Since a child’s circumstances and experiences shape their physical and psychological development, researchers have spent decades looking into the role that our early years might play in the likelihood of developing addictions in later life. According to the sex addiction researcher, Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., an incredible 97% of people with sex addiction suffered emotional abuse [...]
The addiction recovery process is long and difficult and will be full of ups and downs. Sometimes you may feel great and like you’ve really got this, other times, avoiding relapse may feel near impossible. All these feelings are perfectly normal, so please don’t worry if you’re experiencing them. The important thing is to continue [...]
Sex, in itself, is not a problem. Desire is not dysfunction. Pleasure is not something to fear. Quite the contrary; these are normal, healthy, important and enjoyable parts of life! But there are times when sex shifts away from intimacy, curiosity, and genuine connection, and begins to serve a very different purpose. For some people, [...]
Most of us know how difficult it is to resist even the simplest of things. Whether it’s that extra cookie or checking your phone every two minutes, the more we try to stop ourselves from doing something, the more we think about it. Addiction is of course far more serious than eating too many cookies [...]
Anyone who has ever faced an addiction or who has supported a loved one through the difficult process, will be all too familiar with the fact that addiction is a selfish condition. We know that once addiction really takes hold, people find it incredibly difficult, if not impossible to abstain from the very behaviours they’re [...]
Sex addiction rarely begins the way people expect. For many, it does not start with an immediate crisis, reckless encounters, or obvious destruction. More often, it begins quietly. A private coping strategy. A source of temporary relief. A way to soothe loneliness, numb anxiety, escape shame, or regulate emotional pain when life feels emotionally overwhelming. [...]
Recovery from sex addiction is not a quick fix. It is a deeply personal process that unfolds over time, shaped by emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and meaningful therapeutic work. For many people, compulsive sexual behaviour developed as a way to cope with emotional pain, trauma, or distress. Because of this, recovery involves more than [...]
It has been just over a year since the coronavirus outbreak and for many parts of the world, life is still a long way from returning to ‘normal.’ With lockdowns, ongoing restrictions and uncertainty about the future, COVID-19 has naturally caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for everyone. It has taken such a [...]
Sexual addiction doesn’t just affect the person suffering from the condition. It also has a significant impact on their partner, friends and family. Partners, in particular, are especially likely to suffer the consequences of sexual addiction. They can, in fact, be so profound that they too seek professional counselling to aid them with the healing [...]
If someone is habitually unfaithful to their partner, they or the people around them may question if they’re suffering from sex addiction. In some cases, people who have cheated have even used this condition as an excuse for their behaviour - even if they don’t actually have an addiction. If a person is keeping important sexual [...]
As a Registered Psychotherapist, Betzalel specializes in the treatment of trauma and addictions. He is trained in EMDR and is a Certified Multiple & Sex Addiction Therapist-Supervisor, providing evidence based treatment to individuals and their partners dealing with these types of challenges. To learn more, please click here.
