Addressing Problematic Pornography Use in Adolescent/Young Adult Males: A Literature Review and Recommendations for Family Therapists

Abstract

A growing body of research indicates pornography use can become problematic for adolescents and emerging adults, but little research has addressed how to treat problematic pornography use in therapy. We here provide information about the clinical knowledge, awareness and skills therapists need to successfully treat problematic pornography use. Clinical knowledge includes information about patterns of use, outcomes, and correlates of problematic use. Areas of awareness include use of research and normalization as part of the therapeutic system. Therapist skills include use of appropriate assessments, team building, education and interventions drawn from research-based treatments for theoretically related disorders.

Keywords:

• Pornography
• treatment
• therapy
• adolescents