Four decades of healing history, the top experts in an often-misunderstood field, and the most advanced approaches to address a wide range sexual addiction and behavioral disorders.
Our comprehensive program addresses sexual addictions, unresolved trauma, and co-occurring issues, going beyond symptoms to explore root issues and lay the groundwork for lasting healing.
Group and one-on-one therapy are just the beginning. We employ a wide range of methods and modalities, including valuable peer support, to address each person’s unique needs.
Let us help you determine if our program is right for your situation, discuss insurance coverage, payment options, and let you know what to expect upon arriving at treatment.
Change takes work, but it can’t be harder than living with unresolved addiction, trauma, and other disorders. If you or someone you love needs help, we’re ready and waiting.
A wide range of disorders that share a common theme
Sexual addiction isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a very personal struggle that can manifest itself in a number of ways. Some struggling with sexual addiction seek refuge in multiple sexual encounters or obsessive relationships. Others experience compulsions from pornography and internet sex to masturbation.
Every relationship has times when sexual needs are not matched. But addiction to pursuing multiple relationships, anonymous encounters, soliciting prostitutes, or turning to online interactions can turn sex into something that is empty, joyless, demoralizing, and robs the patient of the ability to experience real intimacy in his relationships.
Sex addiction is real and can be defined as “a pathological relationship with a mood-altering experience.” Statistics show that 17 to 37 million people suffer from sex addiction. Compulsive sexual behavior, or sexual addiction, can have significant effects on someone’s mental and physical health.
Sexual addiction has also been called sexual dependency or sexual compulsivity. By any name it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addicted person’s life. Simply put, sexual addicts make sex a priority more important than family, friends, and work. Sex becomes the organizing principle of their life, and they are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior. Men with sexual addiction may experience patterns of out-of-control sexual behavior.
Examples of sexual addiction issues include:
There is no single number of partners or sex acts that make someone a sexual addict. Instead, sex is the food or drug in other addictions that provides the “high” needed to feel normal. Temporary pleasure and unhealthy relationships become more important than forming healthy, intimate relationships.
At Gentle Path at The Meadows, we understand the complex nature of male sexual addiction and address a wide range of sexually based issues.
Compulsive sexual behavior is sometimes called hypersexuality, hypersexual disorder, nymphomania, or sexual addiction. Compulsive sexual behavior may involve a commonly enjoyable sexual experience that becomes an obsession that is disruptive or harmful.
Some sexual addictions are defined by the subject or focus. Compulsive sexual activity along with the use of pornographic material — despite harmful consequences to physical, mental, social, or financial well-being — is something that requires professional treatment.
Also referred to as “love addiction,” this is a case of too much of a good thing turning bad. When one person “loves” another person with an obsessive intensity that is not in the best interest of either party, there is usually unresolved trauma and self-esteem issues.
Also known as cybersex addiction, this form of sexual addiction is characterized by compulsive virtual or online sexual activity that someone is not able to stop, despite serious negative consequences to their physical, mental, social, or financial well-being.
Marked by a severe aversion to sexual contact and the obsessive avoidance of sex, people who struggle with sexual anorexia may feel self-loathing after sex, have irrational fears about sexually transmitted diseases, and engage in self-destructive behaviors to avoid sex.
Sexual behavior disorders can be particularly problematic for young men who are still discovering who they are physically and emotionally. Because healthy exploration is natural at this age, it’s possible for a disorder to develop before they’re even aware there’s a problem.
Featured Article
By Anna McKenzie Sex addiction is a psychological condition in which an individual suffers from compulsive desires to perform sexual acts. Because this condition is tightly connected to a lack of control or a need for […]
Featured Podcast
In this episode, we follow the life of Gentle Path Alum Scott Plumb and explore his family dynamics. He shares the impact that alcoholism and childhood trauma had on his life and how that experience manifested in anxiety and trauma, influencing Scott’s coping mechanisms throughout college and his adult life. Also, MBH clinician Scott Davis helps us explore the significance of addressing these underlying issues in the healing process.
At Gentle Path, our sole purpose is to help men understand that long-lasting recovery from their sexual addictions is possible. This safe, nurturing community is composed of peers where your journey of recovery will include not just dealing with outward behaviors but examining the underlying causes. The goal is to gain the courage to face difficult issues (including grief and loss), heal from emotional trauma, and become accountable for your feelings, behaviors, and recovery.
Taking that first step is hard, but there’s a new life of health and hope just waiting for you. The next chapter of your life can begin now, but only you can change your story.
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