Find a Counselor

I would encourage you to find a therapist or counselor of some sort. If you're concerned about the cost, you might want to know that some counselors have a "sliding scale" for people who can't afford counseling. There are alternatives, too. Some pastors (priests, ministers, or other spiritual leaders) are able counselors. Some churches also provide lay counseling ministries (you usually don't have to be a member to take advantage of these). One big name I recall off the top of my head is Lutheran Social Services; I believe the Catholic church has such a ministry too. The church I attend (a non-denominational body) also has free lay counseling for anyone.

Your best bet, of course, is to find a professional counselor who has experience dealing with addictions, and specifically with sexual addiction if possible. Below are some questions to ask for when you interview counselors. I know it's scary to ask people some of these questions, but you can call and ask the receptionist -- or often even directly ask the counselor -- and the phone helps keep the questions anonymous.

What to ask a counselor

Here is the list of questions I used when I was interviewing for a counselor. If you have additional questions you use, please send them to me and I'll add them here.

1. Have you dealt with sexual addiction in your practice?

2. Are you primarily directive or non-directive?

3. Are you Family Systems oriented?

4. What books have you read on sexual addiction (titles, authors)?

5. What training have you had on dealing with sexual addiction?

6. Is your style Cognitive, Behavioral, Psychoanalytical, or something else?

7. What do you charge?

8. What are your credentials?

9. How long have you been in practice?

If you are looking for a counselor, you might consider trying one of these search institutions

• The National Counsel on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity maintains a list of therapists around the country (770-989-9754).

• Here is a National Sexual Therapist Directory I found.

• OSA's Therapy Referral Page  
  Another helpful page when you're looking for a therapist

• The Outreach Division of the American Family Association has a list of Christian counselors that might be helpful. (601-844-5128).

• Therapist Directory  
  An online professional referral service, but so far only covers North America.   Select a therapist by state or use their Therapist Finder to help find someone who can help.

• The Therapy Network  
  From their main page: "The Therapy Network was created to bring therapists and clients together. Finding a therapist when you need one can be a difficult task...if you don't know someone who can recommend a therapist to you, it's often hard to know where to start looking."  The page also includes pointers to other sites such as "How to Choose a Therapist."

Here are some counselors I've found online

• A Place of Hope
  Location: Edmonds, WA (USA)
  Check out the "Clinical Services" section.  Dr. Gregg Jantz and this facility provide help with many issues, a few of which are anger, anxiety, co-dependency, separation, divorce, guilt, marriage, sexual behavior disorders, and helping those who have survived sexual or physical abuse.

• A Program for Restoring Fallen Ministers and Religious Leaders
  Restoration Manual: A Workbook for Restoring Fallen Ministers and Religious Leaders is a step by step process of organizing a Restoration Team for a repentant pastor and gives practical recovery steps. This unique workbook will help the broken minister pick up the pieces of his life as it gives hope and direction. This topic has been uncharted territory but needs to be discovered and explored...and quickly!

• Access Point
  This company offers nationwide, toll-free phone counseling and coaching for people struggling with addiction.

• Allied Specialists in Male Sexual Dysfunction
  Location: Chicago, IL (USA)
  Of interest to readers of this page is the fact that this organization "... specializes in the evaluation and treatment of... Sexual Addiction (compulsive sexual behavior/acting out)." 

• Counseling for sexual addiction  
  From the first few lines of this web page: "'Can I overcome my sexual addiction?' You've asked yourself that question many times. It's difficult to believe that the answer is 'Yes' and too depressing to give up all hope. So what is the answer? The answer is: 'It depends.'"  Find out more by following the link.

• Heart to Heart
  Location: Colorado Springs, CO (USA)
  Heart to Heart provides counseling, 3-day intensive sessions, books, tapes, and other resources. Telephone counseling is also available.

• Hope and Recovery from Sexual Addiction
  Location: Highland Village, TX (USA)
  Dr. Michael Johnson provides telephone counseling, workshops and a free electronic newsletter.  The website includes sexual addiction self-tests, tools, information about sexual addiction, and other helps for those trying to overcome the addiction.  Check out his web page at http://www.michaeljohnsonphd.com or email him at doctor@michaeljohnsonphd.com. 

• Impavido, John (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
  Location: Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
  The title of this page is actually "Help for Sexual Addicts"; the subtitle is "Private, Confidential, Christian Counseling Toll-Free Over the Phone."   This is a good page!  Mr. Impavido's page explains sexual addiction, lists behaviors of sexual addicts, explains his qualifications and the perspective he's coming from, his fees, and how you can make an appointment with him.  Check out this page if you are having trouble with sexual addiction and you are in the area (or even willing to call him).

• Psychological Counseling Services  
  Location: Scottsdale, AZ (USA)
  A service offering help for -- among other things -- sexual addiction.

• Sexual Addiction Help
  Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA (USA)
  This site is maintained by psychotherapists trained in the field of treating sexual addiction and compulsions. We work with individuals and/or their partners who feel their lives have become unmanageable due to their sexual behavior.

• Spirit of Recovery  
  Location: Worcester, MA (USA)
  From the site: "We want you to be able to learn more about your addiction here. If you can identify, we're ready to help. We're available for counseling and therapy by telephone. You'll be speaking with the best therapists available. We'll try to help you make a connection in your local area, but if you can't, we will be happy to continue working with you for as long as you need to."  There's a link for those of us dealing with sexual addiction (click on the "sex/relationship" category).