If you’re a sex or porn addict, you already know that overcoming your compulsive sexual behavior takes ongoing effort. It’s not a quick fix by any means. You need several recovery tools in your toolbox, so to speak. That’s why at Integrative Life Center, in addition to our men’s residential intimacy disorders treatment program, outpatient therapy programs, and aftercare options, we also recommend you utilize an outside sex or porn addiction support group during your recovery. But which support groups should you consider?
Key Takeaways:
- Sex and porn addiction support groups connect you with people who’ve dealt with the same struggles, providing support and encouragement while countering the isolation and shame often associated with addiction.
- Reputable support group options include Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), Pornography Addicts Anonymous (PAA), and The Samson Society (specifically for Christian men).
- Many support groups are free and will often work through the Twelve Steps. Often the only requirements for attending are a desire to recover and maintaining strict confidentiality.
- Partners, family, or friends of those with a sexual addiction have a group option themselves in S-Anon, allowing them to get the supportive community they need themselves.
- Porn and sex addiction support groups work best alongside a professional addiction treatment program.
What is a Sex or Porn Addiction Support Group?
As you’re thinking about joining a porn or sex addict support group, you need to first understand why they’re so beneficial to your recovery journey. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a support group as “a group of people with common experiences and concerns who provide emotional and moral support for one another.” In other words, sex and porn addiction support groups offer you the opportunity to intentionally meet with other people who are struggling with the same disorders that you are, as well as those who are further along in their recovery journey.
The throes of sex or porn addiction can cause isolation, shame, and loneliness, so it’s key to find support from others in order to heal. These sex or pornography addiction support groups offer this kind of community on a consistent basis. At each meeting, not only do you get a safe place to share the problems you’re facing, you also can receive practical feedback, accountability, and guidance to help you make progress on your recovery. For many of these groups, the only requirement to attend is that you’re actively trying to recover from your addiction. They’ll also typically ask for you to maintain strict confidentiality about the things discussed during your time in the group.
Reputable Sex or Porn Addiction Support Group Options
Looking for the right porn or sex addiction support group can easily get overwhelming, so we wanted to provide a list of options for you to explore. These support group organizations have been around a while, are popular, and offer several in-person or virtual group options nationwide.
Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
The primary focus of Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is to help you stop your addictive behavior and help others recover from sex addiction. SAA meetings are open to both men and women and strive to offer an accepting, non-threatening environment. There are no fees or dues required to participate. SAA’s group meetings are centered around practically applying the Twelve Steps—basic principles for living that lead to the actual work of recovery originally created by Alcoholics Anonymous—to your everyday life.
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.)
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.) is for people struggling with an addictive compulsion to engage in (or avoid) love, sex, or emotional attachment. S.L.A.A. groups can vary from gender-specific to open to anyone. Using the Twelve Steps to find long-term healing, each member of the group is focused on overcoming their addictive sexual and emotional behavior. No registration, fees, or dues are required to attend, though members can volunteer to contribute financially.
The Samson Society
The Samson Society is specifically for Christian men to have a safe place to be honest about their often hidden struggles with sexual addiction. Offering an opportunity for grace and transparency without judgment or shame, the Samson Society aspires to see men restored to sexual sanity and their marriages not only saved, but strengthened for the long haul. There are no fees for membership.
Pornography Addicts Anonymous (PAA)
Pornography Addicts Anonymous (PAA) is a pornography addiction support group for men and women who are seeking long-term recovery. Members share their experiences, strength, and hope with one another while working through the Twelve Steps. Not only are they collaborating together to practice the recovery principles in their daily lives, they want to help others achieve this as well. There are no fees or dues to join.
Support Groups for Partners of Sex Addicts (and Friends and Family)
Did you know that there are support groups for partners of sex addicts, family members, or friends of addicts as well? If you’re a loved one of a sex or porn addict, it’s important that you find the support you need to heal from any betrayal trauma and other challenges, too.
S-Anon
S-Anon is a worldwide fellowship of support groups for family and friends of sex or porn addicts. People who typically attend meetings are hurting in response from their loved one’s compulsive sexual behavior. By attending S-Anon meetings, you can share about the struggles you’ve dealt with and work on your own recovery from the negative fallout of your loved one’s addiction. Members learn to apply the principles of the Twelve Steps in order to achieve long-term peace and healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sex or porn addiction support group?
A sex or porn addiction support group consists of a group of people with shared sexual addiction experiences. People who attend are often at different stages of their recovery journeys. Together, each group member provides emotional support, practical feedback, and accountability. Groups meet regularly in person or online.
Are sex and porn addiction support groups free?
Yes, most groups are free to attend, though some groups may offer the opportunity to contribute a financial donation. It’s best to confirm any potential costs at your local meeting beforehand.
Do I have to have a sex addiction to join a group?
No. Many groups just require that you have a committed desire to recover from your addiction or are actively in recovery. If you’re unsure whether your sexual behavior qualifies, consider taking an online assessment or seeking feedback from a CSAT therapist.
Is a support group enough to overcome a sex or porn addiction?
No. If you have a sex or porn addiction, you need to seek professional help if you want to achieve long-term recovery. A support group is a supplemental tool that works best alongside addiction treatment, aftercare, and alumni programming.
What’s Next After Joining a Sex or Porn Addiction Support Group?
Joining a porn or sex addict support group is certainly a step in the right direction. But for many, it’s not the only step required to heal. Often professional treatment with a CSAT therapist or mental health professional is needed to address the underlying causes of your compulsive sexual behavior. If you’re ready to find comprehensive healing from your addiction, our sex addiction treatment and porn addiction treatment programs can help. Contact our Admissions Team at Integrative Life Center today to get started.
If you’re unsure whether you have a sexual addiction, take our short, free assessments for the clarity you need to seek help:
