Skip to main content

Continuing studies conference focuses on child sexual abuse prevention and treatment

October 21, 2011

Hundreds of professionals who work in the sensitive field of child sexual abuse will participate Oct. 24-27 in a conference presented by the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies.

More than 800 therapists, child protection workers, law enforcement officers, and legal and medical professionals from throughout the U.S. will learn best practices of prevention and treatment at the 27th annual Midwest Child Sexual Abuse Conference. This nationally-recognized conference meets at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton.

“UW-Madison Continuing Studies continues its tradition of being a national leader in providing continuing education for human services professionals,” says Jeffrey Russell, vice provost for lifelong learning and dean of continuing studies.

The conference keynote speaker is Bessel van der Kolk, MD, professor of psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine. He will discuss “Mind, Brain, and Body in the Treatment of Trauma.”

Dr. van der Kolk will explain how new insights into trauma’s impact on body, brain and relationship have spawned a range of new approaches to treatment. Many of these modalities can be considered fundamental shifts from earlier therapeutic paradigms.

A second keynote will focus on “Why Expressive Therapies (art, music, dance) have Potential to Assist Trauma Resolution” and will be presented by Eliana Gil, Ph.D., psychotherapist and director of Gil Center for Health and Play, in Fairfax, Va.

Attendees will chose from almost 40 breakout sessions that cover: healing the incest wound for adult survivors, female offenders, child pornography, behind the mask of a child rapist, post-trauma play, children and internet predators, and more.

The attending professionals will earn licensing continuing education credits while hearing these leading authorities.