At the Center for Healthy Sex Our Services Start At Signs of Sexual Addiction and Sex Problems for Sexual Addiction Recovery, Sexual Health, and Sexual Therapy

Sex Addiction Treatment

Sexual addiction is often characterized as a problem that involves any type of uncontrollable sexual activity that is secretive, shaming or abusive. Sexual addicts report that after they engage in these sexual behaviors, they often feel distressed and full of despair. Denial causes the sex addict to ignore or minimize the problem, justify and/or rationalize the consequences, and/or blame others. Often early childhood trauma lies at the root of the problem.

Sexual addiction treatment includes individual work with a sexual addiction therapist that focuses on stopping the painful and troublesome sexual problems. A comprehensive assessment period takes place whereby a full history of the client is examined. This includes: etiology of the sexual problem, points of escalation, current stressors, family of origin issues, past trauma and current health concerns. A complete diagnosis is then made and together with the sexual addiction therapist, clearly defined sexual addiction treatment plans and recommendations are discussed. As part of this cognitive/behavioral, task-oriented approach, a sexual sobriety plan is constructed leading many to experience sexual abstinence for the first time in their lives. By the end of thirty days on this sexual addiction treatment plan, people often report a sense of well-being, relief from lying and leading a double life, a restored sense of dignity and hope for a future free of sexually compulsive behaviors. Once 30 days of sexual sobriety is attained and maintained, group therapy is recommended.

The goal? Restore sexual health, intimacy and integrity in the life of a sex addict and trust among the other family members through our individual therapy for couples and spouses or our restorative recovering couples therapy.

Sexual Sobriety Plan

Every individual has the dignity to choose his or her own concept of healthy sexuality. It is not the sex in and of itself that is the issue, rather it is the different ways that sex is used that causes the problems. Or put another way, sex is a problem if it causes problems; if one feels out of control and is powerless over their behavior and if the sex leads to feelings of demoralization. Recovery from sexual addiction, similar to other behavioral addictions, is different from recovery from substance addictions like alcoholism and drug addiction, in that sexual addicts do not need to become completely celibate from all sexual behavior to recovery from their sexual addiction. It is this reason that a sexual sobriety plan is employed for recovery from sex addiction.

In recovery, sexual addicts develop a three-part sexual sobriety plan that is used as a guide through recovery and helps with gaining clarity. Each addict identifies which sexual behaviors they are powerless over and lead to feelings of demoralization. These are called "bottom-line behaviors" and are the compulsions and addictive behaviors that are abstained from. As part of each addict’s addictive cycle, there are specific sets of compulsions that lead to the bottom-line behaviors. These are referred to as "triggers" and are abstained from as well. However, there are also sexual behaviors that are acceptable or even experienced with a sense of gratitude and enjoyment. These are sexual behaviors that lead to happiness, well-being and health.

By separating sexual behaviors into three categories, addicts are able to more readily distinguish between behaviors that are compulsive and destructive, behaviors that are "triggers" to those compulsive, and behaviors that are positive and foster healthy sex. Because sex addiction has many different manifestations, sexual sobriety plans are a reflection of this variety and therefore are unique to each recovering sex addict.

Sexual addicts in recovery reach out to other sexual addicts and share their program with one another as part of a balanced recovery program. Without clarity, an addict can continue to act out sexually, because it is easy to become confused about what sobriety is. Obtaining and maintaining abstinence from one’s bottom-line compulsions is a foundation for personal growth in recovery.

Love Addiction Treatment

What is Sex Addiction?

Alexandra Katehakis, sex addiction expert from Center for Healthy Sex, defines sexual addiction. watch video

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For more information about sex addiction therapy or to schedule an initial assessment, click here or call 310.843.9902

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For individuals to establish sobriety and return home with a high rate of post-intervention success. learn more

Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction refers to any sexual problem that prevents an individual or couple from experiencing the kind of satisfaction they would like from the sexual activities they engage in. These problems usually occur during what experts call the sexual response cycle which includes the excitement (or sexual arousal), plateau, orgasm and resolution phases.

According to estimates, sexual dysfunction occurs in 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men meaning they report some sexually difficulty or dissatisfaction. People are often afraid or hesitant to discuss these issues yet most instances of sexual dysfunction are treatable. Sharing your concerns with your partner and/or a professional is the first step to healing your problem.

Sexual dysfunction can take the form of dissatisfaction with orgasm, erectile difficulties, lack of sexual desire, pain during intercourse, performance anxiety, anorgasmia, (inability to achieve orgasm) premature ejaculation, and fear of intimacy to name a few. In other words, any problem that renders a person feeling less then satisfied with their sexual life that is not a medical problem, can be addressed in sex therapy.

Sexual dysfunction may be caused by physical and/or medical conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease, neurological disorders, diabetes, obesity, hormonal imbalances, chronic diseases, alcoholism, and/or drug abuse. It is also important to remember that many medications have sexual side-effects such as antidepressants drugs. If you have any medical conditions, you should consult your medical doctor before consulting a sex therapist.

Sexual functioning can also become dysfunctional due to psychological stress and anxiety related to work, martial/relationship problems, sexual performance, depression, feelings of guilt, and past sexual trauma. When related to psychological issues, in most cases, sexual dysfunction can be successfully treated.

Low Sexual Desire

Many people, young and old alike, have low sexual desire and it can affect their relationships. Low sexual desire can be distressing to some leading them to seek sex therapy.

Oftentimes, pre-menopausal women or menopausal women will participate in sexual activity less often including initiating sex and having intercourse and may report experiencing orgasm and general sexual pleasure less often than they once did. In other cases, post-menopausal women report having the best sex of their lives because they feel more sexually secure about who they are.

Men may experience low sexual desire due to health concerns, hormonal problems (like low testosterone) or relationship issues. Additionally, many people simply get out of the habit of having sex and are still operating under old ideas that sex is a natural "drive" vs. a cultivated desire for pleasure and connection with oneself and a significant other.

Low sexual desire can come in the form of a person never having felt much sexual desire or interest or in the form of having felt sexual desire, but no longer does. The extreme form of low sexual desire is called sexual aversion, meaning the person lacks sexual desire and finds sex repulsive.

It is very common for partners in a relationship to have different levels of sexual interest with one partner being the "low desire partner" and the other being the "high desire partner." Many times, people become "grid-locked" over these differences leading to power struggles, which exacerbate the problem. Although the two partners have different sexual interest levels, this can be negotiated and resolved in sex therapy.

Sexual Potential

Many normal couples in long-term relationships report sexual boredom and feeling a lack of interest in sex. Often this is the case because people forget that they, and their relationships, are dynamic, ever-changing systems. By reassessing who you are sexually, what you like and want, what you hold back from letting yourself and your partner know; you can begin to work toward your sexual potential. By opening yourself to clearing past resentments and revealing your sexual preferences to your partner, you create a deeper emotional connection that is often not easy, but worth the intimate, electric connection that results in the end.