Helping You Heal from Compulsive Sexual Patterns
Getting Help for Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Reclaim Your Life with Support
Are you caught in a web of secrecy, grappling with the devastating impact of sex addiction? It’s time to take action and seek the support you need.
You’ve come to the right place. At Novus Counseling & Recovery Center, our team is dedicated to guiding you towards a path of healing and restoring your relationships. Don’t wait until the consequences escalate; act now.
How Unhealthy Sexual Patterns Can Affect Your Life
- Job loss and professional setbacks
- Legal complications
- Jeopardizing your health and the well-being of your partner
- Losing your marriage or valuable relationships
- Experiencing depression and anxiety
- A persistent sense of emptiness and disconnection
- Overwhelming feelings of shame, hopelessness, and despair
- Spiritual emptiness
- Financial strain
Take the courageous step towards reclaiming your life. Trust in our expertise and compassionate support to help you overcome sex addiction and find lasting recovery.
Our Therapists Can Help.
If you’ve experienced the negative consequences of sex addiction and are in need of assistance, we can help. Our dedicated team at Novus has successfully supported countless individuals in overcoming the consequences of sex addiction. We firmly believe that, with determination and hard work, you can find peace and escape the noise and pain caused by sex addiction.
At Novus, our knowledgeable therapists are confident that anyone can recover from sex addiction. We’ve witnessed it happen firsthand.
At Novus, we view sex addiction as the compulsive use of sex to cope with difficult emotions and moods. This behavior often leads to feelings of guilt and shame, exacerbating existing problems in the person’s life. To escape these problems and the emotional distress they cause, individuals often turn to sex once again. This perpetuates the cycle of sex addiction.
Understanding the Root of Sexual Addiction
At Novus, we recognize that sexual addiction often stems from unresolved emotional pain, past trauma, attachment wounds, or intimacy disorders. Rather than being purely about sex, these behaviors frequently serve as a coping mechanism for deeper struggles. Our therapists work collaboratively with clients to uncover and heal these underlying patterns, helping to break the cycle of compulsive behaviors in a non-judgmental environment.
Signs You Might Be Caught in a Compulsive Cycle
| Emotional Indicators | Behavioral Patterns | Relationship Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Shame or regret after acting out | Engaging in risky or secretive behaviors | Emotional disconnection with partner |
| Anxiety or irritability when abstinent | Repeated attempts to stop, followed by relapse | Increased secrecy and withdrawal |
| Loss of interest in true intimacy | Escalation to more intense stimulation | Conflicts over honesty and trust |
| Feeling detached or numb | Seeking sexual outlets during stress | Difficulty rebuilding emotional safety |
Emotional Indicators
- Shame or regret after acting out
- Anxiety or irritability when abstinent
- Loss of interest in true intimacy
- Feeling detached or numb
Behavioral Patterns
- Engaging in risky or secretive behaviors
- Repeated attempts to stop, followed by relapse
- Escalation to more intense stimulation
- Seeking sexual outlets during stress
Relationship Impact
- Emotional disconnection with partner
- Increased secrecy and withdrawal
- Conflicts over honesty and trust
- Difficulty rebuilding emotional safety
When Behavior Feels Like a Prison
Sexual addiction is not simply about pleasure. It becomes a compulsive attempt to manage emotional discomfort until it starts to dominate your thoughts, time, and relationships. The brain begins to prioritize these behaviors over healthy connections, reducing your ability to regulate decisions or delay impulses.
Over time, the cycle of acting out can replace moments of intimacy, self-worth, and clarity with confusion and regret. Many clients tell us their behavior feels automatic rather than intentional. This is not a character flaw. It is a signal that your brain may need support, not shame.
Self-Reflection: A Place to Begin
This simple self-check is not a diagnosis. It is a place to begin your honesty with yourself.
- Have your sexual behaviors increased in intensity or frequency?
- Do you feel unable to stop even when the consequences are serious?
- Are you using sexual behavior to cope with emotional stress or pain?
- Has the behavior created a disconnection from your partner or family?
- Do you feel regret, shame, or detachment after acting out?
If you said yes to several of these, it may be time to seek help. You are not alone, and real recovery is possible.
What Neuroscience Reveals About Sexual Addiction
Sexual addiction is not simply a matter of willpower. It often begins as a way to soothe emotional wounds, but over time, it rewires the brain’s reward and impulse systems. The prefrontal cortex, which manages self-control and future planning, can become less active, making it harder to resist urges even when the cost is high.
