Find a Mental Health Professional for Compulsive Sexual Behaviour

About Compulsive Sexual Behaviour support

Compulsive sexual behaviour involves sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviours that feel out of control, cause significant distress, or interfere with relationships, work, and daily functioning. This may include compulsive pornography use, repeated sexual encounters despite negative consequences, or an inability to manage sexual urges despite genuine effort to do so. Compulsive sexual behaviour is surrounded by shame and is often kept secret, which can intensify distress and delay help-seeking. Psychological treatment is available and effective. CBT, mindfulness-based approaches, and relapse prevention strategies are commonly used. Therapy explores the functions compulsive sexual behaviour serves, often including stress relief, emotional avoidance, or connection needs, and helps develop healthier and more sustainable ways of meeting those needs. Addressing trauma, shame, and attachment patterns is often part of the work. In Australia, Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) provides peer support, and many private practitioners with experience in sexual compulsivity work in major cities and via telehealth. The Society of Australian Sexologists can assist with referral to appropriately trained practitioners. GP referrals can support access to subsidised psychology sessions under Medicare's Better Access initiative.