Jonna Fries, PsyD, studied and taught Integrative Body Psychotherapy for 12 years before she began seeking a more efficient method to heal clients suffering from trauma. Her EMDR journey launched in 2012 with Curt Rouanzoin, PhD, as her trainer. Fascinated by EMDR therapy’s elegance and efficacy, she strove to become a skilled EMDR practitioner and continues to devote herself to learning and teaching EMDR for EMDR Professional Training and for Trauma Recovery/EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP). As an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and EMDRIA Approved Trainer, Jonna brings experience and knowledge to her EMDR therapy work, acquired through her doctoral emphases in systems and diversity, experience as an instructor of over 70 courses for The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Clinical Forensic Program, leadership as the past director of Counseling and Psychological Services at California State University, Los Angeles, provision of psychotherapy services to university students since 2008, ongoing consultation to eating disorder professionals, textbook authorship on the treatment of eating disorders, and extensive group and couples work. In her Mid-Wilshire Los Angeles private practice, Jonna specializes in trauma, eating disorders, and couples. See Jonna's Trainer page here:
Darla Dixon, PsyD
Darla Dixon, PsyD, is a Senior Psychology Specialist for the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Trauma Informed Care Program at DSH-Coalinga. At DSH-C, Dr. Dixon has been a group facilitator and unit psychologist for individuals with sexually deviant behaviors. At DSH-C she has developed an EMDR program for patients and provides opportunities to learn about and apply trauma informed care principles to individuals with significant sex offense histories and significant mental illness. Dr. Dixon has delivered presentations on trauma treatment and sex offending populations at DSH, California Coalition on Sexual Offending, and Institute on Violence Abuse and Trauma.
A licensed psychologist, Dr. Dixon received her doctorate degree in Forensic Psychology from Alliant International University in 2011, the same institution that granted her MA in Forensic Psychology. She received her BA in Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology. She is practiced in trauma specific and trauma sensitive interventions such as Deep Brain Reorienting, EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, and the Wraparound approach. Dr. Dixon is an EMDR Consultant, a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and has earned a Certificate in Complex Trauma and Dissociation from the ISSTD.
Maranda Connor, LPC-S, LPC-MHSP, LPC
Maranda Conner, LPC-S, LPC-MHSP, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 12 years of experience in Community Mental Health, licensed in Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. A proud U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Maranda specializes in treating trauma, predatory, and disruptive disorders for both adolescents and adults. Known for her commitment to underserved communities, she focuses on providing EMDR therapy to individuals navigating community reintegration, incarceration, and the criminal justice system. Maranda’s expertise and dedication to supporting these populations define her impactful work as a mental health professional. Maranda D. Conner, LPC-S, LPC-MHSP, EMDR Certified, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, HAP Accredited Facilitator
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Part 1 and Part 2 of EMDR Therapy for Sex Offenders is available available for a discounted price.
Program Abstract/ Program Description
EMDR and Sex Offender Treatment Part 1: Sexual offending etiology and the use of EMDR in the treatment of sexual offenders is an advanced workshop enabling EMDR therapy clinicians to work effectively with clients who are sex offenders, community members with some of the most rigid post-conviction restrictions. Part 1 of a two-part series, this course provides a foundation of sex offender theory and a review of the EMDR treatment of sex offenders.
Theoretical models of sex offending etiology offer EMDR treatment providers a foundational understanding of factors contributing to criminal behaviors and a clear pathway to target selection. Dynamic risk factors (in addition to pointing to EMDR targets) are related to recidivism (Van den Berg, van Beek, Bouman, Janssen, Smid, & Gijs, 2024; Van den Berg, van Beek, Smid & Borsboom, 2020; Van denBerg, Kossakowski, Smid, Babchishin, Borsboom, Janssen, van Beek, & Gijs, 2022), presenting the EMDR therapist with a strong justification for treatment. A knitting approach draws from prominent models of sex offender drivers to ultimately coalesce in The Pathways Model (Ward & Siegert, 2002), a multifactorial model that attributes sexual offenses to cultural values and systems of belief, family dynamics, developmental issues, biology, and situational elements. The origin of the driver is the treatment target in EMDR (Ricci & Clayton, 2016). Additional factors which contribute to sexual offense behaviors include implicit beliefs, vulnerabilities, and self-regulation style (Ricci, Clayton, & Shapiro, 2006; Ricci & Clayton, 2016). These allow for offense behaviors in the right circumstances or when triggered by idiosyncratic cues (Ricci & Clayton, 2016). Early maladaptive schemas have also been the focus of the etiology of compulsive sexual behaviors (Efrati, Shukron, & Epstein, 2020; Keulen-de Vos, Giesbers, & Hulsken, 2023).
