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How “Believing Your Own Press” Can Get You in Trouble With Addiction

Recently, a story broke about a YouTube star in his 20s named Austin Jones who’s being sent to jail for 10 years. Why? Because he requested sexually explicit videos of underage girls. He did this numerous times, and the content of these videos as described in the press is terrible. It's easy enough to look […]
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Choosing Connection Over Performance

Men, young and old, who are porn addicts, often experience erectile dysfunction (ED) and related sexual performance anxiety. Although research on porn-induced ED is mixed, I can tell you firsthand that many of my clients, individuals and couples alike, are negatively impacted. It can be difficult to measure the far-reaching effects of viewing too much […]
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We Need to Talk About Your Ego Situation

When speaking casually, the term “ego” gets thrown around mostly in a negative way. “Wow, the ego on that guy,” or “His ego will never let him admit failure,” etc. While these statements might technically be using the term ego correctly, it does tend to make people associate the ego with self-aggrandizing or pomposity. That’s […]
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What Are the Factors Leading to a Sex Addiction?

Obviously, sexual addictions aren't something you’re born with. Rather, they're a condition that develope over time. Most people can go about their lives, form relationships, have sex, even look at porn occasionally, and not necessarily become addicted. Remember, when we say addicted, we mean that the sexual compulsion to act out has literally ruined a […]
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A Walk in the Shoes of Someone With a Sex Addiction

Hollywood and the media have given us a certain idea of what a sex addict and sexual compulsions looks like. Maybe they’re multi-millionaire actors and actresses constantly taking home other multi-millionaire actors and actresses. Perhaps sex addiction even seems a little fun. Why not surround yourself with rich beautiful people all the time? Then, all […]
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Relationship Differences—How Much Is Too Much?

Common beliefs may tell you that it is essential to have the same interests and styles to co-exist happily. Some 64% of married Americans believe that “having shared interests” is very important for a successful marriage, according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, those surveyed ranked shared interests as more essential than good sex […]
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What the Holidays Made Me Do: An Addict's Guide to Navigating December

Every year around the holidays, people who are stressed, upset, lonely, angry, and afraid call Compulsion Solutions. Holidays bring cheer to many, but to those who are addicted, it can bring tremendous suffering. When it seems like the whole world is coming together to celebrate, it's very easy for an addict to feel that they […]
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Porn is Being Advertised to You (and Your Kids) All the Time

When I work with sex and porn addicts, one of the biggest challenges they face is the fact that porn is being advertised constantly. I don't just mean the crazy emails that end up in your spam folder, or sidebar ads on websites. I mean it's showing up in video games, in public, and even […]
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Filling the Gaps in Porn and Sex Addiction Treatment

I want to start off by saying that in battling my own addiction to porn, I was profoundly helped by both traditional talk therapy and a 12-step program. I learned a lot from each, and I often hear from others who have been greatly helped by these approaches as well. However, for me, there were […]
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Communication and Active Listening

Communication problems: By far, the number one reason couple’s come to therapy. When you think of it, it’s the number one problem in most relationship issues—family, friends, and work to name a few. Communication issues are far-reaching and impact each and every one of our relationships, particularly intimate and committed ones. The topics of the […]
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Why Specialized Addiction Therapy is Necessary

Men, women, and mental health professionals who have come to a crossroads regarding porn and/or sex addiction often contact me. Despite diligently applying themselves to weekly talk sessions or couples therapy, a sex or porn addict will not progress until the root cause of their addiction is addressed. Without the right treatment, the addict will […]
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No, You Can't “Just Watch Soft-Core” If You're a Porn Addict

"It's just soft stuff" is the most common rationalization in porn addiction. Here's why lighter material still feeds the same compulsion. Since I've been asked this question on more than one occasion, I figure it's time to address it out in the open: "Can't I just watch 'lighter material' and still be okay?" My answer, […]
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Once An Addict, Always An Addict?

Anyone who has struggled with addiction or continues to struggle likely has heard the phrase, “once an addict, always an addict.” You may have a love and hate relationship with that saying. Many see it as a label of hopelessness, sort of a lifelong branding while others may look at it as just a warning…a […]
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Making Deposits for Your Relationship's Health

While recently in session with a client, he told me how uncomfortable he was watching nudity or sexual scenes on television with his wife. Prior to getting caught and forced to deal with his out of control sexual behavior, he and his wife would enjoy their favorite show, The Sopranos. Many scenes in the show […]
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Objectification Hurts Everyone

I ran across an article at Psychology Today, which spoke about the sexualization of women and girls, and how damaging it is not only to women, but also to men and boys. I was glad to see this article referencing some scientific studies that were conducted, because frankly, this is an issue, which needs more […]
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Boundaries after addiction: building back trust.

Rebuilding your relationships may be one of the most difficult parts of addiction recovery. Sex addiction and porn addiction are uniquely able to damage trust in your closest relationships, particularly with your romantic partner or spouse. But while it can be a challenging journey, it is possible for trust to be rebuilt after addiction if […]
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"But can I still go to a strip club?" What’s OK and what’s not OK during recovery.

For most people, entering into sex or porn addiction recovery is a huge step into unknown territory. How do you navigate the “new normal” of being a healthy person with healthy boundaries? It’s not easy, but you’re not alone. Here’s a quick and dirty guide to keeping yourself on the right track during recovery. Nope, […]
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Setting Up A Dialogue Practice

In my practice, if I received a dollar for each time I heard from my clients, “I was too busy to write this week,” I would be a wealthy man. Like many things that are actually good for us, journaling or dialoguing often get put aside or buried by the busyness of life. Somehow putting […]
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Dopamine and Your Porn Addiction

There’s a lot of talk about how the dopamine receptors in your brain influence addictive behavior. Does dopamine feed addiction? What role does dopamine play when it comes to your brain and pornography? Here’s what you need to know: 1. Dopamine itself is not actually addictive. Contrary to popular belief, dopamine is not actually addictive […]
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Surviving an Affair

Being caught in having an affair or admitting to an infidelity blows the door right off the vehicle that is your relationship. Intense feelings of anger, fear, resentment and sadness to name a few come to the forefront like a flood. If you have gone through this or are currently going through this turmoil in […]
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