Ainsle Heasman is a clinical forensic psychologist, an adjunct professor at Ontario Tech University, and a Continuing Education Center trainer and webinar guest. Her article for the Canadian edition of The Conversation is about ways to stop offenses before they happen. She discusses a program she helped develop, Talking for Change, a government-funded national program that provides treatment options and anonymous support to youth and adults who are concerned about their sexual interest in children, their risk to sexually abuse a child or their use of child sexual abuse material. The program’s aim is to stop abuse before it happens, rather than deal with the aftermath.

More from Ainslie Heasman:

This workshop reviews what professionals need to know about individuals with pedophilia and/or hebephilia and who are not justice-involved. It examines their treatment needs and barriers to accessing services, and more.