On November 5, Dr. Paul Fedoroff, director of The Royal’s Sexual Behaviours Clinic, received a Community Safety Award from Crime Prevention Ottawa.
The annual awards recognize “people, groups and programs that have made a difference in preventing crime and making communities safer across the city.”
Dr. Fedoroff won the Innovation Award for his clinic’s approach to preventing sex crimes. The Sexual Behaviours Clinic treats men and women with problematic sexual interests and behaviours. Dr. Fedoroff’s clinical work and research are focused on the assessment and treatment of people with problematic sexual behaviours, especially those with intellectual disabilities. He is an international expert in this area.
“We work with people at all stages, from those who have been incarcerated for a sexual offence and are being released back into the community, to those who have never committed a crime but are fearful they might,” said Dr. Fedoroff.
The clinic treats people with medication and/or psychotherapy to normalize their sexual impulses. Research and education are key parts of the clinic; 98 per cent of Dr. Fedoroff’s patients agree to participate in studies before, during and after treatment.
In recent years, the clinic has seen an increasing number of self-referrals from clients who have never committed a sexual offence but are worried by their problematic sexual interests.
“People don’t have to commit a crime before they come to see us,” said Dr. Fedoroff. “In fact, we prefer to see people before they’ve committed a crime.” There is no judgement and no waiting list, he adds.
Dr. Fedoroff has led the clinic since 2001, and its model and success rates have received much attention and recognition, including the American Psychiatric Association’s Gold Achievement Award in 2015.
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Thanh Ly, Anthony Di Monte, Councillor Jeff Leiper, Dr. Paul Fedoroff, Natasha Knack, and Lisa Murphy