Dr. Kimberly Ernest, PhD, LPC (Read Bio)
**Participants Must Attend Both Days In Their Entirety**
**PCS Family Based staff must attend in person and email scwright@pacounseling.com to register if they wish to receive the stipend.**
This training program for direct care professionals is designed to equip trainees working with child sexual abuse victims (age 12 and younger) who may exhibit problematic sexual behaviors with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to provide effective care, support, and intervention. This program aims to enhance participants' understanding of the complex dynamics involved in these cases and provide evidence-based strategies to promote healing, safety, and positive outcomes for the children in their care.
Many children exhibit age appropriate bodily exploration and experimentation, and much of this can be considered developmentally normative. However, children who have been victimized by previous sexual abuse may demonstrate a preoccupation with sexual exploration, problematic sexual acting out or reactive sexual exploration with other children, or preoccupation with masturbation, exhibition of their genitals or pornography use.
This training will explore how to use the therapeutic model of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT), play therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to assist the child’s natural ecosystem in healing from the traumatic events and addressing these high risk reactive behaviors in a safe and affirming way. Trainees are expected to attend both days in their entirety and must complete the pre- and post- tests.
This training is funded in part by the Endowment Act and a competitive grant awarded through the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Children’s Advocacy Center.
6.00 APA CE Credits For Psychologists, Social Workers or Professional Counselors
(See Additional Credit Details)
PCS Training Center
203 North 5th Street
Lebanon, PA 17046
*Also available through Zoom*
Cancellations: PCS reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any training at any time (in which case you will have the option to receive a full refund or attend on the rescheduled date).
Refunds: Participants may cancel their registration(s) at any time prior to the training date. A 10% cancellation fee will be deducted from the original registration fee, and the remainder will be refunded. No refund will be provided if the cancellation occurs within two weeks of the training date.
Kimberly Ernest lives in Hummelstown, PA, with her husband and two young boys. Kimberly holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in experimental psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas. Kimberly is currently a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed professional counselor. She presently serves as the Executive Vice President & Vice President of Criminal Justice and Recovery Programs for Pennsylvania Counseling Services.