Psychological Sexual Behaviour & Risk Assessments
We provide comprehensive psychological sexual behaviour assessments for adult men and women who have been arrested, charged with, or convicted of sexual offences. These assessments are designed to help clarify sexual behaviour, risk factors, protective factors, treatment needs, and risk for future sexual reoffending. They may be useful in legal, correctional, clinical, supervision, parole, probation, and other administrative decision-making contexts.
What the Assessment Includes
This is a comprehensive assessment process, not a single test.
The in-person assessment typically takes a full day and may include:
- A lengthy clinical and sexual history interview
- Computerized psychological and sexual behaviour testing
- Validated actuarial and structured risk assessment tools
- Review of available legal, correctional, medical, psychological, or treatment records
- Phallometric testing for male clients, where appropriate
- Collateral interviews with partners, family members, treatment providers, or other supports
- Assessment of risk factors, protective factors, treatment needs, and risk-management considerations
All available information is integrated into a detailed psychological report.
What the Assessment Can Help Address
Depending on the referral question, the assessment may provide information about:
- Risk for future sexual reoffending
- Sexual interests and behaviour
- Historical and current risk factors
- Protective factors
- Treatment needs
- Treatment and intervention recommendations
- Supervision and risk-management recommendations
- Probation or parole considerations
- Other legal or administrative questions related to sexual behaviour and risk
U.S. Travel and Historical Offences
For some Canadian citizens with dated or historical sexual offence convictions, a current psychological sexual behaviour assessment may provide useful clinical information in support of efforts to challenge, review, or seek reconsideration of restrictions affecting travel or admissibility to the United States. The usefulness of an assessment will depend on the individual circumstances and legal process involved. Clients should speak with their lawyer or qualified U.S. immigration professional about whether a current psychological assessment may support their application or review. The assessment itself does not determine admissibility and cannot guarantee that a travel restriction will be changed.
Phallometric Testing
Phallometric testing, also known as penile plethysmography, may form one part of the assessment for male clients. This testing measures physiological sexual responding while an individual listens to standardized auditory sexual stimuli. Results are interpreted alongside the clinical interview, psychological testing, risk measures, history, records, and collateral information. Phallometric testing is not used on its own to determine risk, guilt, innocence, or whether an offence occurred. Phallometric testing is not offered as a standalone service.
Important Limitations
These assessments do not determine guilt or innocence. They are also generally not designed to answer highly specific questions about whether a particular individual, such as a child or family member, is safe with the assessed person in a specific setting. For this reason, a standard sexual behaviour risk assessment may not be appropriate for some family court or parenting-related referral questions.
Timeline
The direct assessment usually requires a full day. Following the appointment, significant professional time is required to review records, score and interpret testing, complete collateral interviews, formulate risk, develop recommendations, and prepare the final report. Reports are generally completed within 4 to 6 weeks once all required information has been received.
Fees and Scheduling
The cost of the assessment reflects the significant amount of clinical time involved both during and after the assessment day. Fees vary depending on the complexity of the referral, the amount of documentation requiring review, the testing required, and the number of collateral interviews involved.
Please contact our office for:
Discussion of whether this type of assessment is appropriate for your needs
A cost estimate
Current scheduling availability
Information about the referral process
For Lawyers & Referral Sources
We accept referrals from defence counsel, probation and parole professionals, treatment providers, and other professionals requiring a comprehensive assessment of sexual behaviour, risk, and treatment needs. If you are unsure whether this assessment is appropriate for your referral question, please contact us before scheduling. We can discuss the purpose of the assessment, required documentation, timelines, and estimated cost.