The Stigma of Pedophilia

Abstract. There is an emerging consensus among researchers that having pedophilic interests is not synonymous with child sexual abuse or other amoral behavior. Nevertheless, misconceptions about pedophilia are highly prevalent among the general public and mental health practitioners. This article provides an overview of recent findings on the stigma of pedophilia and derives guidelines for mental health practitioners based on these results. We argue that stigmatization of people with pedophilic sexual interests has undesired indirect effects on risk factors for child sexual abuse, particularly on an emotional and social level. Also, fear of being rejected or treated unethically may prevent pedophilic individuals at risk for sexual offending from confiding in medical practitioners or psychotherapists. Psychologists working with pedophilic individuals in forensic or clinical settings should be aware that stigmatizing people with pedophilia may increase their risk of sexual offending, and provide help to deal with potential stigma-related repercussions.

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Practitioner Perspectives on Animal-Assisted Counseling

Journal of Mental Health Counseling ◽

10.17744/mehc.40.1.04 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 43-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Elizabeth Kjellstrand Hartwig ◽

Quinn Koelfgen Smelser

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Survey Instrument ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Clinical Issues ◽

Training And Supervision ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Education Training ◽

And Training

The field of animal-assisted counseling (AAC) is burgeoning. However, there is a paucity of research on the perspectives of mental health practitioners regarding its practice and the experience and training needed to effectively utilize AAC with clients. The purpose of this study was to explore how practitioners perceive AAC and its role in clinical settings. Perceptions of 300 mental health practitioners were assessed using a researcher-developed survey instrument. Findings indicated that a majority of practitioners (91.7%) view AAC as a legitimate counseling modality. Practitioners identified client age ranges and the top five clinical issues that would benefit from AAC. While only 12.0% of respondents had received training in AAC, 57.0% of respondents reported interest in receiving AAC training. Respondents identified types of AAC education, training, and supervision that would be sufficient for clinicians to utilize AAC. The findings from this study contribute to the emerging literature on AAC.

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Applying desistance principles to improve wellbeing and prevent child sexual abuse among minor-attracted persons

10.31234/osf.io/b36a8 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca Lievesley ◽

Craig A. Harper

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Field Of Study ◽

Integrative Theory ◽

Seeking Help

The prevention of sexual abuse among people with sexual attractions to minors is a field of study that is growing in both size and importance. While there is an increasing amount of research into this topic, particularly in relation to the stigmatisation of minor-attracted persons (MAPs) and the barriers to them seeking help, there is currently no theoretical framework within which to consider this prevention landscape. In this paper, we suggest that an extension of Göbbels, Ward, and Willis’ (2012) integrative theory of desistance from sexual offending could fill this gap in the literature. We explore what the aims of ‘prevention’ initiatives could, or perhaps should, be, before exploring how an extension and adaptation of the desistance framework could provide a framework for working with MAPs in their journey for sound mental health and, ultimately, the prevention of sexual offending.

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Qualitative Clinical Mental Health Program Evaluation: Models and Implications for Counseling Practitioners and Educators

Journal of Mental Health Counseling ◽

10.17744/mehc.40.1.01 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Thomas M. Murphy ◽

Catherine Y. Chang ◽

Franco Dispenza

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Program Evaluation ◽

Mental Health Program ◽

Qualitative Inquiry ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Master's Programs ◽

Logic Models ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Evaluation Models

Qualitative program evaluation is an effective tool allowing agencies and clinicians to provide holistic validation of innovation in clinical settings. Counselor educators can introduce models of qualitative program evaluation in both agency settings and counseling master's programs to enhance the development of clinical evaluation in the community and to integrate clinical and evaluative identities in clinical mental health practitioners and students. This article defines qualitative program evaluation and logic models and introduces methodologies that may be effective in clinical settings. Developing a logic model provides a structure that guides qualitative inquiry, and general categories of logic models are defined. Specific qualitative program evaluation models appropriate to clinical settings are also identified and defined. Recommendations for incorporating qualitative program evaluation into clinical practice and counselor education programs are discussed.

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Better Understanding Psychosis: Psychospiritual Considerations in Clinical Settings

Journal of Humanistic Psychology ◽

10.1177/0022167820904622 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002216782090462

Author(s):

Brian Spittles

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Common Source ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Mental Health Profession ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Clinical Dilemma ◽

Diagnosis Approach

Throughout history, mental health professionals have generally endorsed an understanding of psychosis that occludes the consideration of possible psychospiritual determinants. However, in light of the similarities between psychotic and benign psychotic-like psychospiritual experiences, this article argues for the inclusion of psychospiritual matters in psychosis research and therapeutic practices. First, the relevance of psychospiritual considerations to mental health professionals is substantiated by examining literature whereby commentators seek to discern psychosis from nonpsychopathological psychotic-like experiences that often occur within psychospiritual contexts. Next, I step beyond this binary differential diagnosis approach to examine the possibility that psychotic and psychospiritual experiences share a common source and are intrinsically connected and indiscernible. Finally, I propose that this clinical dilemma may be redressed via the study and application of technologies of consciousness. Accordingly, I argue that the incorporation of psychospiritual research into better understanding psychosis calls for radical epistemological, diagnostic, and therapeutic changes within the mental health profession. Indeed, it appears that clinical efficacy may be advanced through mental health practitioners attaining expertise in technologies of consciousness, especially in seeking to understand psychosis in light of psychospiritual contingencies.

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