Event Description:
There are an estimated 2.7 million gamers worldwide – some of those gamers are also individuals who commit sexual offenses. Sexual innuendo, online sexual interactions, and direct conversations about sexuality between adults and children is common in the gaming world. Understanding “gamer culture” and how gaming may be involved in both grooming behavior and committing sexual offenses is critical for treatment providers and probation. This workshop will use lecture and demonstration to illustrate the risks that gaming may pose when sexual offense behavior is involved. The use of gaming consoles to browse the Internet for pornography and store illegal images will be discussed. Other technologies, such as Discord, Twitch, OnlyFans for Gamers, will be included. Internet Gaming Addiction is a current diagnosis being considered for inclusion in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). This diagnosis will be discussed in terms of its possible overlap with sexual offense behavior. Prevention strategies, management techniques, assessment questions, and treatment ideas will all be addressed, along with the positive aspects of gaming for individuals who have committed a sexual offense.
Presenter Bios:
Dr. Steve Kuniak is an Assistant Professor in Lock Haven University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and a Past President of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association. Dr. Kuniak is also a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in PA and clinical supervisor. He holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University. Additionally, he is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dr. Kuniak has practiced for over 15 years in the areas of family counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, as the clinical director of a counseling agency, and in private practice. Dr. Kuniak's areas of professional interest are in counseling theories and practice, anxiety disorder treatment, substance use treatment, family counseling, human sexuality education and treatment, as an LGBTQIA+ community ally, and clinical supervision. His unique areas of focus are on the clinical application of pop culture and gaming. This includes a special focus on understanding the gaming community as a unique culture. He has published and presented on the use of these forms of media as opportunities to build rapport, create metaphors, and to help clients practice important skills. He has been interviewed by publications like the Washington Post and Counseling Today.
Dr. David Delmonicois a Professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Delmonico is a graduate of Kent State University’s Counseling and Human Development Services Program. He conducts research, consultation, and training on topics such as cybersex and cyberoffense. Dr. Delmonico lectures on topics such as Internet psychology, healthy sexuality, and compulsive/hypersexual behavior. He is co‑author of four books including Illegal Images, In the Shadows of the Net, Cybersex Unhooked, and Cybersex Unplugged. He has published numerous journal articles on a variety of technology and sexuality topics. Dr. Delmonico is the founder and director of the Online Behavior Research and Education Center (OBREC) at Duquesne University, co-director of Internet Behavior Consulting, LLC, and past Editor-in-Chief of the Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity journal.
Please note that registration fees are non-refundable once paid. However registrations are transferable.
Also - WATSA is an approved CE provider in Washington State. WATSA is not approved to provide CE hours in any other state. However we will provide a certificate of attendance to you, whether you are a Washington State provider or are from another jurisdiction.
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