Struggling with sexual addiction can feel overwhelming and isolating, but the first step towards healing is recognizing it’s a problem and seeking help. If you’re considering therapy, but aren’t sure where or how to begin, you’re not alone. Starting therapy can seem scary, however, understanding what sexual addiction therapy involves and knowing what steps to take, can make the path to recovery easier.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what sexual addiction therapy involves, highlight practical steps to begin your recovery, and provide guidance on how to choose the right support tailored to your needs.

Understanding What Sexual Addiction Is

Sexual addiction, sometimes referred to as hypersexuality or compulsive sexual behavior is characterized by an inability to control impulses that lead to excessive sexual activities. These compulsions often result in significant distress and negative consequences in personal relationships, work, or daily life.

As opposed to positive sexual expression, sexual addiction is often driven by an uncontrollable need for sexual engagement, whether that involves compulsive pornography use, excessive masturbation, or risky sexual encounters. It’s not about judgment around sexual behaviors, but addressing the lack of control and any harm it could be causing in day-to-day life.

Signs You May Need Help With Sexual Addiction

Acknowledging the signs of sexual addiction is the first step toward healing. Common signs of sexual addiction may include:

• Spending significant amounts of time engaged in sexual thoughts or activities, to the detriment of other responsibilities.
• Feeling guilt or shame after sexual behaviors, unable to stop them.
• Escalating risky behaviors despite known consequences.
• Using sex as a way to cope with emotional pain, anxiety, depression, or stress.
• Struggling to maintain boundaries in relationships due to your sexual impulses.

If any of these resonate with you, it may be time to start therapy to regain control and balance in your life.

Therapy For Sexual Addiction

As well as reducing the harm it causes, therapy for sexual addiction focuses on uncovering the underlying emotional, mental, or traumatic issues fueling the addiction, so you’re equipped with tools to build healthier relationships with yourself and others.

Beginning your journey of recovery starts with a thorough assessment to make sure you have the appropriate level of care. Levels of care can range from individual therapy, group therapy, intensives, intensive outpatient care, or even inpatient care.  Getting the correct level of care at the beginning of treatment is crucial to long-term success. The first steps to dealing with your problematic behavior are breaking through the denial that it is a problem and educating yourself on what causes sexual addiction. Pornography and over-stimulation through sex can cause changes to the brain, which is why will power alone is not enough to stop the behavior. It also highlights the misconception that dealing with problematic sexual behavior can be treated as just a moral failure or a spiritual issue. At East Cobb Relationship Center, a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT) will walk you through the thirty-task model of recovery developed by Patrick Carnes.

Sexual addiction always includes some sort of emotional isolation which is why group work and/or 12-step programs such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, or Sexaholics Anonymous, are often an essential part of the healing journey. 

Addressing sexual addiction also involves addressing the root causes. Some root causes can include: trauma, both sexual and non-sexual, unresolved attachment wounds, unresolved enmeshment,  and underlying mood or psychiatric disorders. Often, sexual acting out started as a coping mechanism for dealing with past trauma and repressed anger. Your therapist will help you identify, address, and heal from the underlying causes.   

Steps To Begin Your Recovery From Sexual Addiction

Acknowledge The Problem

The hardest step is often the first one. Admitting to yourself that you’re struggling is a powerful moment that sets the foundation for healing. It’s important to approach yourself with compassion rather than judgment; recognizing the problem is not about assigning blame but seeking a solution.

Educate Yourself

Understanding sexual addiction can help reduce the shame and stigma surrounding it. Learn about the psychology of compulsive sexual behavior, its impact on the brain, and why therapy is highly recommended to overcome it.

Find A Qualified Therapist

Finding a compatible therapist is crucial to your success. A qualified therapist, such as a certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT), will have specific training in this area, and is able to address each patient’s individual needs.

Commit To Your Goals

Therapy can only be effective if you’re ready to commit to the process. What goals do you want to achieve? For example, goals could include:

• Replacing compulsive behaviors with healthier outlets (e.g., exercise, journaling, creative activities).
• Rebuilding trust with loved ones impacted by your behavior.
• Learning how to manage stress, boredom, loneliness, and emotional pain without turning to sex.
• Learning to value yourself beyond sexual validation.
• Setting boundaries around honesty, time, and transparency with partners.
• Healing feelings of shame and guilt.

Your therapist will help you break your goals into smaller, more measurable steps so you can track your progress and not get overwhelmed by completing them all at once.

Join A Sexual Addiction Recovery Group

During recovery, it’s important to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Many individuals find comfort, encouragement, and accountability in group therapy. At East Cobb Relationship Center, our Sexual Addiction Recovery Group is a safe, supportive, compassionate, judgment-free space where everyone in the group is heard and understood. Everyone will learn specific tools and information to support their recovery from sex and pornography addiction because addressing the challenges of compulsive sexual behavior takes courage, and no one does it alone. For more information about the sexual addiction recovery group in Marietta, GA, you can email us at info@eastcobbrelationshipcenter.com or register online.

Starting your sexual addiction therapy is a great step toward a brighter, healthier future. Recovery is not an overnight process, but with the right guidance and commitment, it’s achievable.