When I first meet with clients, I perform a few individual Initial Intake assessment sessions. This is to ensure accurate diagnosis and helps me better understand other mental health symptoms or disorders that may be causing or contributing to their CSB.

After working with sexually compulsive behavior, in particular with men, I strongly recommend they attend group therapy. Some men attend 12 step groups. Over the last 10 years, I have created and run group psychotherapy, often in conjunction with individual psychotherapy. Because 'sex addiction' can feel so shameful, most clients understandably are quite nervous to either attend an in person, or an online group. Because I am so convinced of it's efficacy in "catapulting" folks ahead in their recovery journey, I have found ways to ensure as much as humanly possible that group attendees (until they feel comfortable enough with other group members) are able to do a camera off virtual group.

Its more likely than not that my clients seek my services after they have been "discovered". The partner may have discovered this for the first time but more likely the partner realizes that they have had other 'discoveries' or at least suspected compulsive sexual behavior. They report feeling devastated, "gas-lit", and can show PTSD-like symptoms. While I almost always recommend couples' therapy at some point in the process, I often strongly suggest the partner who may be having nightmares, bursts of anger, crying episodes, etc.. to a professional trained in "partner betrayal".