Sex Addiction Counseling
Counseling is the most effective treatment for sex addiction. Therapy helps address the underlying causes of the compulsive behavior and build healthier habits.
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Is Counseling an Effective Sex Addiction Treatment?
Behavioral therapies, in particular, seem to be most effective in treating addictive and compulsive sexual behaviors.
However, with the amount of shame and stigma surrounding sexual addiction, many addicts fail to seek treatment until their situation becomes dire.
As a result, sex addicts may experience severe mental health problems or financial or legal troubles due to their addiction, even needing interventions to influence change.
While inpatient treatment for sex addiction is rare, it may be necessary for individuals who also abuse substances or engage in dangerous sexual activities.
Ideally, the stigma around sex addiction will continue to improve, and addicts will seek sex therapy before real harm can occur.
Benefits of counseling for sex addiction include:
- Avoiding or lessening the financial or legal negative consequences of sex addiction
- Rebuilding healthy relationships with partners and loved ones
- Improve performance at work or school
- Creating coping skills to handle obsessive sexual thoughts, sexual impulses, and sexual urges
- Increased self-esteem and self-worth
- Addressing intense shame, guilt, embarrassment, and regret
- Treatment of co-occurring substance abuse issues or mental health conditions
- Processing of past trauma that may have led to sex addiction
- Access to couples therapy to mend resentment related to infidelity
Types of Counseling Used for Treating Sex Addiction
A few different types of therapy have proven to help treat sex addiction.
Not all types of counseling work for all sex addicts, so you may need to try a few before finding what works best.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common therapy for sex addiction and hypersexuality disorder. CBT works well for sex addiction because it helps the patient identify the thought patterns and false beliefs that lead to addictive behaviors.
A sex addiction therapist using CBT helps patients confront and process these unhealthy sexual thoughts and sexual urges.
Once these thoughts and past trauma are processed, the therapist will teach patients how to apply these skills moving forward to avoid future relapse during moments of temptation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an offshoot of CBT that helps sex addict patients learn to stop denying, avoiding, and struggling with their inner emotions.
Rather than constantly fighting and shaming their sexual urges, patients learn to accept these feelings and healthily manage them.
While ACT has many similarities with CBT, the therapy’s focus on acceptance can help with the intense shame many addicts experience.
The truth is, there is no cure for sex addiction. Through radical acceptance of these sexual compulsions, patients learn to commit to making necessary changes to their behavior.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Motivational enhancement therapy can be highly effective for sex addicts with difficulty finding the motivation to change their behavior.
It’s not uncommon for sex addicts to feel hopeless or even resistant to improving, whether due to self-worth issues or resentment towards their situation.
MET for sex addiction works by helping patients produce internally motivated change. Such motivation is provoked through a combination of goal setting, assessments, and motivational interviewing that discourages apathy about the situation.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be especially helpful for people whose sexual behaviors are tied to underlying personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder. DBT teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships—areas that often fuel compulsive or risky sexual behavior.
In counseling for sex addiction, DBT may help individuals:
- Recognize emotional triggers that lead to acting out sexually
- Build healthier coping strategies to replace destructive behaviors
- Strengthen self-awareness and self-control in moments of stress
- Improve communication and relationship boundaries
By focusing on mindfulness and skill-building, DBT gives people tools not just to reduce unwanted behaviors, but also to create a more balanced and fulfilling life.
12-Step Programs and Support Groups
Support groups and 12-step programs are often employed in addiction treatment programs, and they are just as helpful for sex addiction as well.
Depending on the addict’s style of recovery, 12-step programs can work as a standalone treatment or a supplement to existing sex addiction treatment.
Support groups, by comparison, are typically viewed as a supplement to counseling or treatment programs.
Through support groups, sex addicts in recovery can find validation, community, and accountability through meetings and conversations with other recovering addicts.
Prevalent sexual addiction 12-step programs and support groups include:
- Sex Addicts Anonymous
- Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
- Sexaholics Anonymous
- Sexual Recovery Anonymous
- S-Anon
Finding the Right Therapist: Why Specialization Matters
While many licensed therapists can help with compulsive behaviors, sex addiction is a complex issue involving intimacy disorders, trauma, and unique patterns of deception. For this reason, seeking a professional with specialized training is often the most effective path to recovery. These specialists are equipped to go beyond general talk therapy to address the root causes of the addiction.
Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT®)
The most recognized and rigorous credential in this field is the Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). A CSAT is not just a general counselor; they are an already-licensed mental health professional who has completed extensive, specialized training through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP).
To become a CSAT, a professional must first:
- Hold a Master’s degree or higher in a mental health field like counseling, psychology, or social work.
- Be fully licensed to practice therapy independently in their state.
- Have a minimum of five years of clinical experience.
After meeting these prerequisites, they undergo a multi-module training program that covers trauma, family dynamics, and a 30-task treatment model developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes. They also have access to specialized assessment tools, like the Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI), that are not available to most therapists.
