Sex Addiction Therapy

Sex addiction is diverse and so are the people that suffer from it. Sexual behaviours become addictive when they become overwhelming and lead to problems in our daily lives. These behaviours can be challenging to acknowledge because they are so often associated with shame and guilt, especially when they do not align with our values and beliefs. Sex addiction is often invisible, and in keeping our addictive behaviours hidden we prevent ourselves from seeking help.

Have any of these criteria led you to seek help for your sex addiction?

  • Your behaviours have recently been discovered by a significant other who is urging you to get help.
  • You are tired of the secret life that you have been leading (e.g. you have alternate email accounts, you have been caught sexting, you’re visiting pornography more than you’d like, you’re involved in multiple secret affairs and/or visiting sex trade workers)
  • Your activities have led to job loss and/or your behaviours have led you to feel desperate and alone, unable to function in everyday life.
  • Your activity has increased over time and you have experienced an escalation in your behaviours to fulfill your need. You have tried to stop on your own with minimal success.
  • You may have memories of early trauma, such as sexual abuse, or come from a dysfunctional upbringing (such as an overprotective or neglectful home).

Even though you may feel hopeless, sex addiction is treatable. With proper treatment and ongoing care, I can help you to change your behaviours and replace your obsessive-compulsive activities with a healthier and happier lifestyle.

The first step in recognizing sex addiction is acknowledging its impact on our lives. Unhealthy preoccupations with pornography, for example, can interfere with work or school, or impede our best efforts to maintain intimate relationships. Sex addiction can lead to a loss of intimacy or trust with your partner, and feel like a betrayal of your mutual commitment. Since it can be so difficult to acknowledge the impact of these behaviours, we sometimes need support to recognize our addiction.

Even though you may feel hopeless, sex addiction is treatable. With proper treatment and ongoing care, I can help you to change your behaviours and replace your obsessive-compulsive activities with a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Your therapy will be tailored to your own unique needs and will include the following:

  • Learning about the disease concept of addiction.
  • Identifying the consequences of your behaviour.
  • Learning strategies to help intervene on urges, fantasies and thoughts of using or acting out.
  • Identifying your triggers and how they continue to fuel acting out behaviour;
  • Identifying relapse triggers and warning signs.
  • Learning about healthy intimacy and healthy sexuality.
  • Developing and implement broad based recovery practices rooted in the abstinence model.
  • Providing you with homework identifying your addictive cycle (how your thoughts and beliefs lead to compulsive behaviour).

I will provide you with counseling that takes an approach that addresses your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I use a combination of talk therapy, in-session exercises (e.g. meditation, relaxation), and homework that you can manage at your own pace. I have a wealth of experience with sex addiction and an excellent success rate for those that are committed to changing their behaviours.

Make an Apppointment

Call me today at 416-230-8544, text me at 416-230-8544, or email me at natalie@centreforlifesolutions.com