Appearances mean everything to Steve. He married a beautiful woman, drives a sporty car, and makes enough money to send his kids to a prestigious private school. Still in his 40s and already an accomplished senior executive, Steve works hard and plays hard, too.

Steve is a flirt, especially with the young secretaries at work, and rarely makes it home before midnight. He unwinds with a few drinks or a little blow to keep the night going, and often has unprotected sex with local prostitutes to make up for what his sex life at home lacks. His wife has no clue what she’s been exposed to as a result of her husband’s late-night indiscretions.

Why He Might Seek Treatment

Steve faces an ultimatum from his wife when her doctor informs her that she has an STD: Get help or get out. Although he doesn’t think he really has a problem, Steve agrees to get help to save his marriage.

Another possibility is that Steve gets caught with a prostitute. On his attorney’s advice, he ends up in treatment for substance abuse to show that he takes his brush with the law seriously. In drug rehab, Steve faces some painful facts: He has seen over 100 prostitutes in the past few years and has wasted his kid’s tuition on drugs and hookers. These realizations help him understand the need for sex addiction treatment.