Dear the reluctant pedephile,

Aside from the courage and strength it must have taken for you to write this letter, you have other important things going for you: you haven't acted on your fantasies, and you are open to the idea of getting help from a counselor. First thing's first: psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other qualified mental health and medical professionals are required by their codes of ethics to keep conversations between themselves and their patients CONFIDENTIAL. In very, very few situations are they permitted to share patient information with police, parents, teachers, and others. Your situation, as you've described it, is not one that would be turned over to law enforcement, or anyone else.

You're right about something else: seeing a therapist is what you should do. Counselors exist to help us become what we want to be and/or feel — in your case, someone who wants to have healthy relationships with women. If you decide to see a therapist, he or she (you can choose someone with whom you think you'd be more comfortable) would listen to your concerns, fears, complaints, personal history, family stories, hopes, dreams... and anything else on your mind. The therapist would probably ask you questions that can help you better understand why you feel the things that you described in your e-mail. Thinking and talking about one's self, a therapist's questions, and the ideas that both patient and counselor come up with together are all essential parts of trying to help people become healthier — whether that's feeling more in control, establishing respectful relationships, and/or other outcomes. A counselor might also recommend medication and support groups that, when combined with therapy, can help people get a handle on their desires as they explore the causes of unhealthy feelings and behaviors. Although it's not essential that you see a therapist who specializes in pedophilia, the resources mentioned in the Related Q&As listed below can help you find providers with extensive experience in this area.