SÓK-meðferð is a psychological therapy for children who need assistance because of inappropriate or harmful sexual behavior. The child protection services of local authorities can refer families to the resource.

The treatment is provided by psychologists who are specialized therapists in the service of children who exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior and their families. The service is mostly performed in the office of the psychologists providing service. Each psychologist works independently on each case and is responsible for calling the child and parents or guardian to an interview.

The service provider focuses on collaboration with employees of child protection services and, where appropriate, with other professional bodies or institutions, and provides professional advice. Cooperation with and support of the child's parents or guardian is a key element in the service.

Assessment and treatment

Recognized tools and methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy are used to evaluate problems and to treat them.

The evaluation is based on the following factors as appropriate in each case:

• Interviews with the parties involved

• Psychological test results

• Assessment of potential risk factors

• Data such as reports from child protection services

• Police reports

• Mental health or developmental assessment

Therapy is always focused on reducing the likelihood of further inappropriate sexual behavior, and on the child gaining increased ability to show appropriate and socially acceptable behavior. The extent of therapy is usually dependent on the importance and interaction of risk and protective factors.

Therapy for children includes education on sexual boundaries, effects and consequences of inappropriate sexual behavior, education for guardians on appropriate and inappropriate sexual behavior of children, education on sexual boundaries. Efforts are made to reduce risk factors that are revealed in the evaluation process and promote strengths that can reduce the likelihood of further inappropriate or harmful sexual behavior. The therapy period varies according to the extent of the issue, and the age and development of the child.

Reference and fee

The therapy is initiated at the request of the child protection services in the local authority of the child concerned. It is important that guardians of children give their consent to the service, otherwise the child protection services will seek appropriate means according to the child protection laws.

A moderate fee is expected from child protection services for risk assessment and treatment and the National Agency for Children and Families will collect those costs from the relevant services. Manual instruction and counselling, see section 2, is free of charge to child protection services. Child protection services pay the travel expenses of the psychologists.

Supervision and counselling

Part of the service is supervision to employees of the child protection services if the National Agency for Children and Families considers it necessary. This can be the case when issues are unclear, for example when an investigation is still ongoing at the child protection services, or where the sexual behavior is part of a larger and more complex problem. In such cases, the National Agency for Children and Families provides 1-2 counselling and supervision meetings for the child protection service employee with the appropriate psychologist and, as the circumstances arise, there may be a telephone meeting. These parties then assess the need for continuation, i.e. whether the case is thus considered closed or whether an application should be made for evaluation and treatment.

Treatment termination and follow-up

At the end of treatment, the psychologist reports to the child protection services and the National Agency for Children and Families, and calls a meeting with the child protection services and guardians. The meeting reviews the results of the evaluation and the success of the therapy. A meeting is held in the office of the psychologist providing service when possible, but depending on the circumstances it can also be in the child's hometown. The service provider performs follow-up in cases where it is considered necessary. Equally important is to have 3–4 follow-up interviews in about a year's time. In consultation with the child protection service, the service provider evaluates whether the success of treatment can be better guaranteed by having part of the follow-up interviews taken in or near the child's hometown.

If there is suspicion of further inappropriate sexual behaviour after a meeting has taken place or during follow-up, the service provider shall advise and be in consultation with the relevant child protection services and the National Agency for Children and Families, which will jointly evaluate appropriate responses.