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| Treatment Steps | It is important that the partner of a sexual addict seek their own, individual counselling to help them learn how to deal with their partner's addiction. There are also online support groups in addition to real-life help.
Overcoming sexual compulsivity and addiction starts with recognizing that you are out of control sexually. Getting to that point requires taking a hard look at yourself and the problems—emotional, physical or financial—caused by your sexual behavior.
 Treatment may include:
• a commitment to abstinence;
• rebuilding relationships;
• managing stress;
• self-help.
Some treatment for sex addicts are the same as for alcoholics. The addicts are individuals who are chronically addicted to a behavior are in a vicious cycle of use, self-judgment and avoidance that is repeated from time to time.
The model focuses on three elements of the cycle:
• usage of sex;
• self-judgment;
• avoidance behaviors.
The approach to counseling is strongly based on 12-step models.
The three elements of the addictive cycle are impacted by a process created by using:
• therapeutic environment;
• group process;
• education;
• self/peer assessment.
All these items are a part of a therapeutic process which begins with the first contact.
The creation of an environment that supports the therapeutic process is necessary for treatment. Clients must be provided with an opportunity to explore their self-judgments without fear of the judgment of others.
They need to feel they are listened to with respect and empathy. In earlier models of this approach, the counselor was the only one who possessed so-called counselor characteristics. Although this element is still critical, it now applies to the whole multidisciplinary team, a staff of professionals who are naturally therapeutic. The counselor conducts an initial assessment, identifies the presenting problem and if indicated schedules the client for treatment.
A thorough psychosocial assessment is conducted and identified blocks to treatment or problems are noted. The counselor begins the bonding with the client during the assessment process. All counseling skills come into play. The counselor then prepares a therapeutic or treatment plan (i.e., the change model) to help the client deal with those identified problems or blocks that will prevent response to the treatment process.
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