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Introduction to ASAP
The Association for Sexual Abuse Prevention (ASAP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child sexual abuse. ASAP brings together mental health professionals and individuals who are sexually attracted to children. The organization provides public health education, while members provide support for non-offending minor attracted persons (MAPs) who want to avoid acting on their attraction to children.
ASAP is based on the following core values:
Understanding Pedophilia
Pedophilia is a sexual attraction to prepubescent children, while hebephilia is an attraction to developing adolescents. Virtually all of us began our sexual journey with an attraction to another child. Most people find the age of those they are attracted to increases as they grow older. People with pedophilia have an ongoing sexual orientation that they did not choose and apparently cannot change. While scientists do not agree on the cause of pedophilia, whatever genetic factor there is may be initialized by some environmental factor.
Under certain circumstances, pedophilia is considered a mental disorder. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA, 2013) changed the name of the diagnosis for pedophilia to "pedophilic disorder," while using the term pedophilia to describe a pedophilic sexual orientation or interest, even when there is no evidence of acting on the urges or distress regarding the attraction to children.
Pedophilic disorder is formally identified by three criteria (APA, 2013).
"Pedophilia per se appears to be a lifelong condition. Pedophilic disorder, however, necessarily includes other elements that may change over time with or without treatment" (APA, 2013, p. 699). The orientation does not change, but treatment can modify arousal patterns and reduce the "subjective distress" and the "propensity to act out sexually with children." There is hope.
How common is pedophilia? In several studies, one in four adult men anonymously acknowledged some level of sexual attraction to prepubescent children (Wortley, 2015). British researcher Sarah Goode (2010) concluded that one in ten men experience a sexual orientation toward children that is equal to or greater than their attraction to adults. According to the DSM-5, up to one in twenty adult males would qualify for a formal diagnosis of pedophilic disorder (APA, 2013). The Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013) concluded that less than one in fifty adult males has an exclusive erotic attraction to children.
How to Help MAPs
The majority of MAPs do not want to harm children and will never molest a child. Most participants find sufficient support in an online group such as Virtuous Pedophiles. Many have contacted ASAP or a similar organization for additional support. A few benefit from a therapist who understands pedophilia in relationship to other mental health issues.
All mental health professionals (including counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers) should have a basic understanding of how to help non-offending MAPs. At the present time, there are few specialists in this field, and therapists who are trained to run sex offender treatment programs do not necessarily know how to treat MAPs who have not offended. To establish a therapeutic relationship, the therapist must not assume that every MAP is a monster or a ticking time bomb wanting to have sex with a child. Every MAP is unique, so therapists must develop an individualized, rather than a one-size-fits-all, approach. The ethical codes of all the major mental health professions require that a therapist not impose his or her own values on a client.
A variety of approaches are currently used in treating MAPs who have never offended. Some therapists adapt the techniques used in successful sex offender treatment programs in order to prevent abuse before it happens. Others use the addiction model with its 12 step tradition, which is especially helpful for those who struggle with the temptation to abuse images of children. Some therapists use the Good Lives Model with motivational interviewing in an integrative cognitive behavioral approach based on the risk, needs, and responsivity of the client. Therapists associated with ASAP have access to the BEDIT manual prepared by Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013) and may use the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld model as the basis for therapy. Referring to people with pedophilia, one counseling textbook states, “As our understanding of abnormal psychology expands, we are increasingly able to help patients previously considered to be hopeless cases” (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2010, p. 30).
"Counselors use techniques/procedures/modalities that are grounded in theory and/or have an empirical or scientific foundation" (ACA, 2005, C.6.e.). Because so little research based on non-offending pedophiles is available, we "must define the techniques/procedures as 'unproven' or 'developing' and explain the potential risks and ethical considerations of using such techniques/procedures and take steps to protect clients from possible harm" (ACA, 2005, C.6.e.). Some techniques commonly required of sex offenders are considered harmful, invasive, and unethical for non-offending pedophiles, especially those who are younger. Clients should be encouraged to utilize whatever techniques they find helpful. Establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship between the therapist and client has proven to be the most important factor in any treatment program.
What We Do
ASAP provides support to people with pedophilia and other MAPs. You may contact us directly via email or phone. If you call the number listed above, this is how you may expect to be treated:
If you want in-person therapy, we will do our best to provide you with a referral to a MAP-friendly mental health professional in your area. This is what you may expect from them:
References:
American Counseling Association (ACA, 2005). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013). BEDIT--The Berlin Dissexuality Therapy Program. Berlin, Germany: Charite.
Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S., & Hooley, J. M. (2012). Abnormal psychology (14th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Goode, Sarah D. (2010). Understanding and Addressing Adult Sexual Attraction to Children: A study of paedophiles in contemporary society. London, UK: Routledge.
Wortley, Richard K. (2015). Science and child sexual abuse: navigating the pathway between emotion and objectivity. Crime Science 2015, 4:1.
ASAP is based on the following core values:
- An adult should never sexually interact with a child.
- MAPs do not choose to be attracted to children, but they can choose to refrain from acting on the attraction.
- Therapy does not change a person's sexual orientation, but it can help a person accept his or her attraction to children without acting on it.
- Participate in an online peer-support forum for MAPs called Virtuous Pedophiles.
- Evaluate your risk with the Sexual Abuse Risk Assessment (SARA).
Understanding Pedophilia
Pedophilia is a sexual attraction to prepubescent children, while hebephilia is an attraction to developing adolescents. Virtually all of us began our sexual journey with an attraction to another child. Most people find the age of those they are attracted to increases as they grow older. People with pedophilia have an ongoing sexual orientation that they did not choose and apparently cannot change. While scientists do not agree on the cause of pedophilia, whatever genetic factor there is may be initialized by some environmental factor.
Under certain circumstances, pedophilia is considered a mental disorder. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA, 2013) changed the name of the diagnosis for pedophilia to "pedophilic disorder," while using the term pedophilia to describe a pedophilic sexual orientation or interest, even when there is no evidence of acting on the urges or distress regarding the attraction to children.
- "If they report an absence of feelings of guilt, shame, or anxiety about these impulses and are not functionally limited by their paraphilic impulses (according to self-report, objective assessment, or both), and their self-reported and legally recorded histories indicate that they have never acted on their impulses, then these individuals have a pedophilic sexual orientation but not pedophilic disorder" (APA, 2013, p. 698).
Pedophilic disorder is formally identified by three criteria (APA, 2013).
- Recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving a prepubescent child for at least six months.
- Acting on the attraction or distress caused by the attraction to children.
- The individual must be at least 16 years old and at least five years older than the child.
"Pedophilia per se appears to be a lifelong condition. Pedophilic disorder, however, necessarily includes other elements that may change over time with or without treatment" (APA, 2013, p. 699). The orientation does not change, but treatment can modify arousal patterns and reduce the "subjective distress" and the "propensity to act out sexually with children." There is hope.
How common is pedophilia? In several studies, one in four adult men anonymously acknowledged some level of sexual attraction to prepubescent children (Wortley, 2015). British researcher Sarah Goode (2010) concluded that one in ten men experience a sexual orientation toward children that is equal to or greater than their attraction to adults. According to the DSM-5, up to one in twenty adult males would qualify for a formal diagnosis of pedophilic disorder (APA, 2013). The Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013) concluded that less than one in fifty adult males has an exclusive erotic attraction to children.
How to Help MAPs
The majority of MAPs do not want to harm children and will never molest a child. Most participants find sufficient support in an online group such as Virtuous Pedophiles. Many have contacted ASAP or a similar organization for additional support. A few benefit from a therapist who understands pedophilia in relationship to other mental health issues.
All mental health professionals (including counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers) should have a basic understanding of how to help non-offending MAPs. At the present time, there are few specialists in this field, and therapists who are trained to run sex offender treatment programs do not necessarily know how to treat MAPs who have not offended. To establish a therapeutic relationship, the therapist must not assume that every MAP is a monster or a ticking time bomb wanting to have sex with a child. Every MAP is unique, so therapists must develop an individualized, rather than a one-size-fits-all, approach. The ethical codes of all the major mental health professions require that a therapist not impose his or her own values on a client.
A variety of approaches are currently used in treating MAPs who have never offended. Some therapists adapt the techniques used in successful sex offender treatment programs in order to prevent abuse before it happens. Others use the addiction model with its 12 step tradition, which is especially helpful for those who struggle with the temptation to abuse images of children. Some therapists use the Good Lives Model with motivational interviewing in an integrative cognitive behavioral approach based on the risk, needs, and responsivity of the client. Therapists associated with ASAP have access to the BEDIT manual prepared by Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013) and may use the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld model as the basis for therapy. Referring to people with pedophilia, one counseling textbook states, “As our understanding of abnormal psychology expands, we are increasingly able to help patients previously considered to be hopeless cases” (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2010, p. 30).
