Alexithymia: Clinical and Forensic Implications

Description: Individuals with alexithymia often struggle to identify, communicate, and think about feelings and emotions. For instance, a diminished ability to use one’s feelings to guide behavior appropriately in social environments is common amongst those with alexithymia. Other issues include deficits in emotional awareness and regulation, social attachment, and relating to others along with an increased likelihood to express emotional arousal through somatization (e.g., physical expression of psychological symptoms). Alexithymia has been linked to an array of disorders (e.g., psychiatric, substance use, neurodevelopment, medical, neurological, and psychosomatic), risk-taking behaviors, maladaptive anger expression, poor emotional regulation, decreased treatment response, increased burden on caregivers and family members, and a number of social-emotional problems. Designed for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this training provides attendees with a working understanding of the definitions, causes, and consequences of alexithymia. 

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this learning opportunity, attendees will be able to:

• Describe the warning signs, risk factors, and definitional features of alexithymia
• Describe how alexithymia can affect experiences in mental health and criminal justice systems
• Describe screening options for those with alexithymia
• Describe appropriate techniques and approaches to manage and support alexithymia
• Describe cutting-edge research and current gaps in knowledge of alexithymia

*Attendees may be eligible for 1 CE credit**