Luke Klinger often meets the silence of his callers with a simple, yet impactful question: 'Are you concerned about your use of pornography?' It's an opportunity for people who are concerned about their attraction to children to open up. As a registered social worker in Ontario, Luke takes calls three days a week from people in distress. He responds to anonymous phone calls and chat messages on Talking for Change's helpline. The helpline was established for individuals worried about their attraction to children, concerned about using child sexual abuse material, and those at risk of engaging in related offenses.

"The individuals who often reach out to the helpline are distressed, hopeless, and even suicidal due to their attraction and their isolation," Luke explains. These are the three items he always addresses first when he answers a helpline call. Most callers share similar attributes and experiences. They have been silently struggling with their feelings for a long time and typically reach out in a state of panic. Their phone calls are frequently triggered by a referral from Pornhub after entering search criteria that prompts an intervention.

In addition to the helpline, Luke facilitates group and individual therapy sessions offered for free by Talking for Change. Luke tells me, "It's really brave to call Talking for Change, to throw off that cloak of anonymity and seek help. For many people it's the first time they've spoken about their attraction out loud". Luke receives over 10 calls a day, with about 80% from individuals concerned about their behavior and 20% from worried family members and peers.”

He often receives calls from individuals who have struggled in self-imposed isolation for years. One such individual reached out after decades of silence to Talking for Change. The following is a composite call shared by Luke.

"This was the first time the individual had reached out to anyone after becoming aware of his attraction 20 years prior," Luke recounted.

"The individual was engaging in destructive negative self-talk and labeling himself with the societal stereotypes of those with Pedophilia. He was fearful of the repercussions of family and friends finding out, mostly, that he was going to be rejected by his loved ones." The two discussed the causes of the caller's sexual attraction and Luke highlighted the importance of engaging in self-compassionate practices. Luke spent two hours speaking with the caller.

Luke recalled, "the individual was grateful for a platform where they felt safe and free from any judgment or discrimination. In fact, they felt so safe that they made the courageous decision to submit a self-referral for therapy. Yes, this suicidal individual went from questioning how secure and anonymous [Talking for Change] was to submitting a self-referral for non-anonymous therapy within the space of two hours."

At the end of the call, the individual's feelings of hopelessness, distress, and suicidal thoughts had significantly reduced. "The nicest part of this, as a clinical practitioner, is that you see the person progress through group and come out the other side believing that they are a worthwhile human being who deserves to be loved like anyone else. This actively contributes to the prevention of child sexual abuse if the individual feels like they are more than the label which society bestows upon them. It further reemphasizes the need for preventative services like Talking for Change."

Talking for Change has expanded to serve nine out of ten provinces in Canada, they recently began serving Alberta. They offer anonymous support through their helpline and direct therapy. Due to high demand, they are adding additional groups for treatment and continue to offer 1-on-1 services to those individuals who would struggle in the group setting. They also offer anonymous support and tools to individuals who believe someone they know may have a sexual interest in children. At the time of publication Luke Klinger has begun work in support of survivors of sexual violence. Talking for Change is currently seeking social workers for staff.