Self-Referrals
If you are aged 18 years or older, live in Aotearoa New Zealand, and experience sexual attraction towards children/young people aged under 16, you can self-refer to participate in Stand Strong, Walk Tall (SSWT). Please note that the pilot study is coming to a close and we are now closed to new referrals.
We currently offer services to adults (men, women, and gender diverse), but adapting our service for the needs of younger people is a future priority.
If you are outside Aotearoa New Zealand, or below 18 years of age, see our Resources page for links to other services and online resources.
We currently offer services to adults (men, women, and gender diverse), but adapting our service for the needs of younger people is a future priority.
If you are outside Aotearoa New Zealand, or below 18 years of age, see our Resources page for links to other services and online resources.
What We Offer
Therapy Goals
Stand Strong, Walk Tall uses an individualised, strengths-based and collaborative approach with participants.
This means that we do not tell people what their therapy goals should be. Instead, participants work with their clinician to set therapy goals that are meaningful for them, with sessions focussing on building skills and developing strategies that will help them reach these goals.
Some of the goals that participants might like to work towards include:
This means that we do not tell people what their therapy goals should be. Instead, participants work with their clinician to set therapy goals that are meaningful for them, with sessions focussing on building skills and developing strategies that will help them reach these goals.
Some of the goals that participants might like to work towards include:
- Good life planning i.e. developing a plan for how you would like your life to be, based on your individual values
- Building self-efficacy and self-esteem
- Exploring stigma and strategies to navigate stigma
- Strengthening skills for adult intimate relationships
- Reducing the salience of sexual interest in children/young people, and strengthening adult sexual interest
- Strengthening general empathy skills
- Strengthening coping skills and emotion management, and reducing anxiety or negative mood
- Reinforcing/strengthening commitment to an offence-free life
- Strengthening management of sexual urges/behaviours
- Enhancing understanding of minor-attraction and promoting self-acceptance
Sessions
The number, frequency and timing of sessions will also be decided in collaboration between clinicians and individual participants.
Participants may work with their clinician face-to-face in the Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland clinics, however it is also possible for participants to speak with their clinician using online options such as Zoom.
Participants will also have the option of including friends, family or other support people in their sessions, if this is something they would like to do (it is not a requirement).
Participants may work with their clinician face-to-face in the Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland clinics, however it is also possible for participants to speak with their clinician using online options such as Zoom.
Participants will also have the option of including friends, family or other support people in their sessions, if this is something they would like to do (it is not a requirement).
Focus of SSWT
We offer a range of different areas that participants might like to work on during their engagement with Stand Strong, Walk Tall.
Participants will work collaboratively with their clinician to decide which areas are most relevant to them, and what will help them to achieve their goals – some ideas of what people might like to work on are provided in the Therapy goals section above.
To support this collaborative approach to therapy, we have an initial “getting to know you” session or sessions, during which new potential participants can have all their questions answered and decide whether they would like to take part in the SSWT pilot as a participant (this is called an informed consent process).
Following this, each person who consents will participate in an assessment phase and a collaborative goal-setting phase with their clinician. More details on these two therapy phases are provided below.
Participants will work collaboratively with their clinician to decide which areas are most relevant to them, and what will help them to achieve their goals – some ideas of what people might like to work on are provided in the Therapy goals section above.
To support this collaborative approach to therapy, we have an initial “getting to know you” session or sessions, during which new potential participants can have all their questions answered and decide whether they would like to take part in the SSWT pilot as a participant (this is called an informed consent process).
Following this, each person who consents will participate in an assessment phase and a collaborative goal-setting phase with their clinician. More details on these two therapy phases are provided below.
Assessment
All pilot participants will undertake an initial assessment phase with their clinician, including clinical interviews.
The purpose of this assessment will be to better understand participants’ current strengths and needs, and to help with deciding what the focuses of therapy will be.
The purpose of this assessment will be to better understand participants’ current strengths and needs, and to help with deciding what the focuses of therapy will be.
Collaborative Goal-Setting
Towards the end of the initial assessment phase, all participants will work with their clinician to identify treatment goals and develop a plan for what they would like to work on with their clinician.
Participants will then work with their clinician on the plan that they have developed for therapy.
The length of therapy will depend on the needs of the individual participant and what they are hoping to achieve.
Towards the end of therapy, all participants will work with their clinician to develop a ‘Good Life Plan’.
This plan will centre around each participant’s individual values and strengths, and will act as a support for maintaining their wellbeing and achieving their life goals after they finish their engagement with the pilot.
Participants will then work with their clinician on the plan that they have developed for therapy.
The length of therapy will depend on the needs of the individual participant and what they are hoping to achieve.
Towards the end of therapy, all participants will work with their clinician to develop a ‘Good Life Plan’.
This plan will centre around each participant’s individual values and strengths, and will act as a support for maintaining their wellbeing and achieving their life goals after they finish their engagement with the pilot.
