Sexual addiction is most often treated by controlling the addictive behavior and helping the person develop a healthy sexuality. Treating sex addiction revolves around getting the addict to accept and admit that they have a serious problem. It may require the loss of jobs, the break-up of marriages, an arrest, or a serious health crisis to compel a sex addict to face their addiction problem.
Treatment for sex addiction is usually composed of education on healthy sexuality along with individual counseling. Support groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous and other 12 step recovery programs are available in most areas of the nation. And pharmaceutical medications like Prozac and Anafranil have also been used to curb the obsessive/compulsive pattern of sex addiction.
There are a number of treatment programs available in the United States and most approach sex addiction with programs that have proven effective in treating chemical dependency. Sex addiction is very common with substance abusers and many sex addiction programs offer a chemical dependency program too.
Abstinence is not really the goal of sexual addiction treatment but instead termination of the compulsive, unhealthy sexual behavior., Most addiction programs require abstinence from any sexual behavior during the first phase of treatment since most sex addicts cannot distinguish the difference between healthy and unhealthy sex. The average sexual addiction program is a 60- to 90-day period of self-imposed abstinence to enable the addict to work through the emotional triggers and events that lead to sexual thought and compulsive sexual behavior.
Recovery from sex addiction is not a casual process and may require inpatient residential treatment for several weeks or longer. Addicts are better protected from sexual images and situations that might trigger compulsive sexual behavior in an inpatient setting. It is much more difficult to relapse in a structured inpatient. This is not to say it is impossible to treat sex addiction in an outpatient setting, it is just more difficult.
Components of a sex addiction treatment program:
* Comprehensive sexual addiction education
* Trained staff
* Therapeutic relationship between patient and family
* Support program for family or spouses
* Focus on risks
* Continuing care program