"Counselors use techniques/procedures/modalities that are grounded in theory and/or have an empirical or scientific foundation" (ACA, 2005, C.6.e.). Because so little research based on non-offending pedophiles is available, we "must define the techniques/procedures as 'unproven' or 'developing' and explain the potential risks and ethical considerations of using such techniques/procedures and take steps to protect clients from possible harm" (ACA, 2005, C.6.e.). Some techniques commonly required of sex offenders are considered harmful, invasive, and unethical for non-offending pedophiles, especially those who are younger. Clients should be encouraged to utilize whatever techniques they find helpful. Establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship between the therapist and client has proven to be the most important factor in any treatment program.
What We Do
ASAP provides support to people with pedophilia and other MAPs. You may contact us directly via email or phone. If you call the number listed above, this is how you may expect to be treated:
- You will be treated with respect.
- We will not impose our values on you.
- You will not be required to share personal information.
- Nothing you share with us will be reported to the authorities.
- There is no charge for this service.
If you want in-person therapy, we will do our best to provide you with a referral to a MAP-friendly mental health professional in your area. This is what you may expect from them:
- You should be treated professionally with respect.
- The therapist will not impose his/her values on you.
- You should be able to call first and ask questions until you are comfortable.
- You may be required to provide personal information.
- Limits to confidentiality must be carefully explained.
- The therapist should help you avoid sharing reportable information.
- The therapist may charge standard fees for appointments.
References:
American Counseling Association (ACA, 2005). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine (2013). BEDIT--The Berlin Dissexuality Therapy Program. Berlin, Germany: Charite.
Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S., & Hooley, J. M. (2012). Abnormal psychology (14th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Goode, Sarah D. (2010). Understanding and Addressing Adult Sexual Attraction to Children: A study of paedophiles in contemporary society. London, UK: Routledge.
Wortley, Richard K. (2015). Science and child sexual abuse: navigating the pathway between emotion and objectivity. Crime Science 2015, 4:1.
Other Supportive Organizations
AASECT: American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
ATSA: Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
B4U-ACT: Dialog among the mental health community and MAPs
Stop It Now: Primary prevention resources
StopSO: Primary prevention treatment providers in the UK
VirPed: Support group for virtuous pedophiles
ATSA: Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
B4U-ACT: Dialog among the mental health community and MAPs
Stop It Now: Primary prevention resources
StopSO: Primary prevention treatment providers in the UK
VirPed: Support group for virtuous pedophiles
Pedophilia in the Media
Virtuous paedophiles call for greater support. 60 Minutes. Related YouTube. 11/3/19.
Non-Offending Pedophile Tells His Story. Psychology in Seattle Podcast. 10/21/19.
Chatting with a Virtuous Pedophile. You Tube. 9/18/19.
The Men who Call Themselves Non-Offending Pedophiles. Vice YouTube. 8/27/19.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 3 of 3. YouTube. 9/14/18.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 2 of 3. YouTube. 9/2/18.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 1 of 3. YouTube. 9/1/18.
TW: In Support of Non-Offending Pedophiles. YouTube. 7/9/18.
Virtuous Paedophiles. SBS TV. 5/1/18.
Let's be mature about pedophilia. TEDx. Madeleine van der Bruggen. 4/13/18.
Interview about Anti-Contact Pedophiles. The Prevention Podcast. Jan.-July 2018.
"Monster." The Overtake. 12/7/17.
The young paedophiles who say they don't abuse children. BBC. 9/11/17.
James O'Brien vs. Paedophiles who Don't Abuse. Sky News. 8/1/17.
What it’s like to be a celebate pedophile. The Cut. 8/18/16.
Disclosing a sexual interest in children to others: The experience of a non-offending pedophile. Weblog. 6/12/16.
Sickboy: Pedophilia. James Cantor. 6/5/16.
Beyond Choice & Reason: Non-offending paedophiles. Flint. 2016.
A coming out that has to remain a secret. PedofielTweets. 4/13/16.
How should society handle pedophiles who haven't hurt anyone? NY Magazine. 4/13/16.
How do we protect our children from the unthinkable? TEDx. Luke Broomhall. 4/1/16.
Experts: There's a difference between pedophilia and child molestation. Dr Drew. 11/12/15.
Sympathy for the Deviant. Psychology Today. 11/3/15.
Pedophiles vs. child molesters. YouTube. 10/20/15.
How Germany treats paedophiles before they offend. The Guardian. 10/16/15.
The Nature of Paedophilia. BBC Radio 4. 7/13/15.
Stop the sex-offender registry panic: “A lot of those dots on the map would never hurt your kids." Salon 3/26/15.
