early developmental complications, and histories of sexual abuse. Recent studies examining CSEM-only offenders in comparison to contact offenders with child or adult victims are also reviewed. The goal of the current talk is to integrate these findings and discuss our current understanding of the distinguishing characteristics of pedophilic CSOs and
individuals convicted of CSEM offenses.

12:00 – 12:30

LUNCHTIME PANEL
Presenting the Work of the MASOC Pathways to the Profession Fellows

Claire Luebke, MSW; Swathi Sunil; and Alex M. Ray

12:30 – 2:00

WORKSHOPS | Session 2

MASOC
2A. Supporting and Guiding Parents and Caregivers of Children with Sexual Behavior Problems
Jacqueline Page, PsyD

This session is designed to help professionals in supporting and guiding caregivers of children with sexual behavior problems. It is relevant for therapists as well as other professionals involved with caregivers. The session looks at caregivers varying responses and provides strategies for engaging and supporting them. Family-centered approaches applicable across a variety of professional interactions with caregivers are presented. While common areas of treatment are highlighted, the focus is on examining psychoeducational content to increase caregiver’s understanding of child sexual development and helping the caregiver increase their comfort and knowledge related to age-appropriate sex education as well as responds to sexualized behavior. Specific attention will also be given to understanding safety planning is more than just rules and exploring balancing safety with the child being able to be a child.

MATSA
2B. BDSM 101 and Kink-Affirming Assessment

Stefani Goerlich, PhD, LICSW, CST

This workshop begins with a comprehensive 101-level overview of the BDSM community, its practices, nuances, and mental health needs. From there, we will explore how to conduct a kink-affirming risk assessment, including diagnostic criteria and exclusions, the impact of anti-kink bias on clinical assessments, and when and how to diagnose a paraphilic disorder. Attendees will gain a working knowledge of how to provide affirming and inclusive mental health care to BDSM practitioners. This talk contains content that is not graphic, but which some folks may find uncomfortable.

2:00 – 2:15

BREAK

2:15 – 3:45

WORKSHOPS | Session 3

MASOC
3A. Beyond Reoffending: Developmental Pathways and Life Course Outcomes for Children and Young People with Harmful Sexual Behavior
Simon Hackett, PhD

Children and youth who display harmful sexual behaviors (HSB) are often understood primarily through a risk-management lens, with responses narrowly focused on preventing reoffending. This session reframes HSB within a developmental and life-course perspective, emphasizing heterogeneity, change over time, and the importance of context, relationships, and environments.

Drawing on his study of children and youth with HSB, Simon’s presentation will explore developmental pathways into and out of HSB, including the roles of adversity, relationships, family systems, and social contexts, and will examine what is known about longer-term outcomes for children and young people into adulthood. Attention will be given to how assessment and intervention approaches can support healthy development, strengthen protective factors, while still addressing harm and promoting safety.

MATSA
3B. Harassment, Coercion, and the Agonistic Continuum: Structure, Covariation, and the Consequences for Assessment
Ray Knight, PhD and Judith Sims-Knight, PhD

Sexual harassment, sexual coercion, and the more severe forms of sexual aggression that the Agonistic Continuum captures have often been conceptualized as categories that are distinct. In this symposium we will summarize the empirical data that examine the structure and intercorrelations among sexual harassment, coercion, and the more violent forms of sexual aggression. We will describe the current empirical evidence, which supports the hypotheses that these three are not distributed as categories but are rather intercorrelated dimensions with substantial shared variance and that those who exhibit these sorts of behaviors share critical developmental antecedents. The understanding of how these aspects are structured, their empirical interrelation, and their common antecedents has consequences not only for how they should be assessed and treated, but also for how to improve public policy decisions about sexual aggression.

3:45 – 4:00

BREAK

4:00 – 5:30

WORKSHOPS | Session 4

MASOC
4A. Toward Justice: Integrating Survivor Needs and Perspectives on Diversion, Treatment, and Restorative Practices in Youth Sexual Harm Response
Hema Sarang-Siemenski, JD, HeidiSue LeBoeuf, LCSW, and Kiah Murphy, Esq.

This session explores creative justice responses to youth sexual harm that moves beyond punishment and toward accountability, healing, and prevention. Drawing from survivor perspectives and emerging practice, we examine diversion and alternatives to prosecution—including restorative and community-based approaches—for youth with problematic sexual behavior. Survivors are increasingly clear: traditional systems centered on prosecution and detention often fail to meet their needs for safety, accountability, understanding, and meaningful change. Many are calling instead for more expansive, imaginative, and effective therapeutic and educational interventions for those who caused harm.

Participants will explore how survivor-informed models can align accountability with repair, skill-building, and behavioral change with the goal of producing better outcomes for survivors, youth, and communities alike. Together, we will consider what it means to pursue justice that is both survivor-centered and future-oriented, and how systems can responsibly integrate diversion, treatment, and survivor-defined measures of success.

