Can Pedophilia Be Cured?

by GirlShrink · 7 comments

in Pedophilia,Relationship Dating

One of the barriers in really understanding if pedophiles can be treated – is the fact that the public – including law enforcement – has little tolerance for pedophiles and rather lock them up and never see them again. Look at Oprah’s vigilant effort to get criminally prosecuted pedophiles off the streets and into jail. Never is there any discussion of treatment.

That’s because many people view having sex with a child as the ultimate betrayal of a child. Or as a unforgivable sin. Or a sign of evil in a person. Many adults simply cannot handle or wrap their heads around a person who would have such a personality structure as someone who is attracted to young boys or girls.

Therefore, there are few researchers, judges, therapists, even clergy who are interested in creating a specific program to help pedophiles cognitively change their behavior. Many don’t believe that it can occur. Many have no interest in even trying.

Statistically, pedophiles tend to begin their interest in molesting children when they are very young themselves. A high number are heterosexual men who have been molested themselves and often strike before they turn the age of 15.

Therefore, the key to successful treatment of pedophilia seems to be catching these children/teens early and implement an appropriate pharmacology and/or cognitive therapy treatment plan. Early treatment is key, because the goal is prevent action of the attraction.

There are effective treatment plans and there are plenty of pedophiles who are interested in seeking treatment. It is an illness much like any other psychological disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It’s very easy, even for me, to dehumanize pedophiles.

But for many it is not an easy or difficult choice of whether to be a pedophile – it is a disorder that just like us – they don’t understand. Most rather not feel the pull of their attraction. They know it is wrong – a crime – socially unacceptable – and harmful for those they abuse. So if you know someone, are a parent of a child you think may be, or are a pedophile who wants real help – check out some of the resources below to help you get started on moving forward with the recovery process.

Other Resources:

1. Pedophilia Online Treatment Advisor
http://www.medical-library.org/journals/treatment/pedophilia/1_pedophilia.htm

2. Early Diagnosis and Treatment for Pedophilia
http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pages/resources.html

3. A New Treatment for Pedophilia
http://www.medicineuptotheminute.com/pedophilia.htm

4. Treatment Research
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2372/is_3_37/ai_68273923

5. Time Magazine Article on Pedophilia
http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/cloud_ped_time.htm

<blockquote>Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you <a href=”http://girlshrink.com/better_choices.html”>subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter</a> .

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  • sarah

    All things can be cured with hypnotherapy.

    Males have a greater capability of repression (a defence mechanism of the brain in reaction to trauma) by upto 80%,
    and women have a greater capability of recalling by up to 80%,
    this is why there are far more male paedophiles then female.

    Male’s are less adapted to dealing with trauma,
    Women have developed heightened senses of dealing with trauma due to the past existance as slaves, their brains evolved in a way that would be a greater coping mechanism.

    When a boy is sexually abused, he goes into a state of shock, and in that state of shock what’s is happening can turn into acceptance (boys are naturally more trusting then girls)
    All of these complex and significant experiences in the brain, during the abuse,
    they are all repressed,
    these significant emotional ‘knots’ sit below the surface of consciousness, and influence his actions and desires in life, basically trying to unravel and deal with the experience.

    The act of paedophilia is the expression of the state of acceptance the sufferer (of paedophilia) experienced when being abused.

    Because this state of acceptance is such an extreme mind warp, ‘unravelling it’ can become an obsession.

    Not all male sexual abuse victims become paedophiles or entertain thoughts of sexual abuse against others, but many do.

    Paedophilia is a symptom of sexual abuse, it is very complex and due to the nature of it’s mechanism, it is very difficult for society to want to understand, led alone try to cure.

    In the future, simple hypnotherapy techniques can be used on all sufferers of sexual abuse, in fact such therapy will be as obligatory as jail sentences are, today.

    The key to curing paedophilia is regressing them back to that confused state of acceptance, back to their childhood sexual experiences and coaxing their childhood processing with adult awareness, erradicating their adult hood obsession with unlocking what had happened to them and what it meant.