5 Ways We Misunderstand Pedophilia (That Makes it Worse). Cracked. 2/7/15.
Can you stop a paedophile before they even start? BBC News Magazine. 2/4/15.
When society mistakes pedophiles for molesters. Life Links. 12/2/14.
Man who went to prison as a juvenile sex offender. Salon. 11/10/14.
The Paedophile Next Door. BBC Channel 4. 11/7/14.
We Need to Make It Easier for Pedophiles to Seek Help. Time OP-ED. 10/10/14.
It Makes No Sense to View Pedophilia as a Disability. FoxNews. 10/7/14.
Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime. NYT OP-ED. 10/6/14.
Exploring Options to Help Pedophiles. OPB Think Out Loud. 9/17/14.
How Many Men Are Paedophiles? BBC Radio. 8/18/14.
You're 16. You're a Pedophile. Medium. 8/11/14.
Comments on Malone article. The Awl. 8/1/14.
Can Paedophiles Be Good People? Independent. 7/25/14.
Virtuous Pedophiles Gives Support Therapy Cannot. CBC article 7/14.
Cyberbullies, Mass Media, and Pedophiles. Luke Malone. 6/18/14.
The Way Society Treats Paedophilia is Ugly. The Oxford Student. 6/6/14.
Study Finds Pedophiles' Brains Wired to Find Children Attractive. The Daily Beast. 5/23/14.
Tarred and Feathered--Act 2--Help Needed. This American Life. 5/14.
Paedophiles 'Live in Incredible Shame'. Swiss Info. 4/15/14.
James Cantor. YouTube. 1/20/14.
Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation? The Star. 12/22/13.
Pedophilia, Sexuality and Rape: A Survivor Speak Up. USC Neon Tommy. 11/11/13.
Can Pedophiles Help Themselves? The Daily Beast. 10/18/13.
Sex Offense Recidivism is Rare, Shouldn't Determine Policy. WLRN News. 9/5/13.
The Unintended Consequences of Laws Addressing Sex between Teachers and Students. Washington Post. 8/30/13.
What Can Be Done About Pedophilia? The Atlantic. 8/26/13.
I, Pedophile. The Atlantic. 8/26/13.
A Prevention-First Approach to Child Sexual Abuse. The Baltimore Sun. 8/6/13.
Happy Birthday, Virtuous Pedophiles! Sexology Today. 7/15/13.
Jesse Friedman: Forget It? I Can Never Forget It. It Never Ever Goes Away. Salon. 6/11/13.
Why Queers Should Care About Sex Offenders. HuffPost. 6/8/13.
"If I'm Attracted to Children, I Must Be a Monster" Max's Story. 5/29/13.
My Inappropriate Relationship. Salon. 3/24/13.
The Neuroscience of Restorative Justice. TED. 2/13.
Why Aren't We Doing More to Stop Child Pornography Before It Starts? Slate. 1/25/13.
Many Researchers Taking a Different View of Pedophilia. LA Times. 1/14/13.
Paedophilia: Bringing Dark Desires to Light. The Guardian. 1/3/13.
Paedophilia Is Not (yet) Child Abuse. Daily Maverick. 10/12/12.
How Can We Stop Pedophiles? Slate. 9/24/12.
Born This Way: Sympathy and Science for Those Who Want to Have Sex with Children. Gawker. 9/7/12.
Do Gay Men Have More Sexual Interest in Children than Straight Men? Psychology Today. 2/11.
Non-Offending Pedophile Tells His Story. Psychology in Seattle Podcast. 10/21/19.
Chatting with a Virtuous Pedophile. You Tube. 9/18/19.
The Men who Call Themselves Non-Offending Pedophiles. Vice YouTube. 8/27/19.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 3 of 3. YouTube. 9/14/18.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 2 of 3. YouTube. 9/2/18.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor Interviews a Pedophile - Part 1 of 3. YouTube. 9/1/18.
TW: In Support of Non-Offending Pedophiles. YouTube. 7/9/18.
Virtuous Paedophiles. SBS TV. 5/1/18.
Let's be mature about pedophilia. TEDx. Madeleine van der Bruggen. 4/13/18.
Interview about Anti-Contact Pedophiles. The Prevention Podcast. Jan.-July 2018.
"Monster." The Overtake. 12/7/17.
The young paedophiles who say they don't abuse children. BBC. 9/11/17.
James O'Brien vs. Paedophiles who Don't Abuse. Sky News. 8/1/17.
What it’s like to be a celebate pedophile. The Cut. 8/18/16.
