Finding a Sex Addiction Therapist

Whether you’re in the process of recovering from sexual addiction or seeking help for someone else, finding a sex addiction therapist is an important first step. Although many people with this disorder struggle to admit they have a problem, it is treatable. With the right therapy and support, you can find freedom from your sexually compulsive behaviors.

Most individuals enjoy sex and seek it out from time to time, but in sex addiction, this desire becomes an obsession. The individual may feel compelled to engage in sexual acts even when their behavior interferes with their personal and professional life or ruins their relationships with family and friends. This type of compulsive behavior often results in promiscuity, one-night stands and excessive masturbation.

Sexual compulsivity can provide a source of self-gratification that helps sex addicts manage unmet intimacy needs, or it can serve as a distraction from a difficult reality such as financial difficulties or work anxiety. Counselors who specialize in sex addiction are trained to identify and address these underlying issues, which must be addressed before the addiction can be treated.

Ideally, the sex addiction therapist you choose should be experienced with addressing this issue in couples. Frequently, the sex addiction therapist will be called in when the spouse of an unfaithful partner has discovered the betrayal and is experiencing a crisis. It’s important that the therapist not side with either the spouse or the addict, but rather focus on helping both members of the couple come to terms with the betrayal and its consequences.