Sex addiction is described as a compulsive need to engage in sexual acts in order to achieve the same kind of high or fix that someone with a drug or alcohol use disorder would.

Contrary to popular belief, sex addiction is very rarely about enjoying the act of sex itself. Those struggling with addiction have typically learned to rely on sex or sexual behaviours as a coping mechanism for emotional pain, stress or mental health issues.

Recovery from sex addiction is certainly possible and it is something that many people have been able to experience. However, because sexual addiction is often the result of less than ideal childhoods and / or traumatic events and experiences, recovery requires more than simply learning how to abstain from various behaviours and most of those struggling will require professional help. When you choose Toronto Trauma and Addiction Counselling, you can be rest assured that you have the support of a registered psychotherapist specializing in trauma and addiction.

I can offer a number of services to get you started on your road to recovery from sex addiction including advanced assessments, the New Beginnings Treatment program and individual, group or family counselling.

My experience with treating sexual addiction

In order to ensure I can offer the best possible guidance to my clients, I have taken my training very seriously. I am a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and have a Master’s of Arts in Counselling Psychology. I’m also a member of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals and have been certified as a CSAT-S and CMAT-S.

I am trained in a number of other therapies for the treatment of trauma and have many years’ experience treating addictive sexual tendencies. You can find out more about me and my experience here. Please get in touch if you would like further information about sexual addiction treatment.

Understanding sexual addiction

There are many misconceptions about sex addiction and it’s still excluded from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is a very real condition however and managing your sexual addiction is something that should be taken very seriously.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is defined as:

a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.

Those struggling with a sexual behavioural disorder are compelled to act out sexually, even if they don’t want to. Clients often struggle to truly engage in intimate relationships which is typically the result of a lack of attachment to a parent or guardian throughout childhood. At times, the addiction becomes a way to make up for this important component they’re missing.

Common sex addiction symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of sex addiction include:

• Chronic, obsessive sexual thoughts and fantasies.
• Compulsive relations with multiple partners, including strangers.
• Hiding behaviours or lying about them.
• Preoccupation with sexual activities – even if it interferes with daily life and commitments.
• An inability to stop or control sexual behaviours.
• Putting yourself or others in danger in the pursuit of sexual activities.
• Feeling remorse or guilt for your actions and still being unable to stop.
• Experiencing other negative or professional consequences such as becoming withdrawn or experiencing mental health issues.

How do I know if I have a sexual addiction?

If you’re displaying any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may have an addiction. Please seek help from a sex addiction counselling centre such as ours as soon as possible. We have a number of tools which can help to confirm diagnosis including the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST-R).

By scheduling an initial session, we will be able to discuss your symptoms and behaviours and establish an individualized behavioural addiction treatment program if necessary.

Can sex addiction be cured?

Just like with any other addiction, with the right help and support, clients go on to live a happy and healthy life.

Treating sexual addiction is different to other addiction therapies however. Rather than focusing on abstinence, you will ideally learn to engage in intimate relationships in a safe, healthy and non-destructive manner.

I’m also a firm believer in lifelong aftercare for sex addiction. This involves teaching you to identify triggers and develop coping mechanisms in order to prevent relapse.

What are the methods for treating sex addiction?

There are a number of components in the treatment of sex addiction. Helping a client get sober as well as discover, explore and treat the underlying causes of the addiction are the primary objectives. Dealing with the impact on the family, learning to identify and deal with triggers as well as help with the overwhelming shame that is often associated with sex addiction are important areas fo focus as well.

There are a few different formats for counselling.

• Individual sex addiction counselling is delivered on a one-on-one basis with the client and the therapist
• Group therapy brings together a number of individuals at various stages of their recovery
• Family counselling can help repair the damage that was done to the family as well as work towards changing patterns that may be necessary for lasting recovery and better relationships.

Sex Addiction Treatment programs at Toronto Trauma and Addiction Counselling

Your sexual addiction treatment program can be delivered in a number of ways.

As mentioned above, we can provide individual, group or family counselling sessions. Some clients find they open up easier in a private setting whereas others like the extra support from group sessions where they’re surrounded by people dealing with similar issues.

We can mix sessions up to suit your preferences and where you are in your journey. Many clients like to work on their own therapy before bringing in their family for example.

We also offer the New Beginnings program which is for males who need help gaining control of their sexual behaviours. After an initial assessment and a few individual sessions, clients who meet the eligibility criteria can participate in group therapy sessions.

Before starting your program, we can administer and interpret various advanced assessments. These assessments are designed to objectively measure a person’s sexual interests as well as gather information regarding involvement in abusive or problematic sexual behaviours.

If you have questions about any of the treatment programs available, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please note that in light of COVID-19, we can deliver all counselling sessions remotely via video or phone calls.

Support for partners

Sexual addiction often causes major trauma for the partner of the person with the addiction. The pain of betrayal is a pain so deep that unless you have experienced it, it will be difficult to comprehend.  Helping a partner heal from the wounds of betrayal, begin to care for themselves again, decide on the next steps in the relationship and set boundaries for healthier living are all components of the counselling for partners.

Lifelong support and aftercare for sex addiction

One of the main aims of our sexual addiction rehab program is to teach relapse prevention. We achieve this in a number of ways including:

• Tailoring your therapy to your individual experiences.
• Adjusting your therapy as we go along. Your needs or expectations may change and we work with this accordingly.
• Understanding and treating the underlying trauma which is 9 times out of 10 at the core of the addiction.
• Teaching you how to identify and avoid triggers. We can book in extra sessions if you’re feeling particularly vulnerable and worry you could relapse.
• Developing healthy coping mechanisms so you know what to do when and if faced with temptation.
• Working on rebuilding personal and professional relationships which may have suffered as a consequence of the addiction.
• Learning the symptoms of relapse.
• Treating any undiagnosed mental health conditions.

If you would like to find out more about our sex addiction counselling programs in Toronto, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.