Disclosing a sexual interest in children to others: The experience of a non-offending pedophile. Weblog. 6/12/16.
Sickboy: Pedophilia. James Cantor. 6/5/16.
Beyond Choice & Reason: Non-offending paedophiles. Flint. 2016.
A coming out that has to remain a secret. PedofielTweets. 4/13/16.
How should society handle pedophiles who haven't hurt anyone? NY Magazine. 4/13/16.
How do we protect our children from the unthinkable? TEDx. Luke Broomhall. 4/1/16.
Experts: There's a difference between pedophilia and child molestation. Dr Drew. 11/12/15.
Sympathy for the Deviant. Psychology Today. 11/3/15.
Pedophiles vs. child molesters. YouTube. 10/20/15.
How Germany treats paedophiles before they offend. The Guardian. 10/16/15.
The Nature of Paedophilia. BBC Radio 4. 7/13/15.
Stop the sex-offender registry panic: “A lot of those dots on the map would never hurt your kids." Salon 3/26/15.
5 Ways We Misunderstand Pedophilia (That Makes it Worse). Cracked. 2/7/15.
Can you stop a paedophile before they even start? BBC News Magazine. 2/4/15.
When society mistakes pedophiles for molesters. Life Links. 12/2/14.
Man who went to prison as a juvenile sex offender. Salon. 11/10/14.
The Paedophile Next Door. BBC Channel 4. 11/7/14.
We Need to Make It Easier for Pedophiles to Seek Help. Time OP-ED. 10/10/14.
It Makes No Sense to View Pedophilia as a Disability. FoxNews. 10/7/14.
Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime. NYT OP-ED. 10/6/14.
Exploring Options to Help Pedophiles. OPB Think Out Loud. 9/17/14.
How Many Men Are Paedophiles? BBC Radio. 8/18/14.
You're 16. You're a Pedophile. Medium. 8/11/14.
Comments on Malone article. The Awl. 8/1/14.
Can Paedophiles Be Good People? Independent. 7/25/14.
Virtuous Pedophiles Gives Support Therapy Cannot. CBC article 7/14.
Cyberbullies, Mass Media, and Pedophiles. Luke Malone. 6/18/14.
The Way Society Treats Paedophilia is Ugly. The Oxford Student. 6/6/14.
Study Finds Pedophiles' Brains Wired to Find Children Attractive. The Daily Beast. 5/23/14.
Tarred and Feathered--Act 2--Help Needed. This American Life. 5/14.
Paedophiles 'Live in Incredible Shame'. Swiss Info. 4/15/14.
James Cantor. YouTube. 1/20/14.
Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation? The Star. 12/22/13.
Pedophilia, Sexuality and Rape: A Survivor Speak Up. USC Neon Tommy. 11/11/13.
Can Pedophiles Help Themselves? The Daily Beast. 10/18/13.
Sex Offense Recidivism is Rare, Shouldn't Determine Policy. WLRN News. 9/5/13.
The Unintended Consequences of Laws Addressing Sex between Teachers and Students. Washington Post. 8/30/13.
What Can Be Done About Pedophilia? The Atlantic. 8/26/13.
I, Pedophile. The Atlantic. 8/26/13.
A Prevention-First Approach to Child Sexual Abuse. The Baltimore Sun. 8/6/13.
Happy Birthday, Virtuous Pedophiles! Sexology Today. 7/15/13.
Jesse Friedman: Forget It? I Can Never Forget It. It Never Ever Goes Away. Salon. 6/11/13.
Why Queers Should Care About Sex Offenders. HuffPost. 6/8/13.
"If I'm Attracted to Children, I Must Be a Monster" Max's Story. 5/29/13.
My Inappropriate Relationship. Salon. 3/24/13.
The Neuroscience of Restorative Justice. TED. 2/13.
Why Aren't We Doing More to Stop Child Pornography Before It Starts? Slate. 1/25/13.
Many Researchers Taking a Different View of Pedophilia. LA Times. 1/14/13.
Paedophilia: Bringing Dark Desires to Light. The Guardian. 1/3/13.
Paedophilia Is Not (yet) Child Abuse. Daily Maverick. 10/12/12.
How Can We Stop Pedophiles? Slate. 9/24/12.
Born This Way: Sympathy and Science for Those Who Want to Have Sex with Children. Gawker. 9/7/12.
Do Gay Men Have More Sexual Interest in Children than Straight Men? Psychology Today. 2/11.
Back to top Updated 6/8/20. © 2020 ASAP