Working With Children With Sexual Behavior Problems

Eliana Gil, PhD, is senior partner in a private group practice in Fairfax, Virginia, the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education, which provides therapy, consulting, and training services. She is also Director of Starbright Training Institute for Child and Family Play Therapy in northern Virginia. Dr. Gil has worked in the field of child abuse prevention and treatment for nearly 40 years. A licensed marriage, family, and child counselor; approved marriage and family therapy supervisor; registered play therapist; and registered play therapy supervisor, Dr. Gil has served on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, and is a former President of the Association for Play Therapy. She is the author of The Healing Power of Play: Working with Abused Children; Play in Family Therapy; Treating Abused Adolescents; Helping Abused and Traumatized Children: Integrating Directive and Nondirective Approaches, and other acclaimed books and video programs on child abuse and related topics. Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, Dr. Gil is bilingual and bicultural.

Jennifer A. Shaw, PsyD, is a founding partner of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education, and has worked in a number of clinical settings and capacities in metropolitan Washington, D.C. She provides individual, family, and group therapy to children and adolescents with sexual behavior problems, depression, anxiety, adjustment problems, and complex trauma. She has been the coordinator of the Boundary Project family-based program in two clinical settings: Childhelp Children's Center of Virginia and the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education. Dr. Shaw has acquired specialized training and certification in conducting psychosexual risk assessments and treating sexual offending behaviors in adolescents and adults, and is currently working toward certification as a registered play therapist. Dr. Gil and Dr. Shaw are coauthors of A Book for Kids about Private Parts, Touching, Touching Problems, and Other Stuff.