Extension Program
PLEASE NOTE – This seminar is available to ALL Mental Health Professionals

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Consensual sexting, which has become integrated in adolescents’ normative expression of sexuality and relationship formation, refers to the sending and receiving of sexually explicit photos/videos/texts when mutual, continuous, clear and active consent of both partners is obtained (Bianchi et al., 2017). Non-consensual sexting refers to the sharing of sexts without the permission of the original sender, as well as the sending of sexts in response to coercion (e.g., intimidation, manipulation, blackmail, physical aggression). Non- consensual sexting behaviours, considered technology-facilitated sexual violence (Henry et al. 2018), have also become widespread. Classified as online sexual harassment, female adolescents frequently receive unsolicited sexts (e.g., ‘dick pics’) and unwanted requests for sexts (Choi et al., 2016). While many studies have conflated the two behaviours, the presence or absence of consent has an important effect on adolescents’ experiences with sexting (Johnson et al., 2018).

I will discuss teenagers’ experiences with consensual sexting, including the societal, relational and individual-level factors that motivate teenagers to engage in consensual sexting, and the possible effects on their emotional, cognitive and sexual development (Bianchi et al., 2017; Fortenberry, 2013, 2014). I will then introduce the topic of non-consensual sexting (Mishna et al., 2020).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will:

• Increase understanding of the definition;
• Increase understanding of the meanings of sexting among youth;
• Differentiate consensual and non-consensual

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Faye Mishna, MSW, RSW, Ph.D., received her Ph.D. at Smith College School of Social Work (1994) and is a graduate of the Canadian Institute for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Toronto (1995). She joined the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto in 1999 as an Assistant Professor. Prior to her appointment at the Faculty, she had over 20 years of experience in children’s mental health including Clinical Director of a children’s mental health center. Faye served as the Dean of the Faculty from 2009-2019 and is currently a Professor in the Faculty and cross-appointed to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

 Her program of research focuses on bullying/cyber bullying and sexting among youth, informal cyber technology use in social work/ clinical practice. An integral component of her research entails collaboration with community agencies and organizations. Faye is the author of a book on bullying published by Oxford University Press in 2012 and is co-author of a book on bullying in Canada, published by Oxford University Press in 2015. She has a small private practice in psychotherapy and consultation.

COURSE FEE
$160 Mental Health Professionals
$140 CAPCT Members
$120 Students