You might have convinced yourself that what you're doing is just normal behavior. After all, lots of people watch pornography, right? But there's a significant difference between occasional use and addiction. The question isn't whether something is socially normalized—it's whether it has control over you.

What is Sexual Addiction?

Pornography addiction follows a distinct clinical pattern. Therapists trained in sex addiction treatment (CSAT, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist)recognize specific markers: escalation (needing more extreme content over time), frequency use several times per week, intense cravings, continuing compulsive sexual behavior despite serious consequences, acting on autopilot without conscious decision, and neglecting relationships, work, or responsibilities to engage in sexual behavior. If this describes your experience, you're not alone—and you're not beyond hope.

Question about Sex Addiction: What causes porn addiction?

Many factors can contribute, such as poor attachment, trauma, early exposure, or not having healthy examples for regulating emotions. This doesn't mean that the person struggling with compulsive sexual behavior is not responsible for their choices. Rather, it highlights why a trauma informed therapist can be so helpful on your journey to recovery.

Questions about Sexual Addiction: Where Can it Take You?

Sex addiction creates a profound internal conflict, especially for Christians. You might feel deep shame, knowing that your sexual behaviors contradict your faith and values. You might have caused betrayal trauma for your spouse. It may have taken you to numb the pain through substance use. You might recognize the damage it's doing to your marriage, your sense of self, and your relationship with God. The cycle—temptation, acting out, shame, temporary abstinence, and relapse—can feel inescapable. And the longer it continues, the more isolated and hopeless you feel.

Questions about Sexual Addiction: Can I Overcome Porn Addiction by myself?

One of the most beautiful things about God's story is that He doesn't expect you to conquer porn addiction by yourself. We need others to help us understand the Lord more deeply and walk in freedom (Phil. 1:27). This can be humbling, but also a relief as God does not expect for us to conquer porn addiction all by ourselves. Being part of a church, support group, or group therapy can be incredibly helpful. God has made us a social being needing connection to others in order to truly grow. While individual talk therapy is valuable, we were made to grow in connection with others.

Questions about Sexual Addiction: Can Christian Counseling Help with Porn Addiction?

Yes. A Christian therapist who specializes in porn addiction counseling can help you make sense of this issue. Clifton Hickman brings CSAT certification to treat sex and pornography addiction with both clinical rigor and spiritual compassion. He is a certified Biblical Counselor and committed to guiding those struggling with compulsive sexual behavior. When it comes to recovery, it impossible to heal on your own. God understands the human experience, loves you, and bears your shame with you (Philippians 2; Hebrews 12:2). He also doesn't just want to heal you individually, but relationally as well. This is what talk therapy with a Christian Counselor that is an addiction counselor can offer this to you.

Questions about Sex Addiction: If I struggle with Porn Addiction, is that always going to be the case?

No, we do not believe in once a porn addict, always an addict, because it limits the healing power of God. In other words, God can change your porn addiction just like He can change someone of any behavioral issues in their life. This is why if we are in Christ we are a "new creation" and we continue to grow in walking in "newness of life" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4).

Questions about Sex Addiction: Can my partner or spouse be involved in porn addiction therapy?

Yes. We actually encourage partners to be involved, even if they struggle with betrayal trauma. Porn addiction doesn't just hurt the person struggling—it affects everyone around them. Relational healing is essential even to someone in porn addiction. This may entail going through all of the full disclosure process. To make one thing clear, the spouse is not responsible for fixing the struggler of compulsive sexual behavior. The goal of full disclosure is to provide transparency, healing, and a pathway towards forgiveness.

Questions about Sex Addiction: Can Group therapy help?

Yes, healing cannot happen in isolation. In fact, it just makes it worse. We were made for connection and group therapy or a support group provides community, encouragement, accountability, and guidance from a trained therapist.

Group therapy for this issue though particularly provides community, others further along in recovery. Jay Stringer tells us that heavy porn usage can be reduced by 27% if we have one person to talk to regularly about it. Imagine if we had more. At Reviving Hope Christian Counseling, Clifton Hickman leads a in-person group for individuals men struggling with porn and sex addiction.