MATSA
4B. Evidence-Informed Practices for Individuals Convicted of CSEM Offenses
Katherine Gotch, LPC, CCSOT, ATSA-F

There have been a number of exciting developments in our understanding of individuals convicted of CSEM offenses in recent years. These include greater understanding of the potential differences between those with CSEM-only offenses and other sexual offense specific populations, more refined approaches to risk/need assessment (including recidivism data), and further development of specific treatment interventions. This presentation will provide an overview on the current research and related developments, as well as practical guidance for the assessment, treatment and management of this population.

5:30 – 5:45

CLOSING REMARKS

REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds will not be given unless the conference is canceled. If you are unable to attend for any reason, you may designate a replacement. Please notify the conference coordinator as soon as possible of any changes via email at registration@masoc.net, or by phone at 413-344-0367.

Day 2: Thursday, April 9

All times are in Eastern.

9:00 – 9:15

WELCOME

9:15 – 10:15

MATSA KEYNOTE
The Myth of Interchangeable Evaluators in Forensic Assessment

Marcus T. Boccaccini, PhD

Ideally, forensic evaluators would be interchangeable, reaching the same correct conclusions when presented with the same defendant and case facts. But this level of reliability is impossible for most forensic assessment tasks. Even with the best training, relying on the best available science and practice guidelines, forensic evaluators must inevitably draw some inferences and use some subjective judgment when conducting evaluations, forming conclusions, and offering opinions. It is more reasonable to strive for nearly interchangeable evaluators, with strong, but understandably imperfect reliability, and decisions only minimally affected by evaluator idiosyncrasies. Findings of only low-to-moderate rater-agreement for some instrument scores, diagnoses, and opinions indicate that we still have far to go. Evaluator differences in decision-making tendencies appear to be a key contributor to unreliability in these forensic evaluations, with some evaluators being more likely than others to offer certain diagnoses, opinions, or assign higher instrument scores. This session will present findings from several recent evaluator differences studies, including those examining whether evaluators may have different pre-evaluation expectations that influence their decisions and whether different evaluators use assessment results in similar or different ways.

Marcus T. Boccaccini is a Distinguished and Regents’ Professor in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy at Sam Houston State University, where he has worked for the past 23 years as a core faculty member in the Department’s Clinical-Forensic Psychology PhD Program. His research focuses on applied issues in forensic assessment, with an emphasis on evaluator agreement and decision-making.

10:15 – 10:30

BREAK

10:30 – 12:00

WORKSHOPS | Session 5

MASOC
5A. Strengths-Based, Resilience-Enhancing Services: Key Components for Treating Youth Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences

Kevin Powell, PhD

There is growing awareness and empirical support for targeting strengths and resilience when providing services to youth and families who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This training will highlight key strengths-based, resilience-enhancing (SBRE) components to incorporate into ACE-informed treatment services. The SBRE framework includes twenty treatment components that are organized into six main categories, 1) Relationship Development, 2) Stabilization, 3) Engagement, 4) Assessment, 5) Intervention, 6) Prevention. SBRE services assist youth in adaptively coping with life adversity and acquiring the knowledge, skills, and strengths for leading psychologically healthy, resilient lives.

MATSA
5B. Breathless Ecstasy: Erotic Asphyxiation and Asphyxiophilia

Stephen Hucker, MB BS, FRCP(C), FRCPsych

The presentation will describe the phenomenon of erotic asphyxiation as a cause of death and its legal ramifications. It will also explore the motivations for this behavior based on clinical case reports, interviews with living practitioners and findings from internet studies. The extent of asphyxiation as a means of sexual arousal, especially among young people, is of great concern given the limited awareness of the other dangers of the activity as well as death.

12:00 – 12:30

BREAK FOR LUNCH

12:30 – 2:00

WORKSHOPS | Session 6

MASOC
6A. Foundations, Frameworks, and Futures: Moving Toward a World Free of Sexual Harm By Youth

Kevin Creeden, MA, LMHC; Erica Ogletree, PhD, LPCC-S; Joan Tabachnick, MBA; David Prescott, LICSW; Ryan Shields, PhD, moderated by Meg Bossong, MS

As MASOC celebrates its 40th birthday in 2026, this workshop invites participants to pause, reflect, and re-imagine our field through a 40-year lens. Together, we will look backward to examine the media, philosophical, academic, and practice foundations that shaped early responses to youth PSB, naming both the insights that grounded the field and the assumptions that warrant re-examination. We will then turn to the present moment, exploring the current policy, research, and prevention landscape and how evolving science, social context, and systems have influenced contemporary practice. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on where the field is aligned, where tensions remain, and how current frameworks support (and constrain) our goals for young people, families, and communities. Finally, the workshop will look ahead to the futures we’re working toward and the unique opportunities for change that are possible today. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the field’s evolution, clarity about emerging directions, and inspiration to contribute to a future that is more collaborative, prevention-oriented, and responsive to the needs of youth and families.

