Many men come to my office having diagnosed themselves as “porn addicts”. Often it’s their partners who diagnose them. Many of my clients feel that their porn use is affecting their desire for their partners or that it is directly impacting their sexual performance.

The answer to what is affecting desire and arousal is often more nuanced than just watching or not watching porn. It often has more to do with a person’s awareness of their body and their comfort in the presence of others – talk therapy is well suited to cultivating these attributes.

The fact is that, while “porn addiction” is a term widely used in mainstream media, there is not enough evidence-based research to confirm that it even exists! Furthermore, many in the sex education/counseling community see the term as sex negative because addiction treatment often promotes powerlessness and abstinence. I treat what many call “porn addiction” as “out of control sexual behavior”. This is an evidence-based approach that provides a structure for balancing sexual behavior with universal health principles and personal values.