Conferences & Clinical Certificates

Third Annual Conference and Clinical Certificate Training “Treating the Forgotten Youth: Children and Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems”

December 2-3, 2008

Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, MD

Current research suggests that treatment can be effective in preventing sexual offenses by children and adolescents and reducing recidivism. The most effective treatments take place as early in the process as possible, are community-based and involve a combination of group therapy and innovative multi-systemic therapies and may include substance use disorder treatment or psychiatric care. Each program must be individually tailored through an assessment of the youth, family and environment .The most effective systems include a structure for cooperation between the criminal justice systems and the treatment system.

Schools, foster homes, juvenile facilities and communities are seriously impacted by problems of inappropriate sexual behavior and society is reacting by imposing ever tougher enforcement and registration laws that extend to adolescents. The purpose of this conference and certificate program is to explain the issues, describe the population and effective treatments and develop effective methods to reduce and prevent the behavior while also successfully re-integrating affected youth into their communities.

The Clinical Certificate Training Program, a mentored advanced training program, offers an opportunity for professionals in the field to develop expertise in the state of the art clinical practices for working with this population. Details on the Clinical Certificate Training Program can be found below.

General Conference Information and Fees

Full Conference, December 2-3, 2008: $300

Plenary speaker Dr. Eliana Gil

* Early bird fee: Register by November 1 and pay only $250

Pre-conference seminar, December 1, 2008: $125

Led by Dr. John Hunter

This seminar will be a ½ day overview of the field for those individuals who have not attended previous conferences. Topics will include: research on topic, definitions of terms and current practices and discussions of typologies.

Certificate training program: $2200

The Basic Level I Certificate program will begin in September 2008, with two full days of training, and conlcude in February 2009. As part of the Certificate program, the trainees will attend the Conference on December 2 and 3, 2008. (The conference fee is included in the Certificate Payment). The remaining days of the training will be scheduled as a group and conclude in February 2009.

Training will include didactic lessons and interactive exercises as well as one-to-one supervision on projects and homework. Each trainee will be recognized as a recipient of specialized training in all facets of work related to treating this special population. Providers interested in contracts with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services will be able to use this Certificate as evidence of basic proficiency. More advanced training and clinical supervision as well as more specific training in one area such as assessments will be available in the future. Please contact Deborah Agus at 410 367 5878 or agus@mhpilt.org with further questions.

Schedule

Pre-Conference Seminar 

Topics to include:

Dr. Eliana Gil

For certificate application and information call or e-mail.

For exhibitor application click here.

For online registration click here.

Plenary Speakers

Dr. Eliana Gil

Dr. Eliana Gil is Director of Clinical Services for Childhelp, Inc. Her office is located at Childhelp Children's Services of Virginia in Fairfax, Virginia (CCCV). She is developing a child abuse and neglect treatment program that provides specialized services to children and their families. Dr. Gil spent the last seven years as founder and coordinator of an abused children’s treatment program in Northern Virginia. She is a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, Registered Art Therapist, and a licensed Marriage, Family, Child Counselor who received her doctorate in family therapy from the California Graduate School of Family Psychology in San Rafael, California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse. She is also former President of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Gil was an adjunct faculty member of Virginia Tech's family therapy program for over ten years and has also taught classes at several local universities.

Dr. Gil has written numerous materials on child abuse and related topics and has a number of educational videotapes that feature her work. Her most recent book for a professional audience is Helping abused and traumatized children: Integrating directive and nondirective approaches. Other books include Cultural issues in play therapy (with Dr. Athena Drewes); Treating abused adolescents; Systemic Treatment of Families who Abuse; The healing power of play; Play in family therapy; and Sexualized children: Assessment and treatment of sexualized children and children who molest (with Dr. Toni Cavanagh Johnson). She has also written several popular books for lay audiences including Outgrowing the Pain and Outgrowing the Pain Together. Several of her books are in other languages, including Spanish.

Additional information on Dr. Gil can be found at http://www.elianagil.com/bio.php