About - StepToSupport

The resources and interventions promoted by this platform are designed to assist anyone seeking support to live a positive and harm-free life, increase overall wellbeing, make safe choices and avoid sexual crimes against children.

The StepTo.Support platform is an initiative of the ”Protect and Prevent Through Support” (2PS) project. 2PS is an action funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme. For detailed information about the project, please visit this website. 2ps-project.eu

2PS Illustrazioni

How Services Were Selected

This website highlights current resources and programs that exist for the management of individuals with a sexual interest in children and the prevention of child sexual abuse by adults at risk of committing a sexual offence, either online or in person. This website is not a definitive list of all potential interventions. Rather, it is a selection of the most established or accessible interventions currently. The interventions included in this platform were established through an open web search and engagement with professionals related to the 2PS project.

The inclusion of a service or intervention on this platform is not an endorsement of it. Each service and intervention has been vetted to make sure that they are still operating, accepting clients, and that the material on their websites is up to date and appropriate. The services have not been vetted with regards to their content or effectiveness. It’s important that every user of the site reads all the relevant material and makes their own decision about how and when to access any given service.

Additionally, during screening and determining what interventions should be included on the platform, we talked with potential service users through established groups and appropriate internet forums. Some people indicated that online peer-to-peer support groups were helpful to them in seeking help and determining what service to access. We have included a list of more established peer-to-peer support networks. Although these sites are ad-hoc and unregulated, we should recommend them as the current platform cannot provide this important service and they can. It is important to recognise that we have no control or input over these sites, that user caution is advised, and that engagement should be a matter of informed personal choice.

It is important to recognise that we have no control or input over these sites and that viewer caution is advised, and that engagement should be a matter of informed personal choice.

It is also important to note that not all countries or languages have a secondary prevention service, but this is changing rapidly across Europe. Just because something is not listed on the site does not mean that it does not currently exist or is not in development.

If you have further questions, issues or concerns please reach out via the contact form.

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User Engagement

We believe in involving the end user in the development of a platform designed for them. The project team collected information directly from people who are sexually attracted to children or concerned about their sexual behaviour towards children to understand what they find important for a platform like this. This was done in three ways: focus groups, interviews, and user testing. We then applied their feedback to the platform as much as possible.

Our Partners

The 2PS project partners have joined forces and collaborated to develop this platform and provide support, guidance, and alternative pathways. Below we have listed the names and activities of a selection of the partners involved in developing this platform. These partners have extensive experience working directly with people who are sexually attracted to children or concerned about their sexual behaviour towards children.

Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

The Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine at Charité offers a free and confidential treatment service for men and women, adults and young people who are looking for therapeutic help because they feel sexually attracted to children. They are a member of the German Kein Täter werden network.

Czech National Institute of Mental Health

The Czech National Institute of Mental Health is running the Program Paraphile and also has extensive experience on topics like sexual arousal, national surveys of sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, pornography use and sexual orientation.

University Psychiatric Clinics Basel
Switzerland

The University Psychiatric Clinics Basel offers treatment for people who seek therapeutic help because they feel sexually attracted to children and suffer from it. The service is anonymous and is embedded in the Swiss Kein Täter werden network.

ANOVA Clinic
Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden

The ANOVA Clinic at Karolinska University Hospital runs PrevenTell, which is a national helpline for those who feel that they have lost control of their sexuality, who may feel worried about thoughts and actions, or are afraid of harming themselves or others.

Department of Health Promotion and Development
University of Bergen

The Department of Health Promotion and Development at the University of Bergen conducts research that is centered on assessing treatment needs and barriers for people with a sexual interest in children.

Offlimits
Netherlands

Offlimits offers anonymous, confidential and free support with a telephone helpline and a chat for anyone who is concerned about their behavior towards minors.

Frequently asked questions

If you have any further questions, please visit the contact us page.

Read all questions

Who is this platform for?

This platform is aimed at individuals concerned about or experiencing distress due to their sexual thoughts or behaviors towards children, those at risk of engaging in sexual violence against children, and those who have already engaged in such behavior. Additionally, the platform caters to a secondary target group that includes professionals who interact with the primary group in their work, as well as friends, family, or colleagues of individuals in the primary group, and people with a general interest in the prevention of child sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material.
How can this platform help me?

This platform assists those seeking help to find the support that suits their needs, regardless of their background. This platform is a non-judgmental and supportive space where you can discover a wide range of services across Europe that aim to provide support and help or someone to talk to.  We believe that by connecting you with people who understand your needs, you can find support to navigate any complex emotions and experiences.
Is this platform safe for me?

Yes, the safety of website visitors is our top priority. We take the protection of your personal data very seriously and adhere strictly to the rules of data protection laws. Personal data is only collected on this website to the extent that is technically necessary. Under no circumstances will the data collected be sold or passed on to third parties for other reasons.

We would like to point out that data transmission on the Internet (e.g. when communicating by e-mail) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by unauthorised third parties is generally not possible for technical reasons. We make every effort to protect your data as best we can.

This page gives you an overview of how we guarantee this protection and what type of data is collected for what purpose: Privacy
Who is behind this platform?

The StepTo.Support website was created through the collaboration of experts in the fields of sexology, mental health, psychiatric treatment, and health promotion as part of the ‘Protect and Prevent Through Support’ (2PS) project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme. This partnership involves a diverse group of professionals and researchers who have dedicated their efforts to understanding and addressing the needs of individuals seeking support for sexual thoughts or behaviors towards children. The development of the platform was guided by insights gained from direct feedback, interviews, surveys, and user testing with the target audience, ensuring the resources and interventions provided are relevant and effective. The team’s collective expertise and commitment to offering confidential and therapeutic support have been fundamental in creating a platform aimed at fostering wellbeing, safe choices, and life free of sexual crimes against children for its users. For more information, see the About page.
Who can I contact in an emergency?

If you’re struggling and in need of immediate assistance, it’s important to reach out for help. In a mental health crisis, contacting 24-hour local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area is crucial. They are equipped to provide immediate support and guide you towards the next steps: Emergency Page

Additionally, our platform offers resources and interventions designed to assist individuals seeking to live a positive and harm-free life. While our platform itself does not provide real-time crisis intervention, some of the services listed on our site offer information and support that can be accessed 24/7. These resources may offer guidance and information that could be helpful to you at any time, day or night.

Remember, you’re not alone, and there are services and professionals ready to support you through this challenging time.
What do I do if I have a loved one who may need treatment?
Being confronted with or suspecting that a relative or partner has an inclination that requires treatment is often a difficult situation. Often this suspicion arises because they come across images on the computer or find collections of images in other places. The possible reactions to these discoveries are understandable, e.g.:
- Fear of the consequences of the discovery for the family and partnership.
- Fear of police investigations, the reactions of friends and neighbors or financial ruin.
- Concern for the safety of their own children.
- Feeling betrayed and deceived because your loved one was still leading a ‘different life’.
- Disgust and revulsion at the other person’s needs and fantasies.
- Anger at the partner who ‘selfishly’ pursues their interests at the expense of others.
- Shame and guilt because you think you should have realized it earlier or are afraid of being partly responsible.
- Being torn because you don’t know whether you should or must contact the police.
We encourage relatives to seek an open dialogue with the person concerned. In this way, you can raise awareness of the problem and motivate them to seek professional help.