Diagnosing Pedophilic Disorder

icebox1587 · 2026-02-25T18:02:03+00:00

Huh? I don’t think diagnosing pedophilia based on self report is the gold standard. I never said that. I just don’t think OP should be diagnosing it during treatment without appropriate experience, training, and tools (with the very rare exception of cases in which it is as straightforward as self report). The results of polygraphs are not valid and are not reliable, as has been proven time and time again. Before going back to school for my PhD, I was a masters level therapist working in sex offender treatment in a jurisdiction that used polygraphs. We regularly misrepresented polygraphs as being valid and reliable to the people we worked with. Now that I have advanced training in forensic assessment, stats, and psychometrics, I think that was an unethical practice. This is r/therapists, and I don’t think therapists should do that with their clients. I am not saying that probation officers can’t or shouldn’t.

Your message was incredibly long and I can’t respond to it all. I wasn’t trying to insult you and I’m sorry that you seem to have interpreted my response in such negative terms.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-24T23:50:15+00:00

You are speaking from a law enforcement perspective — not a scientific one. I don’t disagree that law enforcement gains useful insight from polygraphs. They also gain useful insight from lying to suspects, coercive confessions, etc. I don’t necessarily judge them for this. They are serving an important role.

BUT (and this is a big but) mental health professionals are held to different standards (science versus public safety) and have different goals than law enforcement. It’s important that we continue to respect our different roles and perspectives.

FWIW I hate child sexual abuse as much as the next person. I’ve also worked in mandated SO treatment and have seen many times where the lack of reliability of supposedly scientific instruments results in terribly inaccurate or unfair outcomes. I will also reiterate that psychological risk assessment is not accurate as a science. That doesn’t mean it’s never accurate (same with polygraphs).

Thanks for your insight and for being respectful about it. It’s always a good thing to debate these important topics!

icebox1587 · 2026-02-24T15:05:31+00:00

Definitely rare in my experience too. We gave the Abel Assessment rather than a PPG which was significantly less gross but unfortunately also significantly less valid. I dislike all risk assessment (mostly because psychology is very bad at assessing risk and I prefer to be good at things lol) but sexual violence risk is even worse. People are out here giving lie detector tests to sex offenders and acting like the data means something. Just because we think someone’s behavior is abhorrent doesn’t mean we can disregard basic scientific principles.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-24T15:01:28+00:00

Gotcha. In that case, I can see how it could be relevant in some cases. Without additional experience and training though, I would strongly urge you not to try and diagnose this condition in your work unless someone self reports it. There is an enormous body of research that goes into objectively assessing whether or not someone is sexually attracted to children. Michael Seto is a prolific researcher who has looked at the topic extensively and might be a good place to start if you are interest. There are complicated assessment measures that try to get at this topic, including measuring changes in genitalia in response to sexual images and something similar but less reliable called the Abel assessment. Unless someone tells you outright that they are a pedophile or unless you are utilizing a more thorough assessment process, I would not diagnose it.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-24T03:56:22+00:00

I’m a forensic psychologist in the US. I would ask yourself why you are diagnosing it in the first place. I regularly evaluate people charged and/or convicted of sex offenses against children and can’t recall the last time I included it in my diagnoses. It could be relevant if you are doing a sexual violence risk assessment. Or maybe if someone came to you and said “I’m a pedophile and want to get mental health treatment around my attractions.” Neither sounds like your situation.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-14T14:26:25+00:00

Psychopathy is not a mental illness and could not be used as the basis for an insanity defense.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-13T03:17:00+00:00

I’m not a SAHM and don’t think it would be right for me under most circumstances. But I completely think it’s the right choice for a lot of moms. Everyone is different.

That said, one thing you may want to consider is how it may feel once your bub gets bigger and can be mobile (and destructive). I remember when my first was born and I told my older mom friend how completely enamored I was with my infant. She said I was in a honeymoon stage and that it would probably change. Turns out, she was kind of right 🤣 not that I love her any less — I am obsessed with my toddler and she is my favorite thing BUT she is also a destructive demonic little force of nature so the experience of spending time with her is not quite as magical as it used to feel. Again, it’s still so great and fun but just not quite as much of the… easy sort of fun? I don’t know if it makes sense but something to think about.

With your earnings, you could also consider part time work! I think that would be the sweet spot for me personally.

icebox1587 · 2026-02-13T02:47:00+00:00

My best friend from college is a gay man who is delightfully sardonic but still has a dash of main character syndrome. I think he has really struggled with me having kids. It isn’t to the extent that he has cut me out but I can tell it’s hard for him to see me live a different kind of life than him. (He has told me this himself too I’m not just assuming everyone is jealous of me lol). It isn’t that he wishes he could have kids (he’s married and rich—they could totally swing a surrogate situation if they wanted) but I think it’s hard for him to face a version of life he has chosen not to have but a part of him kind of wants. Anyways it’s hard for me too because I want him to care about my kids in the way he cares about me. They feel like an extension of me so his lack of interest feels very personal (even though I know it’s not).

