Sex and porn addiction do not discriminate. It can affect everyone equally regardless of gender, age, race and religious beliefs. Specialist addiction counselling could help break the cycle of shame, guilt and acting out.

Nobody would happily choose to have a sex or porn addiction. Spending hour after hour watching internet porn, at the risk of a relationship or a job, often fills people with embarrassment and shame. Repeatedly seeking out sex workers or having multiple causal affairs whilst risking physical and mental health, can impact negatively on an individual’s sense of self-worth.  Nobody ever chooses to live their life with increasing feelings of shame and self-hatred.  Craving sex or pornography day in, day out and then compulsively acting out takes individuals on a cycle of addiction. Without help, this destructive behaviour could continue for years, if not forever.

Sex and porn addiction thrive on secrets and shame, both of which damage and erode healthy relationships. Regardless of whether the sexual behaviour remains secret, is arousing suspicion or has been discovered, it will have a negative impact.  The effect of discovering secret sexual behaviours can be traumatic for loved ones. It destroys trust and brings the whole relationship into question.  Specialist counselling can help all those affected to make the changes needed to live a healthy life based on healthy choices.

Can sex or pornography really be addictive?

The answer is yes, absolutely!  Like other addictions, it is fueled by the pleasure-reward system. During sexual arousal powerful chemical substances are released by the brain.  When we become sexually aroused our dopamine levels rise, with the peak dopamine release at the point of orgasm.  The flooding of dopamine has often been compared to the effects of cocaine or heroin on the brain.  Having sex or watching pornography activates the same pleasure networks in the brain as alcohol and other drugs.

Some people find that their sexual behaviour becomes out of control as they try to satisfy their craving.  Porn addicts find that they are driven to view porn with increasing frequency, perhaps seeking more extreme material.  Likewise, sex addicts may engage in increasingly risky activities, often acting against their own moral or ethical values.

What are the causes of sex or porn addiction?

Often the root of porn and sex addiction can be found in childhood or adolescence.  Frequently, early trauma or difficult childhood attachments play a part in addiction.  Access to pornography from a young age has also been identified as a factor that often contributes to sex or porn addiction.

How could specialist counselling help?

Sex addiction counselling provides a non-judgmental and confidential space in which a person can open up and explore the roots of their addiction.  Counselling sessions will look at the impact the addiction is having on the client’s life and those around him or her.  It will also explore the roots of the addiction and through various tools and techniques take the client on a journey towards recovery.

Is face-to-face counselling the only option available?

No.  You do not need to live in London or Essex to have Sex or Porn addiction counselling sessions with me.  Counselling sessions via a video link such as Skype or FaceTime, work in a very similar way to traditional face-to-face sessions.  Once we have discussed counselling sessions we will arrange a time to speak.  Formalities such as intake forms, assessments sheets and homework tasks will be emailed to you prior to your session, along with a link to my Skype account.  At the arranged time, we will have a 50-minute counselling session. This will be carried out during a time when privacy and confidentiality can be fully maintained.

Consider these questions:

• Do you have concerns about your sexual behaviour?
• Has your use of internet pornography or sex workers increased?
• Do you keep your behaviour secret from those around you?
• Do you ever feel bad for your sexual behaviour?
• Have you tried to stop but failed?
• Has your behaviour ever created problems for your family?
• Have you used sex or pornography as a way of regulating negative emotions?
• Do you spend hours on internet pornography sites searching for the perfect image or the perfect video?
• Have you noticed that you need more and more stimuli or risk to get the same level of arousal?
• Has anyone in your family currently, or in the past, struggled with an addiction?

Did you answer yes to any of these questions? If you did, it may indicate that your relationship with sex or pornography has become or is at risk of becoming unhealthy.

In addition to individual addiction counselling, we have specialised couples counselling,  a free recovery group for men and a partner’s support group. Please email us for further information.

• Sexually Compulsive Behaviour
• Excessive Pornography Use
• Excessive use of Sex Workers
• Sexual Offending Behaviour
• Relationship Issues created by Sex or Porn Addiction

If you have any queries contact us via: 

Email: info@cherrytreetherapycentre.co.uk

Phone: 020 8506 1868