Therapy is a crucial part of overcoming sex addiction and it’s unlikely that a sufferer could successfully conquer their problem without the help of a professional. Entering treatment can be a daunting process however, especially when there are so many different options available.
Below we have highlighted why receiving sex addiction counselling is such an important part of overcoming addiction and what the different types of therapy are.
Why is sexual addiction therapy important?
Despite the feelings of hopelessness that you may have, sex addiction can be effectively treated and managed. It is difficult however because it’s different from other types of addiction. When treating a drug, alcohol or gambling addiction for example, part of the process is that you abstain from using the substances or partaking in the activity and it’s something that you will hopefully never do again in your life.
As sex is a normal and healthy part of a romantic relationship however, addicts need to learn to overcome their addiction while still being able to partake in the activity. Obviously, this is very challenging. The goal of therapy is therefore to help a person develop a healthy relationship with sex versus learning how to live without sex. It is very similar to treatment of an eating disorder where the goal of therapy is obviously not to help a person avoid food, rather it is to help a person to develop a healthy relationship with food.
If compulsive sexual activity isn’t treated, the individual is likely to experience intense guilt and as a result will eventually develop low self-esteem. Sadly, these feelings often lead to depression and in some cases, suicide. Those who suffer from sexual addiction are also likely to develop relationship and family problems, they’re at risk of becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases and experiencing unplanned pregnancies.
If you think that you or someone you know could have a sex addiction, there are a number of different treatment methods available including:
Individual Counselling
One of the important components of sexual addiction treatment is to develop an understanding about the underlying causes that led to addiction and to treat those underlying issues.
Every addict is different and what works for one might not necessarily work for another. At the start of their journey to recovery, many addicts prefer individual counselling. Speaking to someone on a one-on-one basis helps the addict to come to terms with their addiction, the hurt they have caused and it will also help them to understand the journey they have ahead of them. Some people find that they’re more likely to open up to a therapist rather than a big group of strangers.
Group Therapy
Support from other people is a vital 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 including:
- Knowing you’re not alone 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
- At the core of sex addiction are difficulties with intimacy. Group is an environment in which one can learn the true meaning of intimacy and often experience intimacy for the very first time.
Family Counselling
Sex addiction isn’t just difficult for the sufferer, it’s also very hard for families to cope with.
Partners of sex addicts find it particularly traumatic because chances are that they’ve been lied to and betrayed. Family counselling can help couples to recover together and it can also help partners to understand the nature of addiction. It can also help entire family units to come together again and teach family members how to support the addict.
If you think that you or someone you know could be 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. Alternatively, you can also carry out our Sexual Addiction Screening Test.
