Maybe Helix was right. Maybe the great majority would frown on this kind of treatment, but if they did it still wouldn't change Reid's mind. He could motivate his actions and nothing short of a direct order would be able to sway his determination. This was the right course of action. This is what he does.
"I'm a criminal profiler." he started, softly, letting the comment about being a sadist slide. "It's my job to analyse the behavior of UnSubs - serial killers, mostly - in order to put together a profile so the local law enforcement can stop them. That's what I was doing with you back at the HQ, I was only reading what you were already showing me and things like public opinion or personal feelings about what you did is completely irrelevant."
A small pause, as he tries to figure out how much he should say. Some reassurance, maybe. That could be good.
"I'm good at what I do, but that doesn't mean I do it for fun. I have no intention of exposing you in any way."