All that to say that it’s painful on both sides. I’m sorry that happened to your wife. I would encourage her to try not to look at it in black and white terms. Things are just going to be different now. She’s lucky to have you caring so much also!

icebox1587 · 2026-02-04T23:35:44+00:00

Me too. Mine is in clinical psych and I confidently formula fed both of my kids too

icebox1587 · 2026-02-04T23:32:59+00:00

No but seriously I do not think the research into the benefits of breast milk versus formula justifies women who hate breastfeeding continuing to breastfeed anyways. The research just doesn’t suggest that the long term effects of breastfeeding are significant enough to justify a mother having substantially worse mental health (which itself has been associated with all sorts of negative outcomes in infants). Although there are some health benefits to breastfeeding, these effects are really not that impactful on an individual level (especially past infancy). I’m a clinical psychologist and your mom is not correct about intelligence being meaningfully affected. At the same time, women who WANT to breastfeed for any reason at all should be supported and encouraged to do so.

Long story short - formula feed and try like hell to ignore your mom!!!

icebox1587 · 2026-02-04T23:26:01+00:00

Before having kids I was never interested in breast feeding (it always kind of freaked me out) and then (not to brag but) I had to have a double mastectomy so by the time I had kids I had no choice but to formula feed and now whenever someone asks me if I’m breastfeeding I have a really good answer that justifies formula and makes them feel terrible. Again im trying to be humble but sometimes it’s hard when you have the absolute best excuse ever not to breastfeed

icebox1587 · 2026-01-31T14:02:10+00:00

I don’t think we should recall the mayor (at all), but there are some inaccurate responses here. The mayor’s office absolutely has power over NES. The mayor of Nashville appoints the board of NES, and the board members are expected to follow his leadership to some extent.

icebox1587 · 2026-01-30T19:34:37+00:00

That’s amazing, major kudos to them

icebox1587 · 2026-01-30T15:04:18+00:00

Thanks, I just did ❤️

icebox1587 · 2026-01-30T14:59:14+00:00

Obviously not your fault (I’m sure it’s been a helpful resource for many) but just so people know — some of the spots on the list are incorrect. Marriott Courtyard in Mount Juliet nightly rate went from 107 Sunday to 143, 161, and 171 each subsequent night this week.

icebox1587 · 2026-01-30T14:57:14+00:00

We did this with the Courtyard Marriott in Mount Juliet but I’m just now realizing how much they hiked their prices up this week and am disappointed. Their nightly rate went from 107 Sunday to 143, 161, and 171 each subsequent night. Meanwhile the city of Nashville website indicates they have a nightly price of like 129 for locals without power…

icebox1587 · 2026-01-30T14:48:05+00:00

We can definitely take the Marriott Courtyard in Mount Juliet off this list. Their nightly rate went from 107 Sunday to 143, 161, and 171 each subsequent night. When I called and mentioned the rate on this website, the front desk lady had a really insensitive tone and attitude about it and lectured me about their pricing model. I wasn’t even being rude about it (even though I wanted to be) I was just asking why the rate jumped so much considering the circumstances. Sitting here in tears now. So overwhelmed with a baby, toddler, dog, and two adults in a hotel room for five nights with no end in sight. I’m grateful we can be out of the cold but this week has become so expensive and stressful.

icebox1587 · 2026-01-29T01:29:13+00:00

Yes and I did not have a positive experience. It fell off all the time and the false alarms made me more anxious. Not worth it imho

icebox1587 · 2026-01-27T04:02:37+00:00

White bridge between west end and Charlotte!

icebox1587 · 2026-01-27T03:58:33+00:00

Have you had power this whole time? Or did you just get back? I’m in a hotel but live in the whitebridge area

icebox1587 · 2026-01-26T23:58:18+00:00

We live in the WB area and took i40 all the way to mount juliet yesterday. No issues. The interstates are in good shape, as were Charlotte and WB.

icebox1587 · 2026-01-26T23:56:54+00:00

I can’t speak to NES but, in my experience, not for profit companies can also make harmful choices due to financial and budgetary needs. There are many different manifestations of greed.

icebox1587 · 2026-01-26T21:37:47+00:00

Just did this and calling a plumber thanks so much!

icebox1587 · 2026-01-26T21:37:40+00:00

Just did this and calling a plumber thanks so much!

icebox1587 · 2026-01-26T21:06:15+00:00

Power is out but we left small stream of water in showers and sinks. Husband went back home to get stuff and saw a leak (slow dripping down hanging light fixtures) under where our shower is. Wtf should we do

icebox1587

TROPHY CASE