The bulk of those who present with sexual addiction really have more of an intimacy disorder than a sex disorder.” He explains that sexual addicts might use sexual gratification as a way of creating “metaphoric connections” to serve unmet intimacy needs, while others may use sex to deal with feelings of disconnection and the inability to create relationships with others. “Some clinicians assume that sexual addictions are driven by an overly active libido that simply has an abnormal level of craving for sexual images and acts. “Sexual addiction is not about sex,” says Todd Frye, an ACA member and clinical sexual addiction specialist in Olathe, Kan. Often the partner may initiate counseling in response to knowledge of one affair, while additional sexual behaviors remain secret.”Īfter making the therapeutic space safe to talk about sex, counselors might find that the treatment quickly returns to traditional topics of family history and thought patterns.
Partners most often have little to no awareness of the extent of the sexual acting out and so do not know to bring it up in treatment. “I specialize and work primarily with partners spouses of sex addicts, and they tell me of participating in years of marital therapy where either the issue was not asked about or it was minimized. Few clinicians are prepared to ask about sexual history or sexually compulsive behaviors when this is rarely the presenting problem in treatment. “Sexual addiction exists in secret and often does not come to the surface until there is a crisis or several negative consequences. “Professional counselors under-recognize sex addiction,” says Barbara Steffens, an American Counseling Association member and certified clinical sexual addiction specialist in West Chester, Ohio.
ADDICTED TO GAY PORN REDDIT HOW TO
population - counselors must know how to identify sexual addiction and formulate appropriate treatment plans and referrals.īut this tremendous responsibility demands one thing that many counselors find difficult: We have to actually talk about sex. Positioned on the front lines for educating clients, families and colleagues about this pervasive problem - a problem the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health conservatively estimates affects 3 to 5 percent of the U.S. Counselors, with their confidentiality policies and empathic personas, may be the only people to ever hear the true extent of a client’s interior struggle with an addiction to pornography or sexual compulsivity. But the point remains true: There are many common misconceptions surrounding sexual addiction. The answer may be obvious to those familiar with the multiple choice trope: D) None of the above.