This is the proposed content for a correctional staff workshop that has been successfully implemented in various settings; it can be modified according to the needs of a site/facility.

The workshop can be delivered in a single day, or, ideally, over a two day period that allows time for trainee participation in interactive exercises and skill development.

The material is shared here for informational exchange only and cannot be reproduced, implemented, trained or incorporated into other trainings without the written consent of Dr. William Winogron

The training is facilitated by Dr. Winogron, a highly experienced Registered Psychologist with two decades of experience in authoring, teaching, and facilitating correctional programs for staff and management at all levels of seniority. His biography is appended to this outline.

2. A X B = C

• The world’s most strongly held misconception

In this section participants learn the basics about the ABC model of RE&CBT (rational-emotive and cognitive behavioral theory), supported by 60 years of empirical research, which teaches:

• A’s (activating events or inferences about them) do not cause disturbed emotional/behavioral consequences (C’s); rather, A’s plus counterproductive B’s do
• it is important to differentiate healthy distress from unhealthy disturbance
  • healthy distress is caused by negative events and the strength of rational beliefs
  • unhealthy disturbances are caused by negative events plus irrational beliefs
• rigid beliefs lie at the core of psychological disturbance/emotional suffering
  • awfulizing beliefs/low frustration tolerance beliefs/depreciation beliefs
• flexible beliefs lies at the core of psychological health
  • non-dogmatic anti-awfulizing beliefs/negated unbearability/acceptance beliefs
• D (disputation) is the process of converting counterproductive/harmful B’s to productive/healthy B’s

Dr. Winogron Biography

Dr. Bill Winogron is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience in assessing and treating psychological disorders in a variety of clinical settings. His involvement with correctional work began with front-line clinical work in community corrections, and went on to include program creation, training, custom curriculum development, and training of trainers. By theoretical orientation, Bill is a practitioner of cognitive behavioural therapies (CBTs), particularly Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy, the original short-term CBT. He holds an Associate Fellowship at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, where he was trained and supervised by Dr. Albert Ellis (‘the grandfather of CBT’) personally.

In addition to being a seasoned clinician and training facilitator, Bill has authored internationally- successful, evidence-based treatment programs (Anger and Emotions Management Program; CALM – Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it; CALMER – the CALM Effective Relapse Prevention program; etc.) , and has trained, mentored and supervised students, graduate students and correctional staff for much of his career. He is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (Albert Ellis Institute) and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Yorkville University. Additionally, Winogron has authored and facilitated training programs for organizations in Canada, the US, and the UK, both “classroom” and online, on a range of mental health topics.