POWERED BY COUNTERFEIT EMOTIONSStart recovery →If pornography has become a concern, you may feel unsure of what to say. You can begin with care, curiosity, and clear boundaries. Your child’s worth is not in question, and you do not have to have every answer before taking a next step.
Pause before reacting. If your child opens up, thank them for telling you. Ask what happened and how they felt, giving them room to answer before drawing a conclusion.
Counterfeit Emotions invites us to look beneath a pattern without labeling the person. You might ask, “What was happening before that?” or “What were you hoping would feel different?” Accidental exposure, curiosity, and peer influence can also be part of the story.
Kindness can include a clear limit. Explain your family’s expectations about devices, privacy, and online content, with guidance and oversight appropriate to your child’s age.
Filters and parental controls can help reduce exposure, but they do not replace connection. Discuss what to do when upsetting content appears and who to ask for help. Keep making room to talk about feelings and choices as you revisit the technology plan.
Younger children: keep explanations simple and help them move away from upsetting content and tell a trusted adult.
Teens: include conversations about respect, consent, and pressure from others alongside family boundaries.
Adult sons: offer support and resources while respecting their responsibility to choose participation. Our men’s program is for ages 18 and older.
A self-paced online course for teens · In development
We’re developing a self-paced online Counterfeit Emotions course for teens who are struggling with pornography. It will explore the same emotional principles as our adult program, tailored to the pressures, relationships, and everyday experiences teens face.
The planned course will explore the Counterfeit Emotions dyads through situations teens can relate to. For example:
Take responsibility for a choice without letting it define who you are.
Explore difficult feelings, from loneliness to disappointment, and practice responding with understanding.
Navigate friendships and peer pressure with honesty, care, and healthy boundaries.
Parents and caregivers, leave your contact information and we’ll let you know as soon as the self-paced course is ready, with details to help you decide whether it fits your teen.
This is a parent or caregiver interest request, not enrollment. Please use your own contact information.
For you, the parent
Help your child understand the difference between “I made a mistake” and “I am a mistake.” You can address a choice honestly while reminding them that their worth has not changed.
Explore guilt and shame for yourself, then consider how your words and responses can make room for honesty, responsibility, and repair. The invitation is to stay curious, set clear limits, and help your child learn from a choice without using labels or humiliation.
Five-day self-paced course · $49 USD
Training videos, activities, and practices to explore the Counterfeit Emotions distinction between guilt and shame. This course is for your own learning as a parent, with ideas you can adapt to your child’s age and understanding.
Checkout opens on Counterfeit Emotions in a new tab.
A place to begin
“I love you, and this does not change your worth. I want to understand what happened. We can talk honestly and work out a next step.”
In the guilt-versus-shame distinction, a choice can be addressed without making it a verdict on a person’s value. Connection and responsibility can belong in the same conversation.
Two guides written for parents and caregivers, with practical conversations and next steps for each age group.
For parents of younger children · Free four-page guide
Be a safe place to turn, prepare before giving a device, and guide your child through confusing content with comfort and clear boundaries.
For parents of teens · Free six-page guide
Begin with trust, talk about values without shame, and help your teen take ownership of a plan while you provide guidance and support.
Use the guide signup below to open the download page. No account or password is needed. Educational guidance for parents; not a substitute for professional care.
Start with the support that fits your family. Our recovery program and adult-focused reflection pages are intended for adults.
Explore the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance on talking with children about their online experiences.
Read the parent resource ↗For your own learning, explore how emotions and patterns connect in the Counterfeit Emotions approach.
Read “Why Can’t I Stop?” → Men ages 18 and olderIf he wants structured support, explore the program’s education, practical tools, and brotherhood together.
Explore the adult program →If distress or ongoing difficulty is affecting daily life, consider a pediatrician or licensed professional experienced with your child’s age group. You can seek guidance for yourself as a parent too.
If someone has pressured, threatened, or exploited your child, prioritize their safety and seek specialist help. In the U.S., NCMEC’s CyberTipline accepts reports of suspected child sexual exploitation. Outside the U.S., contact your local child-protection service.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Talking to your child about online pornography exposure
Guidance for age-appropriate conversations and responding without blame or shame.
Common Sense Media: A parent’s guide to parental controls
Explore device settings, content filters, and technology boundaries alongside open communication.
NCMEC NetSmartz: Online safety resources for families
Find guides for smartphone safety, social media, and helping children navigate online risks.
These U.S.-based organizations offer general parenting and online safety guidance. Listing these resources does not imply endorsement of this program.
Free PDF guides
Enter your details, then choose A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Teens or A Parent’s Guide to Younger Children on the download page.
Name and email are required; phone number is optional. We’ll also send an email to confirm you’d like recovery resources and program updates. No account or password is needed.