Sexual addiction is not just “really liking sex”. It means compulsively using sexual activities or material (such as pornography). No matter what you try, you can’t stop it. Sexual behaviors might be hook ups with strangers, strip clubs, encounters with sex, or using sex with multiple partners while in a “monogamous” relationship. Every time you fight with a partner because you got caught in another lie, you promise them that this will be the last time. Maybe your child asks you, with tears in his eyes, why you missed yet another one of his baseball games. You thought you could quickly watch some explicit content to unwind after a long day, then become absorbed in watching video after video you completely lost track of time. You’ve tried all the strategies you can think of to stop but it only lasts a few days before you find yourself acting out sexually again.

There is usually a deep hurt within the sex addict’s psyche that leads to problematic sexual behaviors. Almost always, sex is used to numb stress, anxiety, or trauma. Feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, or even boredom are also possible culprits. Overall, there is something in your life that you want to escape.

In treating sex addiction, we will work on replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones using the 30 Task Model. The 30 Task Model, created by Patrick Carns, Ph.D., is the gold standard in sex and love addiction treatment. Just as addiction and attachment disorders impact every aspect of life, therapy consists of a whole-life make-over. We stop acting out behavior, decide what sexual sobriety looks like, and give you the tools to continue down the road of recovery. We will heal the root causes of acting out and create a life you won’t want to escape.