Creating Conflict in Sex Addiction Treatment

As sexual addiction is a growing topic for those providing treatment in the mental health realm, therapists are still trying to navigate the complicated dance of treating the sex addict. For many sex addicts, their goal is to change the nature of a relationship to ensure they have control–a tendency that can cause conflict during therapy.

Some of the ways sex addicts try to hijack therapy sessions were recently outlined on Psych Central. In addition to a desire to control the situation, many sex addicts will try to deploy their own seductive tricks during a session. Whether the tactics are simply familiar or the addicts believe they only bring value with their sexual appeal, this element of their illness can shine through.

It’s also common for the sex addict to try to turn the therapy session in such a way as to indirectly sexualize it. The behavior is often subtle and can prove to be quite effective when used on someone lacking the necessary training to spot the motive–generally a heightened sense of control.

Money and power also tend to play a role in therapy as the sex addict may attempt to present the therapist with help, gifts or even advice. These activities are also tied to an assumption of power and are often likely to surface when the sex addict is accustomed to paying for sex.

The sex addict with a damaged past can often bring emotional baggage into a session that can create a fear of displeasing the one in the role of authority–the therapist–and an inability to express their needs.

The trained therapist spends time understanding these cues from the sex addict, adjusting the approach to therapy wherever appropriate so as to promote positive progression in treatment.