Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse

ATTENTION ATSA MEMBERS! ATSA thrives because of the dedication and expertise of its members, and we are currently seeking passionate professionals to step into key leadership volunteer roles. If you’re looking for an opportunity to contribute, grow your professional network, and help shape the future of our field, consider applying for one of these exciting positions: *Catalyst Newsletter Editor *Membership Committee Chair *Research Committee Co-Chair *Credentialing Taskforce Member Contact ATSA to learn more about any of these opportunities: [email protected]

New ATSA Blog! Five years after the first COVID-19 lockdown, domestic violence remains a persistent crisis. While support services like helplines and safe homes have expanded, our approach remains reactive—intervening after violence has occurred rather than preventing it. True prevention requires addressing root causes like poverty, mental health access, gender inequality, and intergenerational cycles of abuse. Yet, many of these areas remain underfunded, and broader social trends—such as the normalization of violence—threaten to undo progress. Read the latest from Kasia Uzieblo, PhD on the ATSA blog: https://lnkd.in/gbETPSfc

The 2025 ATSA Best Practice Guidelines for Men offer crucial insights for professionals working with men who have committed sexually abusive behaviors. These updated guidelines provide a comprehensive, research-backed framework for promoting rehabilitation, preventing reoffending, and fostering safer communities. - Informed by Current Best Practices — Covers assessment, treatment, risk management, and risk reduction strategies - Evidence-Based and Ethical — Ensures interventions are grounded in proven approaches - Actionable Guidance — Supports clinical practice, policy development, and prevention strategies Whether you're a clinician, policymaker, or advocate dedicated to reducing harm, these guidelines are an essential resource. ?? Explore the full guidelines here: https://ow.ly/kFg050VlxhG

We’re thrilled to be exhibiting at the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) 2025 Conference and grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many dedicated professionals who share a commitment to making communities safer. This years conference theme of collaboration aligns closely with ATSA’s work to prevent sexual harm, and it’s been inspiring to meet so many passionate individuals working toward this goal. We’ve had incredible conversations at our exhibit booth about sexual abuse prevention, intervention, and how our efforts intersect—thank you to everyone who has stopped by! If you haven’t yet, we’d love to chat. We’ll be waiting in the foyer by registration - come say hello! #ATSA #APLS2025 #Prevention #EndingSexualHarm #Collaboration #SaferCommunities #ATSA2025

Now Available for Download: ATSA’s 2025 Best Practice Guidelines for Men For over three decades, ATSA’s Best Practice Guidelines have set the standard for the assessment, treatment, and management of men who have committed sexually abusive behaviors. Since their first publication in 1993, these guidelines have evolved through multiple revisions—each refining best practices based on empirical research, clinical expertise, and emerging innovations in the field. The 2025 edition continues this legacy, offering an updated framework for risk management and risk reduction that supports practitioners in their mission to prevent reoffending and build safer communities. ?? Download the guidelines today. https://ow.ly/xW3650Vgpra

The conversation around harmful sexual behavior in autistic children and young people is long overdue. Most research has focused on neurotypical adult men, leaving a critical gap in understanding neurodiverse populations. In ATSA's latest blog, David Russell, PGc, Kieran McCartan, PhD, & Sophie King-Hill, PhD explore a multi-systemic approach—one that moves beyond just individual motivations to consider community, social norms, and public health strategies. With increasing global investment in public health approaches to sexual harm prevention, we invite you to rethink how we support neurodiverse children and young people in a way that prevents harm before it occurs. ?? Read the full blog post here: https://ow.ly/fgnN50VbkHx

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Starts with Community Together for Childhood (NSPCC) is proving that prevention is possible when communities, professionals, and civic leaders work together. This initiative is changing how child sexual abuse is understood and addressed—bringing people together to create real, lasting impact. Last week’s celebration of seven years of Together for Childhood showed just how powerful a community-driven approach can be. Now, the question is: How do we take this beyond the four pilot cities? ?? Read more about the initiative and its impact: https://ow.ly/wCZO50V8rXl

Prevention is Our Priority - Stopping sexual abuse before It occurs is at the heart of everything ATSA does. Before, Harm Occurs - We work with children, adolescents, and adults to prevent the development of problematic or abusive sexual behaviors. - We provide interventions and support for individuals struggling with concerning thoughts and feelings. - We collaborate with families and communities to strengthen protective factors. After Harm Occurs - We ensure individuals who have caused harm receive evidence-based interventions and treatment to prevent further harm. - Our work is grounded in decades of research on effective strategies to reduce reoffending and keep communities safe. - Sexual abuse is preventable, not inevitable. Prevention requires more than awareness—it demands actionable tools, resources, and strategies that stop abuse before it starts and ensure those who have caused harm do not harm again. Together, we can build safer communities. If you believe in the power of prevention, we invite you to: - Join ATSA: https://ow.ly/4cKj50V2UhV - Learn about ATSA's Prevention Framework: https://ow.ly/e9Y050V2UhU

Join Dr. Kelsy Burke, sociologist and expert on the cultural dimensions of pornography, for a 60-minute webinar where she will offer a deep dive into the anti-pornography movement and its intersection with religion, culture, and clinical approaches. Drawing from her extensive research, including her book The Pornography Wars, Dr. Burke will explore the complex dynamics surrounding pornography consumption and its broader social implications. Register Today! https://ow.ly/puYK50UXbLv

Prevention isn’t just about stopping harm before it happens—it’s about working with those who have caused harm to ensure it doesn’t happen again. The work of ATSA members focuses on adults, adolescents, and children who have caused or are at risk of causing sexual harm. These are not faceless individuals—they are people with families, histories, and, often, their own experiences of trauma. While some may be in prison, on probation, or in treatment settings, most will eventually return to our communities. ATSA Members help them understand the harm they've caused, develop the skills to manage their behaviors, and create opportunities for positive change. Prevention is accountability. Prevention is compassion. Prevention is the path to safer communities. Talking about prevention is prevention. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAUnUnap