If you’re in the beginning stages of your recovery journey, you may wonder about the typical amount of time it takes to treat sex addiction successfully. There is no easy way to answer this question.
Recovering from sex addiction means unwinding unhealthy patterns and coping strategies that you may have relied upon for years, or even decades. Healing will take reflection, support, and most importantly, time.
The Time to Treat Sex Addiction Can Vary
One of the reasons it can take a long time to treat sex addiction is that there are often underlying causes that need to be addressed. Sex addiction is often a symptom of much deeper traumas that you will need to face and process in order to break the addiction cycle for good.
Further, sex addiction in itself can cause complications in your present day life. Part of the time dedicated to treating your sex addiction will be devoted to coming to terms with the damage your behaviors have wreaked upon your loved ones and yourself.
In short, the right amount of time is as long as you need. However, there are some factors that can influence your recovery time.
Factors That Influence the Time to Treat Sex Addiction
According to sex addiction specialists, the timeline for sex addiction recovery can take anywhere between two to five years. The wide range is caused by several factors:
Phase length: Sex addiction recovery occurs in several stages. Each phase can last between several months to several years. Progressing between stages relies on maintaining sobriety, seeking professional support, and making durable lifestyle changes. Relapsing can reset the stage and lengthen the time to treat sex addiction.
Comorbidities: While not every person with sex addiction has other mental or behavioral health issues, it is not uncommon. If there are other problems, like substance abuse or depression, addressing these disorders can increase the time to treat sex addiction.
The Wrong Therapist Can Increase Treatment Time
Even the most well-meaning therapist can delay sex addiction recovery if they do not have the proper credentials or experience.
Without proper training, it can be difficult for therapists to recognize sex addiction in their patients, which only adds to the treatment time. Likewise, therapists who do not specialize in sex addiction therapy may follow structured treatment programs and spend too many sessions on generalized, impersonal strategies.
Starting your recovery journey with a certified sex addiction therapist will ensure that you receive customized treatment and support from the very beginning. The therapy team at Peter Stathakos and Associates is composed of highly specialized professionals with years of experience treating sex addiction. We invite you to book an introductory meeting with us today and learn more about how we can help you.
The Time to Treat Sex Addiction Is Individualized
Another reason the time it takes to treat sex addiction is so variable is that effective treatment is highly personalized.
This is because the underlying reasons for sex addiction are unique to every person.
One-size-fits-all treatment programs often include standard exercises that may not result in therapeutic benefits for all patients. Ineffective treatment can heighten the risk of relapse and further push back recovery.
Measure Treatment Time by Effectiveness, Not Length
As with any other form of addiction treatment, using the time it takes to treat sex addiction as an indicator of success is not helpful. Every person’s journey will look different, and some recoveries will take longer than others.
Instead of using time as a metric, it is better to evaluate a treatment approach's effectiveness. Here are several ways to determine the effectiveness of sex addiction treatment:
The percentage of patients who are still in recovery after 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years
The percentage of relationships impacted by sex addiction intact after treatment
Patient experiences, such as regaining control of their lives, improving their relationships with their loved ones, and feeling a heightened sense of well-being
Certified Therapists Can Accelerate Treatment Time
If you are ready to start your recovery, do not waste time on one-size-fits-all programs that can increase the time to treat sex addiction. Connect with a certified sex addiction therapist from the beginning and receive the personalized treatment and support you deserve on your healing journey. Book a free consultation with us today to get started on your healing journey.