Exploring Treatment through Anonymous Formats: Training Workshop in India
In a push to extend treatment to people with a sexual interest in children in India, ACT Against Child Abuse supported a therapist training workshop in Pune, India, funded by GIZ under their Klinikpartnerschaft project in February 2025. This two-day event, organized by Don’t Offend India in partnership with Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and KEM Hospital Research Centre, focused on the remote treatment of individuals with pedohebephilia, aiming to ensure accessible and ethical therapeutic interventions through anonymous formats.
Specialised Training for Complex Challenges
The workshop was delivered to therapists trained in Dissexuality Therapy to bolster their ability to deliver online psychotherapeutic interventions. This is crucial in a context like India, where strict mandatory reporting laws and stigma make it challenging to engage with clients directly. The training involved experienced therapists from Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, who shared insights into the process and structure of remote therapy based on experiences in Germany. The content covered essential therapy modules, best practices for online security, and confidentiality and tailoring interventions for an online setting.
ACT supported by funding an additional trainer to cover specific technical aspects of remote treatment, ensuring that participants could engage with these tools confidently and effectively. This additional expertise will be vital in ensuring a robust framework for remote therapy.
Feedback from the training was overwhelmingly positive. Pre and post-training evaluations highlighted significant improvements in core competency areas, particularly in behavioural analysis skills. Participants left the workshop feeling confident in their ability to apply what they learned in practical settings—a substantial progression from the initial assessments.
Looking Forward
This workshop represents a significant step toward expanding preventive interventions for a difficult to reach group. By adapting services to an online, anonymous setting, there’s potential to reach more individuals while maintaining high standards of care and confidentiality. As we move forward, ACT Against Child Abuse plans to investigate this aspect further in 2025, aiming to understand the demand for these types of services.
Overall, this training workshop has laid a strong foundation for future advancements, promising a more hopeful outlook for interventions in regions facing unique challenges.
