Recent research indicates that pedophilia is a taxon (i.e., a distinct category in which an individual either meets criteria or does not). This highlights important differences among individuals who commit sexual offenses against children, including that not all meet the criteria for pedophilia. A growing body of literature has focused on identifying meaningful differences between individuals convicted solely of non-contact child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenses and those convicted of contact or mixed offenses (i.e., both contact and CSEM), providing typological frameworks that distinguish these subgroups for practice. Understanding these distinctions is critical, particularly for effective risk assessment and treatment planning.

Dr. Sonja Krstic, a research psychologist, has extensively studied pedophilia, CSEM offending, and closely related issues. Drawing on her own work as well as the broader research literature, she developed this training to help professionals translate findings into clinical decision-making and refine their understanding of how the distinguishing characteristics of individuals with pedophilic disorders convicted of contact sexual offenses differ from those convicted of CSEM offenses.

During the training, Dr. Krstic explores a range of etiological and typological themes, including:

• The role of low perceived social competence
• The influence of past sexual victimization
• Neurodevelopmental risk factors
• Other empirically derived etiological factors

Interactive Follow-Up Meeting

Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.