Coach Vinny
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porn addiction
Help
Finding help requires determination. Accepting help requires humility. For all those who are determined and humble, there is an abundance of help available to assist you in your quest to overcome pornography addiction. This help may come in various forms. Some forms of help are free of charge, some have a minimal cost, and some require significant financial investment. Certain types of help may be more beneficial for some individuals than others. It is important to find what works for you--not what is comfortable for you, but what will actually help you--given your personality, learning type, addiction severity, available resources, etc. Some examples of different types of help include in-person and virtual treatment, paid therapy and coaching, as well as free (or nearly free) support groups. Some of these options are explained below.
In-person Porn Addiction Counseling
In-person or face-to-face counseling and treatment options are effective as they require a great deal of commitment, work, focus, and humility from the client just to show up and be physically present. Most therapists, coaches, and support groups offer primarily in-person options. If you live in a large city, you probably have a good chance of finding support options that specialize in sexual addiction within a reasonable distance from your home. If scheduling or transportation issues arise, or if you cannot find a specialist near you, there are many distance options that are great as well.
Virtual Porn Addiction Treatment
If in-person treatment is not an option for you due to distance, finances, or scheduling complications, virtual sessions may be considered. Keep in mind that feeling embarrassed or just not wanting to do it are not good enough reasons to avoid face-to-face help. You need to be honest with yourself and evaluate your motives. If at any point you realize you are trying to take the easy way, stop what you are doing and make a new plan. Now having said that, there are plenty of circumstances in which in-person treatment is simply not feasible. This is why virtual assistance has become popular. These virtual options may include phone calls, zoom meetings, online courses, texting, emailing, etc.
therapy takes a person from dysfunctional to functional
Porn Addiction Therapy
Therapist is a rather broad term for professionals in various forms of treatment including fields such as massage and physical therapy. For our purposes here, a therapist is a licensed psychologist with at least a master's degree. Finding a good therapist can make the difference between finding true recovery, and actually worsening an addiction cycle. Do your research, and don't be afraid to switch to a new therapist if it does not feel like a good fit--keeping in mind that a good fit is not someone who goes easy on you. In your research, it is critical that you find a therapist who specializes specifically in pornography addiction recovery. There are plenty of general therapists who will take on any client, but some of these can be very damaging. Many clients have been encouraged by their therapist to use pornography to help their relationship. If you end up with a therapist who doe snot specialize in sexual addiction, it could do more harm than good. Ask about their credentials, training, and experience.
Porn Addiction Coaching
A coach is a general term that can be used for anyone who helps people in some way. The term actually comes from stagecoach, a means of transportation for taking a person from where they are to where they want to be, and that is the true role of any coach. A life coach is not a licensed professional. Many coaches do not even have any certifications, or pursue a certificate from a subpar organization. While a general life coach can be great for helping you with many aspects of your life and realizing your goals and dreams, the vast majority of coaches will not be very helpful in your goal to overcome addiction. Even an addiction recovery coach would likely not be very helpful with pornography and sexual addiction. Find someone who specializes in exactly what you need help with. Many individuals wonder whether they should use a coach or a therapist or both. It is often said that therapy takes a person from dysfunctional to functional, and coaching takes a person from functional to optimal. Meaning, generally a coach is sufficient if you are currently a functioning member of society, hold a job, have a family, etc., but want to improve. However, if your life is significantly hindered by your addiction, such as being unable to hold a job, having trouble with law enforcement, lost family relationships, attempted or plans of suicide, etc., then you would likely require more extensive intervention such as a therapist.
Porn Addiction Support Groups
12 Step support groups are a critical part of recovering from any addiction. Many support groups are free or ask for a small donation to attend. Most groups are in-person, but there are also many phone groups available as well when attending a face-to-face meeting is not possible. Some 12 step groups specifically for pornography addiction include: SA (Sexaholics Anonymous), SAA (Sex Addicts Anonymous), SLA (Sex and Love Addicts). There is also a great general addiction support group run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family Services called ARP (Addiction Recovery Program). Each group follows a slightly different format but typically will include similar rituals such as reciting the serenity prayer, reviewing the 12 steps, stating the purpose of the group, explaining any rules, reading some kind of recovery literature, open time for sharing, etc. The exact wording of the 12 steps varies slightly from one group to another, but the main idea of each step is the same. Different groups even have varying definitions of sobriety ranging from very strict with clear definitions of acting out behavior, all the way to leaving it up to each individual to define what sobriety means to them. The important thing is that you attend. So find some groups that meet near you, and put it on your calendar. Do whatever it takes to attend meetings often.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your needs and determine which forms of help may be most beneficial for you.