Struggling with sex addiction, sexual addiction, or compulsive sexual behaviour can be a deeply isolating and confusing experience. You may find yourself stuck in repetitive cycles of secrecy, guilt, shame, and escalating sexual behaviour, yet still feel unable to stop. Despite appearances of control in other areas of life, compulsive patterns can leave people feeling powerless, emotionally distressed, and disconnected from their values.

At Addiction Therapist London, I offer discreet, specialist sex addiction therapy for individuals navigating compulsive sexual behaviour, love addiction, sexual concerns relating to emotional, relational, or psychological factors (not medical sexual dysfunction), porn addiction, and related intimacy issues. Rooted in compassion, clinical depth, and trauma-informed care, our work focuses not just on stopping your behaviours, but on understanding what drives them, and transforming what lies beneath.

What Is Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction formally recognised as Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD) by the World Health Organization, is characterised by persistent, repetitive sexual thoughts, sexual urges, or sexual behaviours that feel difficult to control and continue despite serious negative consequences.

This might include:

Pornography use that feels excessive, compulsive, or distressing
Engaging in anonymous or risky sexual encounters
Escalating time spent seeking or engaging in sexual activity
A loss of interest in emotional intimacy or meaningful connection
A persistent pattern of secrecy, guilt, or emotional collapse

Many people wonder, “Is sex addiction real?” or “What is a sex addict, really?” especially as popular culture often mocks or sensationalises the condition. But for those who live with it, the pain is real. Whether or not you identify with the label sex addict or love addict, if your sexual behaviours are causing distress or interfering with your life, therapy can help.

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Common Signs You Might Be Addicted to Sex

Feeling unable to stop or reduce your sexual behaviours despite repeated efforts
Being preoccupied with sexual thoughts that interfere with work or relationships
Using sex or porn to escape emotional discomfort, stress, or trauma
Escalating behaviour in terms of risk, intensity, or frequency
Experiencing shame, regret, or anxiety after sexual acting out
Concealing behaviour or living with a double life
Feeling emotionally numb, detached, or ashamed of your sexuality

You may have asked yourself:

“Am I addicted to sex?”
“Am I a sex addict?”
“What causes sex addiction, and how do I stop?”

These are valid and courageous questions. Therapy creates a safe, non-judgemental space to explore the answers and begin meaningful recovery.

Understanding the Cycle of Sexual Compulsion

Sexual compulsivity is rarely just about desire or physical pleasure. It often serves a deeper psychological function, a way to manage emotional pain, regulate distress, or cope with unresolved trauma.

Many clients I work with have experienced:

Childhood trauma, emotional neglect, or sexual abuse
Attachment wounds, abandonment, or enmeshment
Cultural or religious shame around sex, desire, or the body
Loneliness, depression, or low self-worth
Chronic stress or emotional dysregulation
Neurodivergent experiences, including ADHD, where impulsivity and compulsive routines may be harder to manage

For some, sex becomes a form of emotional escape, a temporary anaesthetic from discomfort. But over time, it creates a deeper wound, reinforcing shame and disconnection from others and self.

How Therapy Helps: A Trauma-Informed Path to Recovery

Sex addiction therapy is not about suppressing your sexuality, it’s about creating a healthier, more integrated relationship with desire, intimacy, and self-worth.

My approach offers:

A structured yet compassionate space to explore compulsive patterns
Insight into emotional and relational triggers
Tools for managing urges, navigating setbacks, and building emotional regulation
A clear, personalised recovery plan with professional guidance and accountability

Together, we move beyond symptom management to work with the emotional, relational, and psychological roots of the addiction. This is where meaningful, sustainable healing begins.

Therapeutic Approach

Where appropriate, I collaborate with psychosexual therapists, GPs, and consultant psychiatrists if medical assessment or integrated care is needed, ensuring support remains safe, joined-up, and clinically appropriate. Each person’s journey is different.

After an in-depth initial consultation, we co-create a tailored therapy plan that may include:

Psychodynamic Therapy: exploring unconscious emotional dynamics, early attachment, and family scripts around sex, identity, and worth
CBT techniques (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): identifying and restructuring thoughts, beliefs, and triggers
Motivational Interviewing: supporting ambivalence and deepening motivation for change
Relapse Prevention Planning: understanding your cycle and developing tools to interrupt it
Psychoeducation: learning how problematic sexual behaviour affects the brain, body, and relationships
Trauma-Informed Therapy: especially for those with histories of abuse, neglect, or complex trauma
Art Psychotherapy: optional creative work to access non-verbal emotional insight
Spouse or Partner Support: working through betrayal, communication, and relationship rebuilding where appropriate
Mind-body referrals: where needed, access to yoga, breathwork, or mindfulness-based support
Referral to psychosexual therapy, private sexual health clinics and/or Sex Addicts Anonymous where beneficial to your recovery

How to Stop Sex Addiction — And Rebuild Self-Trust

You may be wondering:

“How do I stop sex addiction?”
“Can I ever have a healthy relationship with sex again?”
“How do I reduce or prevent acting out?”

These are deeply human questions, and the answers aren’t found in willpower or shame. In my professional opinion, sexual addiction is rarely about lust alone, it’s about longing. Longing for connection, regulation, escape, or relief from unresolved wounds. My clients often describe the behaviour as both deeply desired and deeply feared, a paradox that makes change feel impossible. Therapy becomes the first space where that paradox can be held with compassion, not judgement.

Recovery isn’t about eliminating sexuality, it’s about restoring choice, consent, and connection. It’s about learning how to sit with emotional discomfort, develop sustainable coping strategies, and begin trusting yourself again.

Therapy helps you:

Identify and deconstruct your personal addiction cycle
Learn practical skills to regulate impulses and triggers
Reconnect with emotional intimacy, not just physical release
Rebuild internal safety and self-trust

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some clients aim for abstinence. Others work toward developing healthy relationships and sexual health practices. The right path is the one that aligns with your values, goals, and emotional needs.

Discreet Therapy in London’s Harley Street Medical Quarter, St Pauls in the City of London and Online

My clients come from all walks of life who seek a safe space for personal growth for whom privacy, nuance, and emotional intelligence are essential. They often struggle in silence for years, fearing judgment, misunderstanding, or career consequences.

In my private practice, you’ll find:

A discreet and confidential therapeutic space
A culturally sensitive, LGBTQ+ affirmative approach
Flexibility for international clients via secure online therapy
Tailored addiction treatment that respects your context and identity

Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your partner, or your relationship, our work together is grounded in trust, empathy, the deepest of discretion and a belief that change is possible.

Start Where You Are. You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out.

Sexual behaviour doesn’t define your worth. What matters is your willingness to face it with honesty and specialist professional support.

Whether you’ve just begun to question your patterns or have been seeking help for some time, this is a space where you can reclaim your story with compassion, clarity, and accountability.

If you're ready to explore sex addiction therapy, I invite you to get in touch for a complimentary confidential 15-minute consultation.