Sex Addicts Anonymous
Find SAA meetings near you or online. Learn what happens at a first meeting, how sponsorship and sobriety work, and how peer support differs from therapy.
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What Is Sex Addicts Anonymous?
Sex Addicts Anonymous, or SAA, is a peer fellowship for people who want to stop addictive sexual behavior. Members use an adapted Twelve Step program and share experience with one another. SAA has no membership dues or fees, and its stated membership requirement is a desire to stop the behavior.[1]
To find a meeting, start with the official SAA meeting finder. Check the location or online format, time zone, attendance restrictions and any instructions for contacting the group before joining.[2]
SAA is not therapy and does not diagnose sexual concerns. The organization explicitly makes no claim of clinical effectiveness. If you need an assessment, help with another mental health condition or guidance about treatment, contact a qualified clinician.[3]
- SAA offers peer support. Members share experiences through a Twelve Step fellowship.[1]
- Meetings differ. Some listings require contact or an intake conversation before attendance.[2]
- Sharing is voluntary. SAA’s first-meeting guidance says newcomers may listen rather than speak about their experiences.[4]
- Sobriety is individualized. SAA does not define recovery as a universal ban on all sexual activity.[5]
- Treatment is a separate service. A sponsor or meeting does not replace a clinical assessment.[3]
How to Find SAA Meetings Near You
Use the official finder to search for in-person meetings in your area. Read the full listing rather than relying only on a search-result title. A group may have eligibility restrictions, a contact person or instructions that are important before your first visit.[2]
Before leaving, confirm:
- The current address, entrance and start time
- Whether the meeting is intended for people seeking recovery or also allows visitors
- Whether you must contact someone first
- Any gender or other attendance restrictions
- Accessibility arrangements you need
You could write: “I am considering my first meeting. Is this group open to someone new, and is there anything I should do before attending?” You do not need to include a detailed sexual history in that first message.
If you cannot find a suitable local meeting, the directory also lists remote options. For general information about sexual behavior concerns, see our sex addiction guide. A search term or fellowship label does not establish a diagnosis.
Joining SAA Online or by Phone
Check the remote meeting’s time zone, platform and access instructions. Some groups require an advance conversation or provide joining information through a contact person. Do not assume that every online meeting has the same entry process.[2]
Ask about cameras, display names, headphones, recording rules and whether you can attend from a private location. These are questions to verify with the particular group, not universal SAA policies. Avoid joining where other people can overhear participants’ private disclosures.
What Happens at a First SAA Meeting?
SAA’s first-meeting pamphlet describes member-led meetings with readings and time for sharing. A first-name introduction may be requested, but you do not have to adopt a label before you are comfortable. You may listen without sharing personal experiences. Some meetings include a closing prayer, with participation optional.[4]
A meeting can feel unfamiliar even when people are welcoming. Before attending, think about what you want from the first visit: understanding the format, hearing others’ experiences or asking how sponsorship works. You do not have to decide whether the fellowship is right for you after one conversation.
These preparation questions can help you ask about the particular group you are considering.
| Your question | What to confirm with the meeting contact |
|---|---|
| Can I attend as a newcomer? | Eligibility and any advance contact or intake requirements |
| May I listen without sharing? | How introductions and participation work in that group |
| Can a partner or professional attend? | Whether the meeting is open to visitors |
| Will the format work for me? | Accessibility, language, online platform and privacy arrangements |
If something feels uncomfortable, you can ask a question, step away or consider a different group. Respectful boundaries matter in peer support, just as they do in other relationships.
Privacy and Anonymity
SAA describes anonymity as an important part of its program, and its newcomer guidance asks participants to protect what they hear in meetings.[4] That expectation is not an absolute guarantee about another participant’s behavior or a technology platform’s security.
