Therapy for Sex Addiction

There are few things more difficult than the out of control feelings that come with sex addiction. Your relationship with your partner, family, and friends can suffer. It can feel like you are helpless to stop the behaviors. People struggling with an addiction to sex feel shame and guilt.

They are angry and frustrated with themselves, but they are not alone. Getting the right therapy can help you regain control over the problem. Therapy for a sex addiction can help you live a healthier life and repair broken or damaged relationships.

About Sex Addiction

DEFINING SEX ADDICTION

Sex addiction is a popular phrase for what is clinically referred to as out of control sexual behavior. It is known as a compulsive need to engage in sexual acts in order to achieve a sense of gratification. Often times, out of control sexual behavior puts pressure on relationships.

It can put your career at risk and harm your mental and physical health. There is no exact amount of acts in a time period that qualifies someone as a sex addict. It is not the same a defining an alcoholic who may be labeled as such after a specific number of drinks in a set amount of time.

DIAGNOSING A SEX ADDICTION

It is hard to diagnose yourself as a sex addict. Your partner may be concerned about your wants, desires and requests. Sex addiction is better understood through your cognitive experience and behaviors. This includes intrusive thoughts about sex and specific sex acts and behaviors that can not be stopped or controlled.

Maintaining secrecy and lying in order to cover up the behaviors is a common feature of sex addiction and often has a significantly negative impact on relationships.

SEX ADDICTION VS. PORN ADDICTION

Asking if sex addiction is the same as a pornography addiction is a difficult question to answer with a simple yes or no. There are many aspects of compulsive pornography use that are the same as a sex addiction.

Both can be forms of out of control sexual behaviors. It is also common that people struggling with other forms of out of control sexual behavior will also be engaged in compulsive porn use.

A more important measure is whether pornography is interfering with your life, your mental health and relationships. If the answer is yes you may want to seek professional help.

Maintaining secrecy and lying in order to cover up the behaviors is a common feature of sex addiction and often has a significantly negative impact on relationships.

HOW IS SEX ADDICTION TREATED?

Therapy for sex addiction consists of establishing a trusting relationship with a therapist where you can talk openly and explore difficult areas of your life. The goal is to establish a healthy relationship with sex and to help you regain a sense of control over unwanted behaviors.

You should be able to choose how you act and behave. For many people struggling with out of control sexual behavior, reestablishing trust in primary relationship is also necessary once the behaviors have stopped.

Learn More about Sexual Dysfunction

Therapy for Porn Addiction

Porn use is not a problem on its own, but too much of anything can come with its own set of problems. Too much pornography use can cause serious emotional and relationship issues. People with out-of-control porn use (OCSB) have shame and embarrassment. This can weaken a person emotionally and impact their life in a very bad way. A person struggling with using too much porn can feel captive to their unwanted and intrusive urges. While that person may want help, they are ashamed to admit this problem to anyone. The truth is that therapy can help. If you are ready to start living better CICC therapists are here for you. You can navigate these waters and we can help.

What is out-of-control porn use?

Often referred to as “porn addiction,” out of control porn use occurs when one feels an inability to control the impulse or urge to view porn. Instead of offering a person connection, intimacy, and happiness, the behavior can cause distress, anxiety or depression.
Out of control porn use takes away from time spent with family, relationships, and on your career. It and can induce feelings of shame and guilt. Theses behaviors may include online chatting, dating sites, and viewing pornographic images and video.
Pornography may also have an impact on erectile dysfunction.

Symptoms

OCSB is often rooted-in, or has similarities with, obsessive-compulsive characteristics:

Therapy and out-of-control sexual behavior

The Center for Intimacy, Connection, and Change (CICC) uses a sex-positive approach to address out-of-control sexual behavior. We see people as having normal, human feelings and struggles, and help them identify the root causes of out-of-control sexual behavior. CICC’s therapists empower people to make better choices, rather than shame them. Proper therapy will teach you how to develop a healthy view of sexuality. This comes by separating sexuality from the “negative and shameful” to the positive, in sync with your relationship and sexual health goals. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), grounded in existential psychology, ours therapists help your balance your life and make better choices.

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