Sex addiction therapy is available to help individuals address the compulsive sexual thoughts and behaviors that can take over their lives, leaving other responsibilities unattended. The cause of these behaviors is not well understood, and they are often accompanied by mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Treatment may include medication such as mood stabilizers. Individual and family counseling can also be helpful to help people overcome shame and guilt about their sexual behavior, as well as learning how to separate these behaviors from their sense of self-worth. Twelve-step recovery groups and other community support groups can be beneficial to some people in addition to therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT is one of the most commonly used therapies for sex addiction, and it can be delivered online or in-person. It helps patients change negative, triggering thoughts into positive ones through self-talk and affirmations. They learn to identify their triggers and develop coping skills to deal with urges and cravings.

Couples and Marriage Counseling:
Sexual addiction can be especially devastating to relationships, particularly in married couples and serious relationships. It can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, and it can interfere with work and social activities. Therapy can be helpful in getting to the root of issues like insecurity, boredom, and low self-esteem that can lead to sex addiction.

Sometimes sex addiction can be a symptom of past trauma, and therapy can be helpful in working through those issues. Trauma therapies such as somatic experiencing, post induction therapy, and EMDR can be used along with individual and narrative therapy to help individuals heal and move forward.