MATSA
6B. Panel: Clinical and Forensic Considerations Regarding Sexually Violent Predator/Sexually Dangerous Persons and Civil Commitment
Sharon Kelley, Psy.D., Robin Wilson, Ph.D., & Katrina Colistra, Psy.D., moderated by Kaitlyn Peretti, Psy.D. & Crystal Cookman, Psy.D.

This workshop is designed as a panel of discussants with expertise in clinical and forensic issues related to the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) and Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) civil commitment process. The workshop is considered advanced, and attendees should have a base of knowledge of SVP laws and forensic evaluations. Topics will include challenges in conducting SVP evaluations and testimony, assessing for dynamic risk and protective factors within SVP evaluations, diagnosis within SVP evaluations, application of relevant case law, identifying a nexus between the diagnostic and risk assessment results and statutory criteria, and determining if the civil commitment threshold is met. Panel discussants will incorporate relevant literature, legal decisions, and field experience.

2:00 – 2:15

BREAK

2:15 – 3:45

WORKSHOPS | Session 7

MASOC
7A. Empowerment through Understanding: A Needs and Vulnerabilities Approach to Working with Challenging Behaviors
Anette Birgersson, LP and Christin Santiago, MPA, CTRS

Empowerment is a fundamental aspect of effective treatment for children with behavior problems. By promoting self-efficacy, responsibility, resilience, engagement, collaboration, personalized care, motivation, competence, and positive identity development, empowerment leads to more successful and sustainable outcomes. Implementing strategies that empower children and adolescents not only addresses their current behavior problems, but also equips them with the skills and confidence they need for a healthier and a more positive future. This session introduces practitioners to the Wizard Skills program, with the goal of helping practitioners to work with kids from a needs/vulnerabilities approach using a trauma transformative lens to make interventions concrete, effective, fun, and useful. Wizard Skills focus on how mind and body-based interventions bring treatment to life. They allow everyone the opportunity to learn and practice skills in real time, making new behaviors automatic and maintained by tapping into different parts of the brain and using interoceptive exposure. Wizard Skills helps clinicians teach clients how to practice safe touch, consent, healthy sexuality, and boundaries as well as prosocial skills and emotional regulation. These skills, tools and strategies can be used in both groups and individual settings. They can be utilized as reactive strategies when things have gone wrong or as proactive strategies. They can be applied by everyone working with young people, from clinicians through to school and residential care staff, managers, and parents in different settings.

MATSA
7B. Kinky Defenses: Legal Implications of the Paraphilias
Renée Sorrentino, MD, DFAPA and Ryan Hall, MD, DFAPA

This session will focus on how the paraphilias are understood within civil and criminal law, including their role in cases of criminal responsibility, diminished capacity, mitigation, civil commitment, fitness for duty and disability. The scientific challenges, as well as the inherent biases, in these diagnoses will be reviewed through the lens of the legal system.

3:45 – 4:00

BREAK

4:00 – 5:30

WORKSHOPS | Session 8

MASOC
8A. “I Could Never Do That Job”: Learning How to Respond to Occupational Stigma as a Skill of Career Sustainability

Johnanna Ganz, PhD

Most working in the field have heard the words, “How can you do that?” or “You’re such a good person” in response to sharing their work. These comments are expressions of occupational stigma—harmful or limiting stereotypes that create psychological distance from discomfort. Stigma significantly impacts career sustainability by amplifying work-stress. Yet, many do not know how to respond effectively to these daily interactions. If you’ve ever been exhausted by or tried your best to avoid these conversations, then, join us! We will build participants’ knowledge about occupational stigma and co-create response strategies. Come ready to learn, collaborate, and build new ways of managing the polite comments, the cruel jokes, and everything in between.

MATSA
8B. Attitudes Toward Sexual Offending and Public Policy: Disentangling Offender Characteristics and Respondent Traits
Emily Calobrisi, MA

Punitive attitudes toward individuals who sexually offend are quite prevalent in the United States and encourage the continued implementation of policies that are not effective in reducing sexual recidivism. Understanding public opinion is essential to the passage of laws that prevent further sexual offending. This session will provide an overview of public policies and previous research aimed at changing public attitudes, followed by a presentation of research from several studies that examined public perceptions of risk and policy attitudes. Topics include victim age, actuarial risk assessment, empathy, moral foundations, and rape myth acceptance. Policy and clinical implications of this research will be discussed.

5:30 – 5:45

CLOSING REMARKS

REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds will not be given unless the conference is canceled. If you are unable to attend for any reason, you may designate a replacement. Please notify the conference coordinator as soon as possible of any changes via email at registration@masoc.net, or by phone at 413-344-0367.

Thank you to our sponsors