This is why support is necessary. The brain can heal. With therapeutic tools, relationship repair, and education, many clients experience real and lasting change.
Struggling with sex and porn addiction?
You’re not alone. Even if you’ve lost your marriage, relationship, or job, the urge persists. Sex addiction is a real and painful problem, leaving you feeling lonely, depressed, and out of control.
How can you determine if you’re a sex addict? Dr. Patrick Carnes, a leading expert in sexual addiction, has compiled a list of the top ten warning signs. Ask yourself these questions:
- Have you tried to stop or limit your sexual behavior without success?
- Do you find yourself engaging in the behavior longer than intended?
- Have you tried to resist certain sexual behaviors but failed?
- Do you spend excessive time seeking sex or recovering from sexual experiences?
- Do you prioritize behavior over work, marriage, or childcare?
- Do you continue the behavior despite knowing the negative consequences?
- Have you sacrificed social, occupational, or recreational activities for the behavior?
- Are you preoccupied with the behavior or constantly preparing for it?
If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, it may be time to address your sexual behavior.
Why Specialized Therapy Matters
Sexual addiction is a complex issue that can’t always be addressed effectively with generalized counseling. Our Certified Sexual Addiction Therapists (CSATs) have received advanced training in the Patrick Carnes model and trauma-informed care. This specialization allows us to tailor our approach to the unique challenges of sexual compulsivity and the emotional toll it takes on individuals and their relationships.
Can you overcome this on your own? In most cases, the answer is no. Willpower alone can only take you so far. For long-term success, you need the help and support of professionals who can teach you the skills to outsmart your own brain.
Novus is here for you. Our expert therapists have extensive training in sexual addiction therapy. They stay up to date with the latest research in the field. Together, we can guide you towards recovery and provide you with the tools you need for lasting change.
The duration of therapy depends on the severity and intensity of your addiction. Healing takes time, but seeking professional help can expedite the process.
Ready to take the next step? Fill out the form below or give us a call. We understand the fear and uncertainty you may be experiencing. Our non-judgmental therapists will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.
Don’t let sex addiction continue to harm your life. Start your journey towards freedom today. We’ll be there with you every step of the way.
When Fantasy Overrides Connection
What begins as an emotional escape can start to distort your understanding of intimacy. As fantasy becomes the main outlet, it can reduce your ability to connect with others in real and vulnerable ways.
Clients often share that their relationships feel less fulfilling or emotionally safe. There may be a need for more extreme stimulation, or a difficulty being present during real moments of connection.
Therapy at Novus provides space to reconnect with what is real and meaningful. You will receive support in rebuilding intimacy based on presence, safety, and shared emotional experience.
Why Clients Trust Novus for Sexual Addiction Treatment
- More than 15 years of experience working with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma
- A full care team, not just one individual therapist
- A partner-sensitive approach that includes betrayed partners from the start
- An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) specifically designed for sexual compulsivity
- A trauma-informed and evidence-based model grounded in compassion
Many individuals who search for sex addict help are looking for more than quick advice; they want consistent care, professional guidance, and a place where they won’t be judged.
Our therapists meet regularly as a team to coordinate your care and ensure progress is supported every step of the way.
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Healing Happens in Stages
Recovery is not a linear path; it often involves setbacks, moments of clarity, and significant emotional growth. Whether clients begin with individual sessions, group therapy, or our intensive 6-day Facing the Shadow workshop, the structure of treatment is built around what works for each person. Consistency, safety, and support are key components of our therapeutic framework.
Partner and Betrayal Trauma: Healing as a Couple
Sexual addiction often leads to deep emotional wounds for both people in a relationship. Partners may experience symptoms similar to trauma, including hypervigilance, emotional shutdown, or difficulty trusting again.
We include partners from the beginning of the healing process. At Novus, we help both individuals regain emotional clarity, establish healthy boundaries, and decide what healing looks like for them.
Our approach creates space for each person to be heard and supported. Whether the relationship is being repaired or redefined, our goal is emotional safety and honest progress for everyone involved.
What Taking the First Step Really Means
You do not need to be ready for everything. You only need to be willing to have one honest conversation.
Beginning therapy does not mean you have to explain everything or make all your decisions now. It means asking, “What would it look like to receive support?”
We begin by listening. We listen to what hurts. We listen to what has kept you stuck. And we help you explore what is possible next.
You Are One Step
Away From Recovery
The decision to seek support takes strength. If you’re ready to face what’s been holding you back, we’re here to walk with you. Healing doesn’t start when everything is fixed; it starts when you take the first step.