Children With Problematic Sexual Behaviours

At Marie-Vincent, children under 12 who exhibit problematic sexual behaviours receive specialized support tailored to their needs and development.

All services are provided under one roof by a team of professionals working in collaboration with our police, medical, psychosocial, and psychotherapeutic partners.

If a child or adolescent confides in you about experiencing sexual assault, we invite you to consult the following page:

Marie-Vincent offers a specialized intervention program based on a cognitive-behavioural approach. The duration of support depends on the assessed needs and the child’s progress throughout the process.

The interventions help children to:

• Understand, identify, express, and regulate their emotions
• Understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions
• Recognize and correct sexual behaviour problems
• Learn to regulate their emotions
• Reframe certain erroneous beliefs about sexuality
• Develop assertiveness, self-protection, and communication skills

After support, children generally demonstrate:

• a better understanding of sexuality;
• healthier emotional regulation;
• a reduction or elimination of problematic behaviours;
• greater self-confidence and assertiveness.

Source: Marie-Vincent Interuniversity Research Chair on Sexual Abuse of Children