Since 2002 I have had the honor of facilitating individual and family therapy sessions. My clinical practice has included a specialized focus on children, youth, and families; interpersonal trauma; and juvenile delinquency in both community based and residential settings.

I serve as a forensic evaluator and expert witness for victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, consultant on trauma informed care and intervention practices to child welfare organizations and adult treatment facilities, and clinical supervisor to graduate level practitioners and students.

My research focuses on the grooming behaviors of adult sex offenders, differential impact trauma has on individuals, and various interventions intended to address this. I have presented at state, national, and international conferences, and have authored peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters related to trauma and sexual aggression. The vision of my professional pursuits is to promote hope, growth, and resilience.

Selected Publications

• Pruitt, D.K., & Wolf, M.R. (in editing). Sexual grooming: A practitioner’s guide. Safer Society Press
• Pruitt, D.K., Wolf, M.R., & Leet, T. (2023). Understanding themselves: Self-reports of grooming behaviors in males who caused sexual harm. Journal of Forensic Social Work: https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.1936-9298.2023.7.1.123-131
• Pruitt, D.K. & Glennon, A.S. (2022). Self-care for clinicians during remote sessions: Adapting to the new world. Journal of Human Behavior and Social Environment.
• Pruitt, D.K., & Kozik, P. (April 2022). Trauma, adversity, and the classroom teacher: Systematically planning for safety and resiliency. Children and Trauma: Critical Perspectives for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Educational Communities. Myers Educational Press.
• Wolf, M.R., Pruitt, D.K., & Leet, T. (2021) Lessons learned: Creation and testing of a scale for sex offenders’ perceptions of their grooming behaviors. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. Doi: 10.1080/10538712.2021.1970681.
• Wolf, M.R., & Pruitt, D.K. (2019). Grooming hurts too: The effects of perpetrator grooming types on trauma symptoms in adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 28(3), 345-359. Doi: 10.1080/10538712.2019.1579292.
• Glennon, A., Pruitt, D.K., & Polmanteer, R.S.R. (2019). Integrating self-care into clinical practice with trauma clients. Journal of Human Behavior and Social Environment, 29(1), 48-56. Doi: 10.1080/10911359.2018.1473189.
• Wolf, M.R., Linn, B.K., & Pruitt, D.K. (2018). Grooming child victims into sexual abuse: A psychometric analysis of survivors’ experiences. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 24(2), 214-223. Doi:10.1080/13552600.2018.1504555.
• Pruitt, D.K., & Dulmus, C. (April 2016). Child sex offenders. Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies (Invited).
• Green, S., & Pruitt, D.K. (October 2013). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Encyclopedia of Social Work (online).
• Pruitt, D.K. (2012). A paradigm shift: A collaborative trauma informed approach to residential treatment for youth who have engaged in sexual harm. In B.K. Schwartz (Eds.), The Sex Offender, vol. 7, (pp. 23-1-23-20).
• Pruitt, D.K. & Dulmus, C.N. (2010). School-based interventions for sexually aggressive youth with developmental disabilities. School Social Work Journal, 34(2), 56-70.

Selected Presentations:

• Wolf, M.R., Pruitt, D.K., & Leet, T. (2024, January). Research with convicted sex offenders: Should we trust the results? [Poster Presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
• Pruitt, D.K., Wolf, M.R., & Leet, T. (2023, April). Identifying and responding to sexual grooming in diverse settings. [60-minute workshop]. Minnesota Social Service Association’s 130th Annual Training and Conference Expo. Minneapolis, MN.
• Pruitt, D.K., Wolf, M.R., & Leet, T. (2022, July). Sex offender grooming assessment (SOGA): Validation and implications of a new tool. [Panel Presentation]. International Academy of Law and Mental Health Bi-Annual Conference, Lyon, France.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2022, June). Professional partnerships are social justice with youth who cause sexual harm. [Poster Presentation]. The National Organization of Forensic Social Work Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Leet, T., Pruitt, D.K., & Wolf, M.R. (2022, June). Sex offenders’ perceptions of their grooming behaviors [60-minute workshop]. The National Organization of Forensic Social Work Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Pruitt, D.K., Leet, T., & Wolf, M.R. (2022, May). Reimagining sex offender treatment by focusing on grooming. [Paper Presentation]. New York State Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse and The Alliance Virtual Joint Conference Annual Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY.
• Wolf, M.R., Pruitt, D.K., & Leet, T. (2022, January). Research with convicted sex offenders: Should we trust the results? [Poster Presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
• Pruitt, D.K. , (2021, October). Model: CAC and offender providers collaborating to improve care. [Paper session]. Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse Annual Conference [Presented Virtually].
• Wolf, M. R., Pruitt, D. K. , & Leet, T. (2021, May). Lessons learned: Creation and testing of a scale for sex offenders’ perceptions of their grooming behaviors. [Paper Presentation]. New York State Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse and The Alliance Virtual Joint Conference Annual Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY. [Presented Virtually].
• Pruitt, D.K., & Hanggi, M.A. (2019, July). Psychotropic medication with youth who cause sexual harm: A valid treatment method or chemical restraint? Paper session presented at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health Conference, Rome, Italy.>
• Pruitt, D.K., & Wolf, M.R. (2019, May). Grooming behaviors: Findings on the impact on adult survivors of child sexual abuse and implications for treatment. Presentation at the New York State Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY.>
• Pruitt, D.K. (2018, November). Therapeutic considerations when a client is both victim and aggressor. Poster presentation presented to Council of Social Work Education Annual Program Conference, Orlando, Florida.
• Wolf, M.R., & Pruitt, D.K. (2018, January). Grooming children into child sexual abuse and its effects on adult trauma symptoms. Oral presentation presented at Society for Social Work and Research, Washington D.C.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2017, October). Reducing Risk of Recidivism by Fostering Resiliency: An Examination of the Impact a Restorative Treatment Program Has on Juvenile Sex Offender Outcomes. Paper session presented at the 10th European Congress on Violence in Clinical Psychiatry, Dublin, Ireland.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2017, July). Trauma therapy as a means of reducing post-traumatic symptomology in juvenile sex offenders. Does it work? Paper session presented at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.
• Wolf, M.R. & Pruitt, D.K. (2017, June). Perpetrator Grooming and its Effects on Trauma Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. Poster Session at the NYS Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse Annual Conference, Albany, NY.
• Pruitt, D.K. & Nochajski, T.H. (2015, July). A community-based adaptive sports program for disabled veterans with PTSD and/or TBI. Paper session presented at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health Conference, Vienna, Austria.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2014, October). Healing trauma and promoting resiliency: Impact of family involvement with treatment of male juvenile sex offenders. Paper session presented at the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse Annual Conference, San Diego, California.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2014, September). The restorative power of connections: Findings on how family and community-member presence during residential treatment of male juvenile sex offenders impacts their resiliency and psychological outcomes. Poster presentation at the bi-annual International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders Conference, Porto, Portugal.
• Pruitt, D.K. (2014, April). Transitioning families from risk to protective factors: How family involvement in the treatment of traumatized youth can improve outcomes. Paper session presented at the meeting of the Global Social Science Conference, Hong Kong, China.<
• Pruitt, D.K. (2014, April). The role of trauma-informed and youth development perspectives in community-based care of youth who cause sexual harm. Paper session presented at the meeting of the Global Social Science Conference, Hong Kong, China.
• Coombes, M., & Pruitt, D.K. (2014, April). Minimizing denial, maximizing engagement: Understanding and working with differential responses of non-offending parents to the disclosure of sexual abuse. Paper session presented at the meeting of the Global Social Science Conference, Hong Kong, China.
• Pruitt, D.K. & Adler, H.B. (2011, November). Family finding: Identifying and utilizing family resources for post-discharge success. Poster session presented at the meeting of the National Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse Annual Conference, Toronto, Ontario.

My mission as a social work educator is to foster inquiry, insight, cultural humility, and excitement into the thinking and professional values of the next generation of social work practitioners. It is not enough to simply bestow information. To be successful in the profession, students must develop critical thinking skills that promote effective problem solving in a manner that empowers clients, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, is trauma informed, and adheres to the NASW code of ethics.

Students must anticipate, recognize, and effectively respond to changing systems, technological advancements, evolving public policies, and social landscapes. This requires provision of conceptual information, opportunities to safely practice newly developed skills, and encouraging students to ignite, or further cultivate, their own personal motivation to develop and master the competencies necessary for social work practice. 

To cultivate critical thinking, achieve the learning goals and objectives of the course, and foster development of CSWE competencies, I utilize Socratic questioning that is complimented by relevant readings, class discussion, organized visual material handouts, activities conducted in and outside of the classroom setting, and media resources. When applicable I bring my own clinical experience into class as well as relevant guest speakers. Infusing practice examples into class discussion instills a sense of relevancy of the material and empirical application of concepts, knowledge, and skills into direct practice.

My teaching experience is inclusive of undergraduate and graduate instruction in a traditional, hybrid, and fully online format. Course lengths have ranged from 7 to 15 weeks long. I am comfortable using various learning management systems and integrating technology into lessons. While I have focused primarily on social work courses, I have experience teaching in other disciplines.

The majority of students I taught have been first-generation, nontraditional, and working caretakers. This requires consideration of needs not typically present in the traditional student. Sensitivity to the learning needs of a diverse student body requires accountable flexibility, empathy, being equitable with students, and clarity in communication. I empower students to hold themselves accountable, meet a standard of competence that is consistent with both NASW and CSWE, and work collaboratively to help them achieve more than what they realized they were capable of.

I am currently writing a book on sexual grooming.

With my colleagues, we are finalizing our evaluation of the psychometrics of the Sexual Offender Grooming Assessment (SOGA) measure we created.