Talking for Change: Secondary Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Perpetration

Launched by CENTRE FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH · May 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Talking for Change" trial is a research study aimed at preventing child sexual abuse by testing a special therapy program called Talking for Change (TFC). This study is looking at how effective the TFC program is in reducing the risk of someone committing sexual offenses against children. Participants in the study will be divided into three groups: one will receive the TFC therapy for 20 weeks, another will receive a different kind of therapy that focuses on general mental health and stress, and the third group will not receive any treatment at all. Researchers will assess changes in behaviors and thoughts related to child sexual abuse through interviews and self-reports.

To participate in this study, individuals must be male, at least 18 years old, and have been referred for help due to concerns about their risk of offending against children. They also need to be able to understand and agree to the study's requirements. However, those with certain conditions that make it hard to participate meaningfully, or those who do not identify as male, will not be eligible. Participants can expect to engage in group discussions and therapy sessions designed to help them manage their thoughts and behaviors more effectively. This trial is currently in the recruiting phase, welcoming individuals who meet the eligibility criteria.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• For the treatment arms, the participant must meet all of the inclusion criteria to eligible for this clinical trial:
• • 1. Must be deemed to have capacity to provide informed consent;
• • 2. Must sign and date the informed consent form;
• • 3. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures;
• • 4. Be 18 years of age or older upon study commencement;
• • 5. Be referred for care in the TFC program due to concerns about enhanced risk of sexual offending against children.
• For the benchmarking interview arm, the participant must meet all of the following inclusion criteria:
• • 1. Must self-report concerns about enhanced risk of sexual offending against children
• • 2. Must be deemed to have capacity to provide informed consent;
• • 3. Must check the appropriate box on the informed consent form;
• • 4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures;
• • 5. Be 18 years of age or older upon study commencement.
• • For the benchmarking survey arm, participants must check the appropriate box on the informed consent form.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• For the treatment arms:
• • 1. Inability to engage meaningfully in group psychotherapy (e.g., due to intellectual disability, other neurodiversity, active psychosis or substance use)
• • 2. Those who self-identify as at-risk for reasons better accounted for by non-risk-relevant factors per clinical assessment (e.g., those with obsessive-compulsive disorder including thoughts about CSA, who commonly fear that they are at-risk but are not).
• • 3. Non-male sex.
• For the benchmarking interview arm:
• • 1. Non-male sex.