Given the severity of consequences of sexual offences (Finkelhor, Turner, & Colburn, 2024), there is a paucity of research and case studies exclusively on the EMDR treatment of sexual offenders. Nevertheless, there are several well-documented cases of the use of EMDR to treat sexual offenses that will be reviewed. Ricci & Clayton (2008) used a penile plethysmograph and the Sex Offender Treatment Rating scale as measures of improvement in the use of EMDR in the treatment of child molesters. A reduction of a child molester’s pathological sexual arousal was achieved over the course of 32 EMDR sessions (Wright & Warner, 2020). EMDR was employed to treat sex addiction, a common correlate to sexual offending (Cox & Howard, 2007). Ten Hoor (2013) used EMDR effectively to focus precisely on the cognitive distortions of a sex offender. Dohrmann (2009) proffered a dissertation in which EMDR was implemented and a reduction in risk of offending was found. Finley’s dissertation (2002) found that justifications for offender behavior were reduced using EMDR. Finley’s paper cites criminogenic factors developed by Hartung and Philbrick (1997) to assist in the effective use of EMDR with convicts with a history of trauma, addiction, dissociation, and personality disorders. Given the overwhelmingly prevalent use and harmful role of sexual fantasy in some sexual offenders, bilateral stimulation was used to diminish vividness, sensations, pleasure, emotional intensity, and sexual arousal of sexual fantasies (Bartels, Harkins, Harrison, Beard, and Beech, 2018; Allen, McKillop, Katsikitis, and Millear, 2022). Robert Miller (2010) developed the EMDR Impulse-Control Protocol, based on his Feeling-State theory of impulse control disorders. Sexual offense behaviors themselves may elicit traumatic memories at levels of other traumatizing events (Clark, Tyler, Gannon & Kingham, 2014), and EMDR was used to treat these offense-related traumatic memories. These theoretical models and studies will provide participants with a solid foundation for the EMDR treatment of sexual offenders.
Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
Friday, March 21, 2025
Course runs in Pacific Time.
| Time: | Course Content: |
|---|---|
| 8:45 – 9:00am | Attendance - Check in between 8:45 and 9:00 for attendance and to clear up any tech issues before we begin. |
| 9:00 - 10:30am 90 min |
Introductions Foundations of sex offender theory Drivers of sex offending and their relevance to EMDR target selection |
| 10:30am - 10:45am 15 min |
Break |
| 10:45am - 12:15pm 90 min |
Standard treatment versus EMDR therapy for sex offenders Review of EMDR treatment of sex offenders |
| 12:15-12:30 pm 15 min |
Q & A and Wrap Up |
| Total: | 3 hours |
This course is open to all mental health professionals. This course also qualifies as an advanced course for EMDR therapy clinicians.
If you have not yet taken EMDR Basic Training, please go to our Basic Training schedule on our EMDR Basic Training home page at EMDR Professional Training.
This course is a CE course. Participants are responsible for checking with their state boards to verify CE requirements.
EMDR Professional Training is an approved EMDRIA CE Provider (#18023), and this program is awaiting approval by EMDRIA for 3 EMDRIA Credits, Approval #18023-.
TRAINING LEVEL: Beginning level
Eligibility for EMDRIA Credits is restricted to those who have completed an EMDRIA-Approved Basic EMDR Training.
Continuing Education Credit: NBCC
EMDR Professional Training is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education ProviderTM, ACEP No. 7569.
This course at EMDR Professional Training offers a total of 3 NBCC CE hours.
Continuing Education Credit is awaiting approval for 3 CEs through EMDR Professional Training's CE partner, CE-Classes.com. See the information below for professional approvals.
The American Psychological Association (APA). CE-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Florida Certification Board
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP. Expires 3/31/2025.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0225. Expires 02-2025
The Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.
The Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.
Massachusetts Authorization Number: (TBD)
Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board – Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
New York Social Work Board – CE-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State EducationDepartment’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
This training does not offer ASWB ACE credit to social workers.
Licensed Professionals should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Certificates are awarded online after completion of the workshop. Participants print their own certificate after registering at CE-Classes.com, entering a keycode, and completing an evaluation form.
To contact CE-Classes.com, go to: CE-Classes.com
Address: 1398 SW 160th Ave, Sunrise, FL 33326, USA
Phone: 954-290-8446
Email: [email protected]
More information about obtaining your CE Certificate for this course is available at the end of the workshop.
ADA Assistance
Facilities used by EMDR Professional Training for on-location training events are ADA compliant. Please contact Michelle Gottlieb at [email protected] should you need any special accommodations (ADA) at an on-location training event.
For our cancellation policy, please go to our Terms and Conditions.
There is no known commercial support for this program.
