Like any addiction, therapy plays a crucial role in the recovery of sexual compulsion. One of the main reasons for this is because in the vast majority of cases, sex addiction is in part, the result of trauma so without coming to terms with the trauma experienced, recovery is almost impossible.
Whether you’re hoping a loved one will seek treatment or you’re thinking of going into rehab yourself, below we explain what to expect from sex addiction treatment.
The different types of therapy
The first thing to note is that there are many different types of therapy available. From individual sessions to group and family counselling, it’s important to find what works for you. Everyone is different and responds uniquely to sex addiction counselling so what works for one person may not be appropriate for another.
You may already have a preference or it may require trial and error to find what’s right for you. Some of the most common therapies for sex addiction include:
Individual Counselling
At the start of your journey to recovery, you may prefer the privacy and less confrontational nature of individual counselling. Speaking to someone on a one-on-one basis can help you to come to terms with your addiction, its cause, the hurt you’ve inflicted and what lays ahead of you.
Group Therapy
Support from other people is an important part of recovery and who better to get advice from than people who are in the same boat as you? Group therapy is beneficial for a number of reasons because:
- It helps you to realize that you’re not alone which can be beneficial to recovery
- Opening up and talking to others can help form healthier habits and prevent relapse
- Being part of a group can help you to feel safer
- It’s often easier to confide in people who know what you’re going through
Family Counselling
Sex addiction isn’t just tough for the sufferer to come to terms with, it’s also very difficult for families to cope with.
Partners can find it particularly traumatic because chances are they’ve been lied to and betrayed. Family counselling can help couples to recover together and it can also help partners to understand why the person did the things they did. It can also help entire family units to come together again and teach family members how to support the person suffering with the addiction.
What you will learn in sex addiction recovery
With the help of a trained counsellor, you will be able to identify and address the underpinnings of your addiction. Sex addiction is typically in a large part, the result of trauma such as childhood abuse, divorce or bereavement.
As well as determining an underlying cause, your counsellor will also help you to realize and avoid your triggers. While there are a number of obvious triggers, some are more subtle and may therefore require you to dig a bit deeper to determine them. Guilt, shame and feeling unworthy for example may make you feel bad about yourself and result in you seeking out a quick high.
Rebuilding damaged relationships is another key part of sex addiction therapy. If you have a partner, they may have already left you, they may leave during your recovery or they may stick by you throughout the whole process. You may also have to re-build relationships with friends, family and colleagues.
Finally, one of the most important things you will learn is that recovering from sex addiction is an ongoing process that requires constant hard work. You may need therapy for a long time, if not forever. Your relationship with your partner is going to need constant attention and you’re going to have to make the effort to avoid your triggers. The great news is however that with the right support, you can go on to lead a happy, healthy and successful life.
If you think that you or someone you know could benefit from sex addiction counselling, please feel free to contact us in the strictest of confidence and we will be more than happy to help.
