Forensic Sexology
Evidence-informed resources for therapeutic practice, research and public protection.
Forensic Sexology examines the complex intersections between sexuality, sexual behaviour, psychological wellbeing, development, relationships, risk, harm and the social and legal contexts in which people live. This independent professional resource supports careful thinking, ethical practice and informed public discussion.
A clinically informed approach
Work involving sexual behaviour, offending and harm requires more than simplified explanations or punitive narratives. It calls for specialist knowledge, ethical clarity, appropriate accountability and an ability to consider prevention, development, diversity and the needs of victims, partners, children, families, services and the wider public.
Forensic Sexology creates space for thoughtful, referenced and clinically relevant material across prevention, assessment, treatment, desistance and public protection. Its purpose is not to excuse harmful behaviour, diagnose individuals online or replace formal assessment. It is to strengthen professional understanding, whole-family awareness and safer, more effective practice.
Featured themes
Prevention and early intervention
Help-seeking, public education, early identification and protective responses before harm occurs or escalates.
Assessment, formulation and risk management
The distinct purposes and limits of assessment tools, diagnosis, collaborative formulation and ongoing risk management.
Therapeutic intervention and desistance
Accountability, rehabilitation, identity change, social reintegration and the conditions that support sustainable change.
Digital and technology-facilitated sexual harm
How digital environments and emerging technologies shape opportunity, risk, disclosure, prevention and intervention.
Domestic abuse and relationship violence
The intersections between sexuality, coercive control, intimacy, trauma, power and patterns of interpersonal harm.
Victims, partners, families and relational systems
Survivor-informed and whole-family practice following disclosure, investigation, trauma and safeguarding intervention.
Explore all ten themes, including sexual offending, treatment and desistance, clinical sexology, diversity and disability, and ethics, law and governance.
Start with the perspective most relevant to you
Use these routes to find material written for members of the public, clinical professionals and legal professionals.
For the public
Clear information about sexual offending, help-seeking, treatment, safety and support for individuals and families.
For clinical professionals
Evidence-informed material for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and other qualified professionals.
For legal professionals
Clinically grounded resources for solicitors, barristers and legal teams working with sexual-offence cases.
Developing the evidence base
Forensic Sexology will publish original articles, evidence summaries, interviews, research commentary and longer-form work. Current programme areas include prevention and help-seeking, digital sexual offending, whole-family impact, treatment outcomes, professional governance, and ethical assessment and rehabilitation.
Professional education
IoPP provides advanced specialist education for qualified therapists and applied psychologists, including the Level 7 Diploma in Forensic Sexology. The course develops theoretically informed, reflective and ethically robust practice across the themes covered by this resource.
Editorial responsibility: Material is written for education and professional reflection. It does not constitute individual clinical, diagnostic, legal, risk-assessment or safeguarding advice and should not replace case-specific assessment, supervision or consultation with the appropriate authorities.
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