As with chemical addictions, it is essential that the sex addict refrain from sexual activities so that he/she can begin to deal with internal issues. Then the addict can develop new ways of attaching to significant others. 12-step groups are an important part of recovery:
Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) www.sa.org
Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) www.sexaa.org
Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) www.slaa.org
Psychotherapy by a therapist who is knowledgeable of sexual addiction is recommended. EMDR can help the patient reprocess early traumatic experiences and become the authentic person they really want to be, someone who can have close relationships. ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy) can bring rapid resolution to self-defeating and ineffective ways of relating to others. This can allow new ways of relating to develop and help the sufferer overcome defenses, which have blocked true intimacy.