Sexual Addiction
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What Is Sexual Addiction?
Sexual Addiction is the umbrella term used to describe the different number of compulsive sexual behaviours including but not limited to multiple sexual partners, pornography addiction, paying for sex, voyeurism as well as online infidelity, online sex and porn addiction. These behaviours when left unchecked may have negative and destructive outcomes in one’s life.
According to The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) “Sexual Addiction is a persistent and escalating pattern or patterns of sexual behaviors acted out despite increasingly negative consequences to self or others”.
Sex addiction is not about having too much sex. People suffering from sexual addiction struggle to get their emotional needs met in healthy ways. Instead they develop a dependent relationship to sex which leads to a pattern of out-of-control behaviour.
With the onset of the Internet, accessibility to sex is now much easier than ever before and it can be accessed with relative anonymity. Like all addictive behaviours the potential consequences can be devastating: loss of self-esteem, damaged relationships, financial and professional ruin, compromised health and so forth.
One of the fundamental problems with diagnosing and treating sexual addiction is that there is no visible scarring like other addictions (Drugs, Alcohol, Food, Gambling) and as a result it can go underground for many years which forces the sexual addict to live a double life.
I work in partnership with one of Europe’s leading sex addiction treatment centres. We specialise in treating sexual addiction with a particular emphasis on rebuilding healthy relationships with oneself and others.
Individual Treatment
In one-to-one counselling, I work with individuals to identify and explore the root causes of their addictive behaviour and we work together to identify a sustainable treatment plan that will enhance a lifelong recovery.
Men’s Intensive Programmes
I run a number of programmes ranging in duration, and often in conjunction with my colleagues in U.K. Most commonly the One Week Men’s Intensive Programmes are a practical alternative to residential treatment. We use psycho-education and group therapy to encourage positive change. An important component of the group process is experiential in nature. The group works together, supports each other and shares their similar issues. Progress is evidenced by increased awareness and the ability to make healthy choices versus being driven by impulses.
For more information in identifying the right treatment plan for you, please contact me in the strictest confidence.
Porn Addiction
Porn addiction, internet sex or cybersex addiction has become, and continues to become a major problem in today’s world. Given the accessibility everyone has to the internet on their smartphones and tablets, it is not surprising. Many addicts report spending hours on the internet watching porn and losing track of time. Work and family commitments are soon de-prioritised and often with serious life consequences. The use of porn does not make someone an addict. However if a person has developed an unhealthy relationship and/or dependence with their usage, problems and consequences emerge.
Someone addicted to watching pornography will most likely feel powerless over their watching of pornography, the amount of time spent with it and possibly the type of pornography used. There will most likely be negative consequences as a result. It becomes an increasingly isolated activity. The more one uses porn, the less they feel connected to themselves and their loved ones. Intimacy becomes both sought after yet increasingly unobtainable.
Porn addicts often combine their use of pornography with compulsive masturbation. Some combine or follow their use of porn with other sexually compulsive behaviours such as anonymous sex, prostitution and exhibitionism and voyeurism.
It is important to seek the help of a professional who is trained in working with sexually compulsive behaviours.
Love Addiction
Love Addiction is the term used to describe someone who compulsively seeks relationships and/or affection of others. Being “in love” can become paramount to the love addict and wholly related to their sense of self-worth. Sex may become confused with love and yet their relationships lack any real intimacy. Love is sought yet unconsciously feared.
Like all addictions, there can be serious negative consequences. Individuals can feel powerless over their love addiction. Frequently people with love addiction engage in multiple affairs that frequently prove unhealthy and put themselves at risk. Sometimes love addicts remain in relationships feeling unhappy and detached and sadly their experience of feeling increases.
Love addiction and the searching for unhealthy attachment of others sometimes is the result of earlier traumatic experiences. It is important to work with a professional who is qualified in treating all issues that are related to love and sex addiction.