Change is Possible - Relationship - Therapy & Recovery

Knowing you are a sex addict doesn’t mean you are bad or perverted or hopeless. It means you may have a disease, an obsession from which many have healed. Dr. Patrick Carnes

At The Hudson Centre we specialise in treating Compulsive Sexual Behaviour with a particular emphasis on rebuilding healthy relationships with oneself and others. Rest assure that our therapists will not judge you and are there to help you better understand your behaviours so that healthier change is possible.

If you or someone you love has a Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, the first step to seeking help can be challenging. Part of the problem relates to the defence mechanism known as denial, coupled with shame connected to personal sexual behaviours. However, reaching out to an experienced and professionally trained sex addiction therapist can be an important step in creating happy and healthy change. Remember, what you share in therapy is completely confidential.

One of the fundamental problems with diagnosing and treating Compulsive Sexual Behaviour is that there is no visible scarring like other addictions (drugs, alcohol, food, gambling), as a result it can go underground for many years and forces the sexual addict to live a double life.

Three questions that may help you decide if you should talk to a trained psychotherapist €¦

• Is your sexual behaviour compulsive, uncontrollable, obsessive?
• Is your sexual behaviour causing you serious problems? (e.g. losing jobs or relationships, sexually transmitted diseases, or sexual offenses)
• Are you excessively obsessed with sex? (i.e. you think about sex ALL the time)

Behaviours Common in Compulsive Sexual Behaviour

• Multiple anonymous sex partners
• Compulsive cyber-sex
• Frequent use of sex workers
• Compulsive use and reliance upon adult video
• Simultaneous affairs outside of primary relationship
• Co-addiction to a substance (i.e. alcohol, crystal meth, cocaine).

The key word to keep in mind regarding all of these behaviours is compulsive. In short, people who have a Compulsive Sexual Behaviour compulsively engage in activities that place themselves and/or loved ones at risk personally, physically and financially.

Treating Compulsive Sexual Behaviour

Before recovery can take place the person has to want to change. They must recognize that the negative consequences associated with their behaviours outweigh any perceived benefits. After this realization, the treatment generally involves a number of approaches, including individual Compulsive Sexual Behaviour treatment, couples counsellingand group therapy.

Robert Hudson, Clinical Director and Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Specialist at The Hudson Centre says I strongly believe that the group environment provides a space for individuals to intimately discuss and share experiences in a confidential setting. This is where recovery is very likely to be initiated.

The Hudson Centre offers a unique and pioneering One Week Intensive Programme that is a highly effective and targeted therapy workshop. The 7 day outpatient programme focuses on Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, sexual compulsivity and Internet-related sexual problems and delivers one week of intensive therapy that is equivalent to 45 hours of therapy. You can see our upcoming Programme’s here.