Working With Sexually
Compulsive Behaviour
Sex addiction—sometimes called Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder or Hypersexual Disorder—is a condition where a person is unable to control sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviours, even when they cause harm to themselves or others. While not officially classified as an addiction in all diagnostic manuals, it is recognised by the World Health Organization and many mental health professionals as a legitimate and distressing behavioural disorder.
What Is Sex Addiction?
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A person with sex addiction may:
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Feel compelled to engage in sexual behaviours frequently and impulsively
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Spend excessive time on sexual activities (watching porn, masturbation, sex with multiple partners, visiting sex workers)
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Use sex as a way to escape emotional pain, anxiety, or depression
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Feel shame or regret afterward but still repeat the behaviour
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Have trouble forming or maintaining healthy, intimate relationships
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Neglect work, responsibilities, or health due to sexual behaviour
It’s not about how often someone has sex— Often the end result is not pleasurable but is shrouded in harm and distress to the individual managing the behaviour.
Signs and Symptoms
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Obsessive sexual thoughts or fantasies
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Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop the behaviour
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Escalation over time (needing more or riskier behaviour for the same effect)
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Using sex to self-medicate emotional pain
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Risky behaviour (unprotected sex, public acts, illegal activities)
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Way of Working
Living with sexually compulsive behaviours can feel both isolating and shameful.
Secrecy and lies can have a huge impact on relationships leaving you feeling cut off and isolated whilst shame thrives in secrecy leading to feelings of not being worthy and internalised blame.
Sessions will revolve around identifying the causes and influences of your sexual behaviour and looking at how these behaviours impact every aspect of your life and your relationships. Relevant assessment tools can be used to identify the severity of your behaviours.
Exploration will cover any circumstances that have had an impact on you including traumatic events, attachment and identifying your core beliefs as well as looking at the neuroscience behind addiction.
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The inital work will look at which of the six phases of the cycle of addiction you are currently experiencing. The sessions will be structured around where you are within that cycle.
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I aim to offer a shame free, non-judgemental and supportive environment in which to do this.
