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This guide was written to provide an overview of the sexual addiction rehabilitation process, as well as to offer helpful resources for persons recovering from sexual addiction.
Treatment facilities provide hypersexual individuals with a safe, private place to confront their addiction. Intake usually begins with a comprehensive assessment that looks at past history of sexual trauma and types of substance abuse. Other common intake procedures include:
Some clinics may use pharmaceuticals to help in the treatment of sexual addiction. However, the most commonly approved solutions are types of therapy, specifically Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. Integrated 12-step programs and outpatient support groups help prevent relapse in successfully treated clients.
Unlike cigarette smoking or substance abuse, sex addicts may still want to continue sexual activities, just not abusive or harmful ones. Similar to food addiction, it’s sometimes much harder to occasionally indulge within limits than to quit completely.
Additionally, sexual images continue to bombard recovered addicts through music videos, movies, and television. Pornography is rampant throughout the internet, and it’s easy to fall back into old habits at the click of a button.
| Sexual Addiction… |
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated in 2015:
Of the individuals who received counseling, 4,044 were between the ages of 18 and 25
According to a SAMHSA’s 2015 Survey on Drug Use and Health, women are considerably more likely to seek treatment for mental health disorders. The gender breakdown of treatment and counseling for mental issues was 17.8% female and 10.3% male. While mental health disorders occur in a variety of age groups, the most common age group that received treatment and/or counseling was individuals aged 26 to 49.
| Age at the Time of Treatment Admission | Percentage of Mental Health Treatment Admissions |
| 18-25 | 1.4% |
| 26-49 | 0.9% |
| 50 or older | 0.8% |
Should sex addicts also have a co-occurring addiction to a substance such as alcohol or drugs, detoxification will need to take place. For those who come to treatment solely for sexual addiction, the sudden cessation of sexual activities may cause uncomfortable urges and cravings. Keeping the mind occupied by engaging in exercise and relaxation therapy can help.
| Body | Mind | |
| Short-Term Symptoms | Restlessness Increased appetite Increased sexual drive Increased use of cigarettes |
Irritability Agitation |
Source: Blum, Kenneth, et al. “Hypersexuality Addiction and Withdrawal: Phenomenology, Neurogenetics and Epigenetics” Cureus, 27 July 2015
For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Sexual Addiction
The FDA has not approved any compulsive sexual behavior medications, but trials involving several classes of medicines are ongoing. Although there have been some positive results using pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for sexual addiction, behavioral therapies are the most commonly used methods of achieving recovery.
Inpatient and outpatient counseling, which involves individual and group support, is the main source of sexual addiction treatment. Gender-specific programs enable individuals to feel comfortable during self-disclosure, and rehab facilities stress confidentiality and anonymity.
Within either an inpatient or outpatient setting, treatments such as behavioral therapies and medication-assisted treatments are offered for varying lengths of time.
Inpatient treatment involves living full-time (including overnight) at a treatment facility for a set period of time. Outpatient treatment involves scheduled appointments at a facility in which you are free to come and go. Within each category, there are several distinctions.
| Setting | Type of Treatment | Description | Duration | Time Commitment |
| Inpatient | Short-Term Residential | Intensive treatment, sometimes in a hospital setting. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 14-30 days | Hours Per Day: 24 |
| Days Per Week: 7 |
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| Long-Term Residential | Intensive treatment in a non-hospital setting, most often a therapeutic community with other patients. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 3-12 months | Hours Per Day: 24 |
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| Days Per Week: 7 |
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| Partial Hospitalization | Intensive treatment in a hospital setting. Patients do not stay overnight. Considered inpatient due to the hospital setting. Extensive services are provided and require a near full-time commitment every week. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 14-30 days | Hours Per Day: 6-8 |
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| Days Per Week: 5 |
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| Outpatient | Intensive Day Treatment | Extensive services of an inpatient program but patients return home each day following treatment. After completion, patients often transition to less intensive counseling. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 3-4 months | Hours Per Day: 2-4 |
| Days Per Week: 3 |
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| Counseling | Both individual counseling and group counseling focus on short-term behavioral goals to develop coping strategies. Therapies offered are moderate. Medication-assisted treatment is not available. | As long as desired | Hours Per Day: 1-2 |
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| Days Per Week: 1-3 |
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| Support Groups | Self-help groups center on maintaining abstinence after another form of treatment. Typically meet one day a week for 1-2 hours. | As long as desired | Hours Per Day: 1-2 |
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| Days Per Week: 1 |
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Classes of medications that have been investigated for sexual addiction include the following:
More research needs to be implemented before any of these medications can be pointed to as a solution for sexual addiction. Medications are usually more beneficial when there is a comorbid mental health issue along with the sexual addiction. In very rare cases, surgical castration may be used for violent sexual predators.
Behavioral therapies are the mainstream approach to handling sexual addiction. The goal of any therapy session is to identify triggers that fuel the sexual urges, come up with healthier choices to deal with those triggers, and develop coping skills when urges become too much to handle.
Therapy sessions can be individual or group and take place in residential rehab centers, outpatient programs, or support groups. Addicts who are in a relationship can also benefit from couples therapy and counseling techniques.
| Type of Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Further reading: |
Definition
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals focus on their beliefs and identify false or distressing thought patterns. CBT is problem-orientated and aims to help the addict move forward with their life by creating workable solutions to their everyday sexual urges. |
| Motivation Enhancement Therapy
Further reading: |
Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) seeks to positively reinforce less-risky sexual behaviors with self-motivating statements developed by the addict. These may concern limited internet pornography viewing and avoidance of strip and hook-up clubs.
MET is greatly beneficial when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, encouraging healthy behaviors and counseling attendance. |
| Psychodynamic Therapy
Further reading: |
One of the oldest forms of therapy, dating back to psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy looks at the addict’s behavior from an unconscious angle.
This treatment method involves dissecting past relationships and trauma to see if there is a link between the addiction and unresolved conflicts. It works best when combined in a rehab program with other methods. |
| 12-Step Facilitation Therapy
Further reading: |
12-Step Facilitation Therapy is often used as a relapse prevention strategy. It follows the guidelines of traditional 12-step self-help programs.
Many organizations offer a sexual addiction-specific 12-step program. Classes are free and they give sex addicts a place to find nonjudgmental support along with fellowship and accountability. |
Recovering from sexual addiction requires a place where addicts can feel comfortable discussing their problems and embracing solutions. Many want a guarantee of anonymity and expect their conversations and personal information to be kept confidential. Staff members who are caring, nonjudgmental, and above all knowledgeable about sexual addiction are paramount.
Rehab centers use different types of therapy in different combinations. Individuals may want to look over the program curriculum and the dynamics of group or individual counseling before committing. Depending on their needs, hypersexual individuals may look for residential vs. outpatient types of settings, and to avoid relapse, a quality, accountable after-care program is crucial.
Lastly, the added services that a center provides can significantly enhance the whole rehab experience. Classes in art and music can help sex addicts stay occupied. Additionally, exercise opportunities and mindfulness meditation help keep the body and mind in harmony while the individual works on creating new thought and habit patterns.
Our directory of rehab programs includes a comprehensive list of available treatment centers and programs as provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In the directory, you will find tools to filter the programs by setting, price, and location.