  • Kingwow3

    Sarah, where is your evidence? There might be some truth to what you say, but it is also noted that all pedophiles have been molested as children.

  • garge

    they can’t be cured you liberal dumb asses! Most who want to try to cure them have no children of their own to worry about. I don’t know how many times I have heard of a pedophile doing time for it, getting out and then kidnapping and killing their next victim. I guess it may be possible to cure it in some cases but the bigger question to me is why should these people who have taken complete innocence be given an second chance? 

  • cajaquarius

     I would ask why parents should have a say at all? Parents are biologically incapable of making informed decisions concerning how to treat pedophilia as a disease – the oxytocin levels in your blood blind you to rational thought concerning children. It is an evolutionary survival mechanism. And the fact that they get out an re-offend is the very reason we need to try understanding and really combating this – because locking them up doesn’t help.

    The kids who are screwed around with often grow into pedophiles themselves. The victims you weep for and protect today are the monsters you want to burn at the stake tomorrow. The decision and research needs to exclude all input from people who have kids for the sake of actually handling this problem and not running from it like irrational cowards or treating these human beings, often victims themselves, like monsters to make ourselves feel better.

    Garge and people like him are the reason pedophilia has become an epidemic, pure and simple. Either face reality or move over for the real adults who approach these problems rationally.

  • mk

    Parents are also victims and should have their voices heard. I also believe that children are victims when their parents suffer (robbery, murder, etc.). Murderers should be forced to see the faces of the children who have lost a parent, and pedophiles should be forced to see the familes who’s trust in society has been shattered.
    That said, risk of re-offending can be predicted to some degree and the highest risk pedophiles repeat rate matches that of young thieves who break & enter. Therapy can reduce the pedophile’s rate of re-offending by 60-70 percent and community intervention to monitor and support a crime-free life for pedophiles can also reduce the rate of re-offending by 60-70 percent (see Circles of Support and Accountability documentation).
    The best way to prevent crime of any type is to offer the potential criminal a better option. This includes everything from mentoring a potential gang member to mentoring a pedophile. Are we ready to stomach the reality of a pedophile’s interest in children long enough to help them overcome it?
    In some cases, the best that a pedophile will be able to do will be to identify and avoid high-risk situations; however, those who have therapy and insight have a hope to develop even further.
    If an alcoholic stops buying alcohol and never has it in their house, is that as effective (to society) as being cured? A pedophile can have the same success with their sobriety. Alcoholism and pedophilia both tend to develop over time as a way to cope with stress; they both feel “good” to the person while they are indulging, and this becomes the critical point, are they willing to accept that what feels pleasurable is actually harmful.
    Knowing why they became this way can help them to recover … most do not believe they are doing harm … but knowing why they are that way is a reason & not an excuse.

  • mk

    Hypnosis is a tool and not a therapy, and will aid in 50-80% of treatment cases for varying reasons. Hypnotherapy, properly applied, is formal therapy augmented through hypnosis.
    Pedophilia lives within the pedophile for many years and it builds. It is not hinged on a single moment, but it is a process. Most pedophiles begin with thought, then looking, then touching, then worse. Sex crimes can be narrowed down to crimes of sexual gratification, control, or sadism – it’s not a one size fits all therapy.
    Hypnosis can be a useful tool within the therapeutic process, but it’s usefulness should be determined by the therapist at the moment.

  • cajaquarius

     It’s not about creating excuses, it is about protecting children. Sweeping it under the rug as parents want to do isn’t the answer. This nonsensical “kill em all” mentality is almost always paired with a “never talk about it” mentality when it comes to the kids. Since fifteen of sixteen rapists get away with their crimes I would say it is high time we change course and start treating this for what it is – an epidemic.

    I don’t want parents left out of the loop on punishment of criminals who offend them or their kids, but parents should not have a say in research into curing or putting a stop to it for reasons I stated. As heartless as it is, no good idea ever came out of someone who was too emotional to think clearly and I have yet to meet a father or mother who doesn’t start frothing at the mouth at the mere mention of child sexual abuse.

    Research needs clear, neutral heads at the helm, not emotional, vengeance driven fools.

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