B4U-ACT Featured in Psychotherapy Networker Magazine

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In a new article in Psychotherapy Networker magazine, author Chris Lyford writes about B4U-ACT and discusses mental health professionals who work with people attracted to children. Alexandra Roth, a longtime member of B4U-ACT’s referral list of therapists, and Russell Dick, B4U-ACT’s Chairperson and Co-Founder, provided interviews for the piece.

 

Excerpt:
“A lot of people think the more you shame someone, the less likely that person is to do something wrong,” Roth explains, “but shame actually makes it harder for someone to make good choices.” Because most pedophiles struggle with loneliness, fear, self-hatred, and suicidal ideation as a result of their desires, she says, “therapy with them often has to do with addressing problems of identity and how they’ve been affected by stigma.” Many times, she says, the work doesn’t center around the client’s attraction to minors at all. “We’re focused on problems that might bring any other client to therapy, like depression or problematic relationships with parents or partners.”

 

Read the full article here:
https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/article/the-client-no-one-wants-to-treat/


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“A MAP’s Journey” Podcast Covers B4U-ACT Referral Program

If you are considering joining our list of therapists and would like to learn more about our referral program, the following podcast should interest you. As part of his “A MAP’s Journey” podcast series, Elliott interviews Michael Harris, director of B4U-ACT’s Signatory and Referral Program. They discuss everything you might want to know about how the list is maintained and the program is run.

You can listen to the podcast on YouTube by clicking on the image below:

B4U-ACT Responds to False Claim in “I, Pedophile” Documentary

On March 10, 2016, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired a documentary titled “I, Pedophile” (by Matthew Campea and Cogent Benger Productions, Inc.) that makes a false and damaging claim about B4U-ACT, which advocates for ethical and compassionate mental health services for minor-attracted people. The documentary, in reference to B4U-ACT, shows the following text on the screen: “Many of its members have been known to pursue sexual contact with children.” This statement is completely false. B4U-ACT does not endorse or support any activity with children that is illegal or harmful to them in any way.

B4U-ACT has been advocating for access to mental health support services for minor-attracted individuals since 2003. The charity has done this through providing educational workshops, facilitating support groups, and by building relationships with therapists, social workers, academics, researchers, journalists, and members of the general community. B4U-ACT is proud to have received funding from both the state of Maryland and private donors in order to carry out the charity’s important work of helping the extremely under-served population of individuals who identify as having a primary attraction to children and/or adolescents.

B4U-ACT will continue to work toward the goal of ensuring that there are accessible mental health services for minor-attracted persons, and will endeavor to thrive in spite of any misinformation or attacks made against it, as these mental health services are so desperately needed in Maryland and around the world.

“Daniel’s World” now available for viewing online

The Czech documentary “Daniel’s World” about the life of a young MAP is now available for streaming (1.99 Euros) and download (3.99 Euros) on this page at Doc Alliance Films. The website describes the film as follows:

Daniel is a young man. Daniel is a student and a writer. Daniel is also a paedophile. He is in love and keeps no secret about his sexual orientation; not even from the parents of his beloved boy. Daniel has never hurt any child. Neither have Jirka Fx100d, Tomáš Efix, Petr Kasz, MR_Xguard, Host, Simigran, Silesia, Elrond or others from the community of Czech pedophiles. What is the way of the most intimate of feelings in Daniel ́s and his friends ́ heart? The film introduces the rises and falls of people living with pedophilia. It portrays Daniel and the community of Czech pedophiles. It narrates a story of a forbidden love and constant struggle to come to terms with oneself and the society.

Salon: I’m a pedophile, you’re the monsters

My pedophilia essay outraged the right. My attempt to humanize a real problem brought out their nastiest rage. I’ve spent days doing radio interviews, even an appearance on TV (HLN’s Dr. Drew on Call), but mainly just answering the hundreds of emails that have poured in. Yes, the vast majority of them have been supportive. While there has been a visible backlash, predominantly from the political right, in private it has been a different story. This piece has generated debate and controversy all over the world, well beyond my wildest imaginings.

See the full article at Salon.

“Daniel’s World” Comes to the U.S.

The documentary film “Daniel’s World” was shown last week at the Fantastic Fest film festival in Austin, TX. Reviewer James Shapiro wrote, “We have grown far more tolerant to those whose sexual identity was until recently thought by many to be deviant behavior. Because of this increased enlightenment, now is the best time to see and be challenged by a film like ‘Daniel’s World.’ Daniel is 25 years old, lives in the Czech Republic, wants to be a writer, has never dated, and is in love with an eight-year old boy.”

See the article at the Fantastic Fest website.

Salon: I’m a pedophile, but not a monster

I’m attracted to children but unwilling to act on it. Before judging me harshly, would you be willing to listen? Yeah, not many of us are willing to share our story, for good reason.  To confess a sexual attraction to children is to lay claim to the most reviled status on the planet, one that effectively ends any chance you have of living a normal life.

Read the full article at Salon.

Youtube interview with “Daniel’s World” director

Director Veronika Liskova and producer Zdenek Holy discuss how much they learned and how their stereotypes were challenged by meeting MAPs in person, hearing their stories, and getting to know Daniel as a person. They also describe their appreciation, empathy, and understanding for Daniel, and note the extremely positive reception the film has received.

Watch the interview here.

German publication counters myths about MAPs

In its web magazine DW.DE, Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle has published an article emphasizing the distinction between sexual feelings and behavior, and the fact that MAPs can and do live law-abiding lives. The article tells the story of Graham, a British teenager who realized his attraction to younger children when he was 12, and who wants mental health care but is unable to find it. It also points out that Berlin’s most prominent hospital now provides a treatment program youth between ages 12 and 18 who realize they’re attracted to children. The article has some serious shortcomings–most importantly its focus on treatment for the sole purpose of control, a focus which fails to acknowledge the existence of both MAPs who don’t need such treatment, and those who seek services for a wide variety of other reasons. In addition, the article is accompanied by links to others in DW.DE that are based on the very myths the article attempts to dispel. However, the article seems to be part of an encouraging pattern of reports that are starting to challenge the myths, stereotypes, and stigma related to the attraction to children.

You can read complete article here.