Ask the group about its privacy practices before sharing identifying details. Consider what appears in your screen name or background during an online meeting. For clinician-led care, ask separately about confidentiality, its limits and how records are stored.[6][7]
How SAA Defines Sobriety
SAA members identify the sexual behaviors they want to stop rather than follow one definition of sexual abstinence for everyone. Its Three Circles tool separates inner-circle behaviors a person considers addictive, middle-circle warning signs or uncertain behaviors, and outer-circle activities that support a healthier life.[5]
The tool is a fellowship framework, not a clinical diagnostic test. If you are uncertain whether your concerns involve impaired control, distress about values, relationship agreements or another condition, a professional assessment can help clarify the distinction. Clinical guidance emphasizes sexual health and functioning rather than treating all sexual interest as illness.[8]
For example, you might ask a clinician how to distinguish a behavior you cannot control from a behavior you dislike or feel ashamed about. Those concerns may overlap, but they do not automatically have the same explanation or treatment needs.[8]
The Twelve Steps and Sponsorship
SAA uses a Twelve Step approach adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. The fellowship describes this as spiritual and welcomes people with religious beliefs and those without them. Its program does not require affiliation with a particular religion.[1][3]
A sponsor is an experienced member who offers guidance with the Steps. SAA describes sponsorship as one member sharing experience with another, and a temporary sponsor may be an option while you look for a longer-term fit.[9]
Ask a potential sponsor how you would communicate, what availability is realistic and what boundaries you both expect. Sponsorship does not give someone clinical credentials or authority over your medical care. If you need treatment advice, take that question to an appropriate professional.[3]
SAA Compared With Therapy and S.L.A.A.
A meeting and a therapy appointment serve different purposes. SAA offers mutual support and a fellowship program. Psychotherapy involves a trained professional working with you on assessed concerns and treatment goals.[3][6]
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, often written S.L.A.A., is a separate fellowship that addresses concerns involving sex, love, relationships and emotional attachment. Its official program information can help you compare the focus with the support you are seeking.[10]
Similar names do not mean identical programs. Check the specific fellowship’s materials and meeting requirements. If your main concern is pornography, our porn addiction recovery guide also explains treatment goals, evidence and ways to review progress.
Does SAA Work?
SAA says that it does not conduct research or keep outcome records and makes no claims of effectiveness. Research about Alcoholics Anonymous should not be presented as proof that SAA produces the same results.[3]
An individual may find connection, structure or support in a meeting. That experience is different from a clinical success rate. When evaluating any source of help, consider whether it supports your goals, respects boundaries and leaves room for appropriate professional care.
When to Consider a Therapist as Well
Consider an assessment when sexual behavior feels difficult to control, continues despite harm, or interferes with responsibilities and relationships. High sexual interest alone does not establish compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Distress based entirely on moral judgment or disapproval also does not meet that condition’s requirements.[8]
You can seek sex addiction counseling while deciding whether a peer fellowship fits. Ask a clinician about experience with compulsive sexual behavior, their approach to sexual health, and how treatment would address the concerns you describe.
For therapy near you, consider a primary care referral, insurer’s directory or local mental health services. For online appointments, confirm provider qualifications, whether the clinician can work with you in your location, fees, privacy and the plan for urgent needs.[11][7]
If you have thoughts of suicide or are in emotional distress, call or text 988 in the United States. Call 911 for immediate life-threatening danger. A routine peer meeting is not an emergency service.[11]
Your next step can be small: check a meeting listing, send a brief question or arrange an assessment. Use the official SAA finder for current meeting details and our recovery resources to explore other kinds of support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sex Addicts Anonymous
How Do I Find SAA Meetings Near Me?
Use the official SAA meeting finder. Check location, format, attendance restrictions and any advance contact requirements. Confirm the details before attending.[2]
Are SAA Meetings Free?
SAA has no membership dues or fees. It is supported by voluntary contributions. Ask a local contact if you need clarification about any optional literature or other expenses.[1]
Do I Have to Speak at My First SAA Meeting?
SAA’s newcomer guidance says you may listen without sharing personal experiences. A first-name introduction may be requested. Ask the particular group how introductions work.[4]
Is SAA Religious?
SAA describes a spiritual Twelve Step program without affiliation to a particular religion. It welcomes religious and nonreligious members. Ask about the format if spiritual language affects whether the group feels suitable.[3]
Can Young People Attend SAA?
Do not assume every meeting accepts minors. SAA’s newcomer guidance says groups decide how to handle minors in light of local law and group circumstances. Contact the group before attending and seek age-appropriate professional support when needed.[4]
Does SAA Require Abstinence From All Sex?
No universal ban on all sexual activity defines SAA sobriety. Members identify behaviors they want to stop and use the Three Circles framework to distinguish those behaviors, warning signs and healthy activities.[5]
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