Is there therapy and help for people concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviors with children?
Yes. There is help for people who are concerned about their sexual feelings, thoughts, and behaviors specific to children. It is important to work with a qualified professional counselor who can help someone better understand both their sexual feelings and behaviors. These professionals offer specific therapy for sexual behavior and mainly work with individuals struggling with pedophilia or those dealing with harmful sexual behaviors, even if pedophilia is not their diagnosis [2]. It’s important for anyone having sexual thoughts, fantasies or behaviors towards children to connect with a specialist who is trained to handle these concerns with compassion and a focus on safety, as this impacts the chances of achieving a positive outcome in therapy [1].
What kind of therapy is available for people concerned about their sexual thoughts, feelings, or behaviors with children?
Specialized therapy for people who are concerned about their sexual thoughts or behaviors with children is usually referred to as sex-specific therapy, and professionals who do this work have additional training and experience with adults’ sexual behaviors.
This kind of specialized therapy also exists for youth who are struggling with their sexual behaviors with younger kids. Professionals who work with adolescents and teens have additional training and experience with youth sexual behaviors. Since children and youths’ sexual behaviors are different from those of adults, the treatments for kids who are crossing sexual boundaries are also different. They’re not just “mini offenders.”
To learn more about what treatment looks like and whether it works, check out these other FAQs:
- FAQs on Treatment for People Who Have Sexually Abused a Child
- Resources for people concerned about their own thoughts and behaviors
- Resources for Children and Youth Struggling with Unsafe or Harmful Sexual Behaviors
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References
[1] Jahnke, S., Blagden, N., Mcphail, I. V., & Antfolk, J. (2023). Secret-keeping in therapy by clients who are sexually attracted to children. Psychotherapy Research, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2265047
[2] Seto, M. C. (2018). Pedophilia and sexual offending against children: Theory, assessment, and intervention (2nd ed. ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000107-000