Sex addiction – an extraordinarily contentious problem

Abstract

Sex addiction is a phenomenon that has a variety of names and even more meanings depending on who you talk to, and each of these interpretations impacts the clients who seek help. There are many different models of addiction, such as the biological, moral or social models that are often not useful when thinking about sex, but by adopting a comprehensive model for describing addiction, both clients and therapists can be helped to consider the multiple layers of compulsive sexual behaviour. Furthermore, to date there have been no models for assessment and treatment that incorporate attachment, trauma and the social context which can help therapists and clients identify and consider the most appropriate, and most urgent, therapeutic objectives.

Keywords:

• sexual addiction
• sexual trauma
• relational disorder

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paula Hall

Paula Hall, COSRT Acc., UKCP Reg., BACP Acc., is a sexual and relationship psychotherapist in private practice. She provides individual therapy and group programmes for people with sex addiction and is founder of the Hall Recovery Course which is now available around the UK. She is also the current chair of ATSAC (Association for the Treatment of Sex Addiction & Compulsivity) and trains on their professional certificate programme. Hall is also the author of Understanding and Treating Sex Addiction, published in the UK by Routledge in November 2012.