Sex and Love Addictions Treatment
Love and sex can be a healthy part of many adults' lives. However in some people the pursuit of sex and/or love can become a destructive, out-of-control, and all-consuming compulsion.
Sex and Love Addictions can take the form of:
- Hypersexuality
- Sexual anorexia
- Chronic masturbation
- Overuse of pornography
- Unstable and intense love relationships
- Constant serial dating
- Hiring of prostitutes
- Use of sex clubs
- Cheating
It is important to note that not all these behaviors are inherently pathological, but are experienced as destructive, shaming, guilt-inducing, and out-of-control by the addicted person (and their family if relevant). This often means that each person defines their sex or love addiction through the lens of their specific culture, orientation, upbringing, and religion.
I have been trained by the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Candidate (II).
Treatment involves addressing the underlying roots of these compulsions while also learning to re-introduce sex and love in a healthy, sustainable way. Treatment is structured but open-ended, with the average session lasting 45-50 minutes, meeting 1-2 times a week.
Treatment does NOT involve placing value judgments on an individual's right to sexual self-determination and does NOT involve enforcing a standard or "traditional" way of experiencing love and sex. A "non-traditional" relationship between knowing consenting adults is not inherently pathological. Non-traditional relationship constellations (such as open monogamous, polyamorous, and asexual to name a few) can be just as healthy (and unhealthy) as traditional relationships.
I continually strive to be a sex-positive and LGBTQ+ friendly therapist.