At least 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused by the time of their 18th birthday and this number and proportion increase with 1 in 4 men experiencing sexual abuse or assault at some point across their lifespan. The health effects of sexual trauma are often significant and long-lasting. For example, sexual trauma is related to an increase in psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and dependence, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. The majority of the research on sexual abuse, including the development and testing of psychosocial interventions, focuses on women. While that work is incredibly important and essential, men and boys who experienced sexual abuse are largely overlooked, stigmatized or shamed by the public, and sometimes even by health care professionals. This presentation will address myths related to sexual abuse and assault in boys and men, address barriers to their receipt of mental health services, and provide ways that mental health providers can support male survivors in their healing journey.
Presenter: Joan Cook, PhD
Dr. Joan Cook is a clinical psychologist and Professor in the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. She has over 100 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of traumatic stress, geriatric mental health and implementation science fields. Dr. Cook has worked clinically with a range of trauma survivors, including combat veterans and former prisoners of war, men and women who have been physically and sexually assaulted in childhood and adulthood, and survivors of the 2001 terrorist attack on the former World Trade Center. She has served as the principal investigator on seven federal grants, was a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) Guideline Development Panel for the Treatment of PTSD, and was the 2016 President of APA’s Division of Trauma Psychology. Since October 2015, she has published over 100 op-eds in places like CNN, TIME, Newsweek, and The Hill.
Participants of live session will receive a certificate of participation within 2-3 weeks.
