Looking for a Sex Addiction Counselor? Read This First.

Finding a good sex addiction therapist should be simple—but it’s not. You might Google “sex addiction counselor” and scroll through pages of results, but here’s what I’ve found after searching in multiple major cities across the U.S.: about 90% of those listing sex addiction as a specialty have no real training or certification.

That’s not a typo. Many therapists list sex addiction among their specialties, but when you dig deeper—on their websites or bios—there’s no specific education, certification, or even experience in treating it. Some may have read a book. That’s not enough.

I’ve worked with thousands of men and women who’ve received poor counseling from unqualified professionals. The damage this causes? More confusion. More pain. And more time lost.

🔹 Here’s what to look for in a qualified sex addiction counselor:

✅ Certification. Make sure they’re certified by a recognized body. Counselors at aasat.org are trained in sex addiction, intimacy anorexia, full disclosure, and partner trauma. We train and supervise counselors globally to make sure they actually know what they’re doing.

✅ Recovery status (if applicable). If the counselor is a recovering addict, are they sober? Do they use a polygraph to verify their sobriety? This isn’t about shame—it’s about accountability. Every counselor in my office does this.

✅ Partner training. If you're the partner of a sex addict, your pain matters. There’s an entire certification for professionals to work with partners of betrayal trauma. Don’t settle for someone who doesn’t understand your experience.

✅ Structure and resources. Ask:
• Do they offer groups or follow a 12-step model?
• What educational materials or support tools will they use?
• What’s their plan for long-term care and relapse prevention?

You deserve intelligent, trauma-informed, and proven help.

💬 If you can’t find someone local, call our office (719-278-3708). We can help you connect with someone certified or guide you toward online support groups that work.

Sex addiction is serious. I’ve been free for over 30 years—and I’ve helped thousands find their own freedom too. Whether you’re the addict or the partner, you deserve the right help from the start.