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.
Break Porn Addiction, Rebuild Authentic Intimacy
Porn addiction, often classified within compulsive sexual behavior disorder (ICD-11 code 6C72), is a persistent inability to control intense, repetitive urges to view pornography, so individuals keep using it even when it harms their relationships, work, or personal well-being. Clinical criteria state that the pattern usually lasts six months or longer, includes repeated unsuccessful efforts to cut back, and causes significant distress or functional impairment. Over time, the behavior can escalate and become a central focus of daily life, crowding out healthy activities.
Persistent, compulsive pornography use tends to show up in recognizable behavioural and emotional patterns. If several of the following warning signs are present for six months or more, clinicians consider a possible pornography-use disorder.
The signs and symptoms of porn addiction are subtle and insidious. If you or a loved one displays multiple of these signs, it’s time to reach out for help.
While every individual’s experience is unique, clinicians often see pornography use disorder unfold in a repeating cycle with six identifiable stages. Recognizing where someone sits in the cycle can guide appropriate intervention and relapse prevention planning.
Stress, shame, boredom, or unresolved trauma sparks an uncomfortable emotional state. Pornography becomes the go-to coping tool because it promises fast relie
Obsessive fantasies and intrusive thoughts about watching porn crowd out normal activities, often lasting hours or days.
The person creates predictable “set-ups” (secrecy, specific times of day, devices, or websites) that build anticipation and intensify arousal.
Viewing pornography (sometimes escalating to more extreme material) delivers a short-lived dopamine surge, but quickly loses its impact, prompting longer sessions or riskier content to chase the same high.
Guilt, shame, relationship conflict, lost productivity, or spiritual distress surface once the acting-out episode ends. The individual may vow to quit but feels stuck, reinforcing hopelessness.
The cycle pauses, either through a brief white-knuckle stretch of abstinence or by reaching out for professional porn addiction rehab. Without comprehensive care, unresolved triggers eventually restart the loop.
At Gentle Path at the Meadows, pornography-related compulsive sexual behavior is treated with the same clinical rigor we apply to all intimacy disorders, pairing Dr. Patrick Carnes’ proven 30-Task Model with trauma-forward, brain-based therapies. Each man receives an individualized plan that blends the medical, psychological, spiritual, and relational dimensions of healing.
Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSAT) conduct a multi-axis intake (trauma history, attachment style, addiction severity) and craft a step-by-step treatment roadmap.
Daily therapist-facilitated 30-Task Model groups walk participants through Dr. Carnes’ sequential tasks: abstinence, boundary building, disclosure, amends, and healthy sexuality.
EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and neurofeedback target underlying PTSD or developmental trauma that fuels compulsive porn use.
CBT, Dialectical Behavior techniques, and mindfulness practice help clients challenge triggers and tolerate cravings in real time.
On-campus 12-Step S-AA/S-RA meetings plus accountability partner work foster community and reduce shame.
Parallel programming offers partners education, boundary-setting tools, and joint sessions to rebuild trust for families and relationships.
Daily fitness, nutrition coaching, equine-assisted therapy, and expressive arts restore balance to body and mind for whole-person wellness.
Each client leaves with a personalized relapse-avoidance plan, therapist match, and 90-day digital aftercare platform access.
Featured Article
There’s no question that pornography is more accessible and more acceptable in our society today than it has ever been in history. In 2020 alone, porn sites received more traffic than Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, Zoom, Pinterest, […]
If the signs and stages described on this page feel familiar, know that you are not alone and you do not have to face recovery by yourself. Explore our additional resources on pornography & sex addiction, reach out to verify insurance, or call our admissions team today. Your life, relationships, and future intimacy can be stronger than ever. Healing starts with a single, courageous step.
Lasting change starts by removing triggers (filters, accountability software), replacing the habit with healthy coping skills, and getting professional help from a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). Gentle Path’s CSAT-led program combines cognitive-behavioral, trauma-focused, and 12-step support to break the cycle.
Approach the person calmly, express specific concerns, and encourage them to seek specialized treatment rather than shaming them. Offer to research programs, attend therapy sessions, or join partners’ support groups.
Compulsive pornography use can damage relationships, reduce work or school performance, escalate to riskier content, and fuel anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction. Over time, it rewires reward pathways, making real intimacy harder. Professional intervention reverses these effects.
Common signs of porn addiction include obsessive thoughts about porn, escalating viewing time, secrecy, failed attempts to quit, withdrawal-like irritability, and use despite serious consequences. If several signs persist for six months, an assessment is recommended.
There’s no exact number of videos or hours; addiction is defined by loss of control, preoccupation, and negative impact on life, not sheer quantity. Even daily use can be non-addictive if it’s brief and consequence-free, while weekly binges that cause harm may qualify as disordered.
It crosses the line when viewing is repetitive, hard to stop, and causes distress or functional impairment for at least six months, meeting criteria for compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Early recognition allows quicker, more effective intervention.
Recovery timelines vary, but intensive residential care typically lasts 45–90 days, followed by 6–12 months of outpatient therapy and support groups. Neurobiological research shows significant brain-circuit recovery within 3–6 months of abstinence. Learn more from our alumni.
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