Other Important Certifications
In your search, you may come across other related credentials from reputable organizations:
- Associate Sex Addiction Therapist (ASAT): This credential is for professionals who have completed the same intensive training as a CSAT but have less than five years of clinical experience. They are still highly knowledgeable specialists.
- Certified Partner Trauma Therapist (CPTT) & Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS): These certifications are crucial for partners of sex addicts. Professionals with a CPTT or CCPS credential are specially trained to treat the betrayal trauma that partners experience as one of the major effects of sex addiction. Their approach is based on trauma recovery, not codependency.
Other Licensed Mental Health Professionals
You can also find effective help from licensed therapists who may not have a CSAT certification but have extensive experience in treating addictions and trauma. Look for credentials such as:
- LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
- LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
- PsyD or PhD (Psychologist)
When considering a therapist without a specific sex addiction certification, it is essential to ask about their direct experience treating compulsive sexual behaviors and their familiarity with betrayal trauma.
What to Look for in a Sex Addiction Counselor
Finding a sex addiction counselor can feel daunting, especially considering the shame and guilt sex addicts often feel.
If you or a loved one is ready to seek counseling for sex addiction, there are a few things to keep in mind to set yourself up for success.
- Find someone who makes you feel comfortable: To recover from sex addiction, patients must feel safe being vulnerable with a therapist. You may be less likely to commit to recovery if you don’t feel safe or comfortable with a particular therapist. Be willing to try a few therapists initially to find someone with whom you connect.
- Practical appointment times: If your therapy sessions occur at an inconvenient time in your existing schedule, you are more likely to skip attending, or the session may not be productive. Please let the therapist’s office know what times work best for your schedule so you can attend regularly.
- Know the cost and plan to invest in your recovery: The price of therapy is often a huge barrier to entry for many sex addicts. If you have health insurance, check your co-pays for mental healthcare and any potential out-of-pocket costs. Some offices may offer payment options or recommend low-cost community resources if cost prevents you from attending therapy.
- Experience and specialty: Not all therapists and counselors have the same training and experience. Make sure the person you’re seeing has training or expertise in sex addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders you may already have.
Seeking Counseling for Sex Addiction
If you or a loved one is ready to seek counseling for sex addiction, many providers are prepared to help you begin the path to recovery. You can get started by discussing your symptoms with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment options for your unique needs.
Another option is to try SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or 1-877-726-4727 (HELP); they can provide a list of sex addiction treatment centers in your area so you can find the best option for you or your loved one.
Get Help for Sex Addiction
If you have become addicted to sex, help is available: Learn more about treatment and therapy options for sex addiction.
FAQs About Sex Addiction Counseling
How do you stop being addicted to sex?
Treatment for sex addiction usually includes one-on-one or group therapy, often in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy or similar therapy styles. Some styles may work better for others, so don’t hesitate to ask your provider which option is best for you.
In some cases, inpatient treatment may be needed if a sex addict also has substance abuse issues or severe mental health concerns. Medication may also be helpful for individuals with co-occurring mental health issues like bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorders, OCD, ADHD, and depression.
Is sex addiction a mental illness?
Yes. Although sex addiction is not officially listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition), the condition is widely diagnosed and treated.
What is the three-second rule for sex addiction?
The three-second tool is one of many tools often used to combat sexual urges. When sex addicts are triggered by visual stimulation, they may feel out of control at that moment. The three-second rule works by providing addicts with a tool to stop themselves from giving in to the urge.
After recognizing the unwanted thought or fantasy, the addict uses the three-second rule by giving themselves three seconds to turn away from the trigger and focus on something else.
While the three-second rule isn’t a long-term solution to compulsive sexual thoughts, it can act as a short-term solution to the intense desire many sex addicts must confront.
What is the difference between sex addiction and sexual compulsion?
The difference between sex addiction and sexual compulsion is really about “urge” versus “need.” While they may seem like the same thing, they are not. It’s possible to experience a sexual compulsion without sex addiction and vice versa.
A sexual compulsion is the insatiable urge to engage in sexual activity in that moment. Sex addiction, on the other hand, is the need to do something to remove discomfort or experience pleasure, often related to feeling good or avoiding withdrawal symptoms.
What is the best way to cure sex addiction?
Although sex addiction cannot be cured, counseling is the best treatment. Some patients may also benefit from medications, especially if they have co-occurring physical or mental health issues.
How long does sex addiction therapy take to be successful?
It depends on many factors, such as the patient’s commitment to therapy, how long they’ve had a sex addiction, what kind of support they receive, and if any trauma or co-occurring health issues contribute. Each person heals and processes things differently, so it will vary from person to person.
How does sex addiction start?
Some people are more predisposed to developing sex addiction than others, depending on their brain chemistry, addiction history, and trauma exposure.
Regardless of the cause, many sex addicts start by obsessing over thoughts of sex and excessive masturbation or sex.
However, each addict is different. Some people may start with a porn addiction or substance use issues that lead to sex addiction later on. That’s why it’s important to understand the warning signs and symptoms of sex addiction so they can be identified early on.
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