The World Health Organization has officially recognized a diagnosis of Compulsive Sexual Behavior (6C92). As defined by WHO, Compulsive Sexual Behavior is characterized by a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior.
Symptom may include:
- Repetitive sexual activities becoming a central focus of the person’s life to the point of neglecting health and personal care or other interests, activities and responsibilities
- Numerous unsuccessful efforts to significantly reduce repetitive sexual behavior, and
- Continued repetitive sexual behavior despite adverse consequences or deriving little or no satisfaction from it.
The pattern of failure to control intense, sexual impulses or urges and resulting repetitive sexual behavior is manifested over an extended period of time (e.g., 6 months or more), and causes marked distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Distress that is entirely related to moral judgments and disapproval about sexual impulses, urges, or behaviors is not sufficient to meet this requirement.
REGARDLESS of whether your behavior would meet the aforementioned criteria, it can still be problematic. If you are concerned about your own sexual behaviors, take the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) or contact one of the therapists at Upstate Recovery Center LLC.
TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL ADDICTION
It is not the job of a sex addiction therapist to determine what is sexually healthy for you. Certified Sex Addiction Therapists do not impose moral, cultural, or religious values on someone else’s sexuality. We provide client-centered and evidence-based treatment based on the medical model of addiction.
The medical model of addiction is respectful and supportive of religious beliefs (the moral model). We want our clients to engage in behaviors that are healthy, safe and legal. We work collaboratively with our clients to determine a recovery plan which is unique to each client. Recovery is not a “one size fits all.”
Treatment Topics (This list is not exhaustive but does include the overall areas of treatment that will be covered during the recovery process):
- Assessment
- Addiction as a Disease (Medical Model of Addiction)
- Breaking through Denial
- Sexual Sobriety Plan
- The Cycle of Addiction
- Addiction Interaction
- Internal and External Triggers
- Tools for the Toolbox
- Family of Origin
- Trauma History
- Guilt versus Shame
- Developing Empathy
- Communication Skills
- Understanding Relationship Dynamics
- Secrecy versus Privacy
- Healthy Sexuality
- Healing Partners
- Healing Families
- Healing Relationships