Sex and Porn Addiction
Sex and Porn Addiction Therapy in Arlington, VA, Washington DC, Maryland & Throughout Virginia
Compassionate, Effective Therapy for Sex Addiction, Compulsive Sexual Behavior, and Relationship Recovery
If sexual behaviors, pornography use, online affairs, compulsive dating apps, infidelity, or secret sexual activities have begun to impact your relationships, career, emotional well-being, or sense of self, therapy can help.
I provide specialized therapy for adults struggling with compulsive sexual behavior, problematic pornography use, chronic infidelity, and sex addiction-related concerns throughout Arlington, Virginia, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, and across the state of Virginia through secure telehealth services.
Many people seeking help for sex addiction feel trapped between shame and the inability to stop behaviors that no longer align with their values. Others find themselves repeatedly making promises to change, only to return to patterns that create distress, secrecy, and relationship damage.
Therapy offers a confidential space to understand what is driving these behaviors and develop healthier ways of coping, connecting, and living.
What Is Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction—sometimes referred to as compulsive sexual behavior, problematic sexual behavior, or hypersexual behavior—involves persistent sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviors that become difficult to control despite negative consequences.
Common signs may include:
Excessive pornography use
Compulsive masturbation
Secret sexual behaviors
Excessive use of dating or hookup apps
Escalating sexual behaviors over time
Feelings of shame, guilt, or loss of control
Difficulty stopping despite repeated attempts
Not everyone who engages in these behaviors meets criteria for addiction. Therapy helps determine what is happening beneath the surface and what type of treatment is most appropriate.
A Psychodynamic Approach to Sex Addiction Treatment
Many treatment approaches focus primarily on stopping behaviors. While behavioral change is important, lasting recovery often requires understanding why the behaviors developed in the first place.
My approach is grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which explores the deeper emotional patterns that may contribute to compulsive sexual behavior.
Together, we may examine:
Shame and self-esteem struggles
Loneliness and emotional isolation
Anxiety, depression, or chronic stress
Difficulties with intimacy and vulnerability
Unconscious emotional conflicts
Patterns that repeat across relationships
For many people, compulsive sexual behaviors are not simply about sex. They can function as attempts to regulate difficult emotions, escape emotional pain, manage stress, or seek connection in ways that ultimately become destructive.
By understanding these underlying dynamics, clients often experience more sustainable and meaningful change.
Therapy for Pornography Addiction
Pornography use becomes problematic when it begins to interfere with relationships, sexual functioning, emotional well-being, productivity, or personal values.
Individuals seeking pornography addiction therapy may experience:
Difficulty controlling pornography use
Escalation in content or frequency
Emotional distress or shame
Sexual difficulties with partners
Reduced intimacy in committed relationships
Treatment focuses on understanding triggers, reducing compulsive patterns, strengthening emotional regulation, and addressing the underlying issues that maintain the cycle.
Couples Therapy After Infidelity, Betrayal, or Sexual Acting Out
Compulsive sexual behavior often affects not only the individual but also their partner and relationship.
When trust has been damaged through infidelity, pornography-related conflicts, secrecy, or other sexual behaviors, couples therapy can help both partners begin the process of healing and rebuilding.
I integrate principles from the Gottman Method, one of the most researched approaches to couples therapy, to help couples:
Rebuild trust after betrayal
Improve communication
Process hurt and resentment
Reduce conflict escalation
Strengthen emotional connection
Establish healthier boundaries
Create a path toward relationship recovery
Couples frequently benefit from a combination of individual and relationship-focused work to address both the behavioral concerns and the emotional impact on the partnership.
Who I Help
I work with:
Adults struggling with sex addiction
Individuals concerned about pornography addiction
Professionals dealing with secret sexual behaviors
People recovering from infidelity
Couples navigating betrayal trauma
Individuals seeking greater sexual health and self-understanding
Partners affected by compulsive sexual behavior
My practice is affirming, nonjudgmental, and grounded in respect for each client's unique values, identity, and goals.
Sex Addiction Therapy in Arlington, VA and Beyond
I provide therapy for clients in:
Arlington, VA
Alexandria, VA
Fairfax, VA
McLean, VA
Falls Church, VA
Reston, VA
Vienna, VA
Fredericksburg, VA
Richmond, VA
Washington, DC
Bethesda, MD
Rockville, MD
Silver Spring, MD
Throughout Virginia, Maryland and DC via telehealth
Whether you are seeking help for compulsive sexual behavior, pornography addiction, infidelity recovery, or relationship healing, therapy can help you understand the roots of these struggles and move toward lasting change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sex addiction a real diagnosis?
The terminology remains debated among professionals. Some clinicians use terms such as compulsive sexual behavior or problematic sexual behavior. Regardless of terminology, many individuals experience significant distress related to sexual behaviors that feel difficult to control, and therapy can be highly beneficial.
Can therapy help with pornography addiction?
Yes. Therapy can help identify triggers, address underlying emotional factors, improve coping skills, and support healthier relationships with sexuality.
Do you work with couples after infidelity?
Yes. I provide couples therapy for partners seeking to repair trust and rebuild connection following infidelity, pornography-related conflicts, or other forms of betrayal.
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Yes. Secure telehealth appointments are available for clients throughout Virginia as well as Washington DC and Maryland.
Reach out to start
If you are struggling with sex addiction, compulsive sexual behavior, pornography addiction, or relationship challenges related to these concerns, help is available.
Contact me today to schedule your first session and learn how psychodynamic therapy and Gottman-informed couples therapy can support your recovery and relationship healing.