Sexual Addiction

Restoration Counseling of Atlanta offers help identifying and treating sexual addiction.  Do you think your spouse is looking at porn and you don’t know what to do?  Are you worried you or your spouse is spending too much time thinking about sex-related things?  Have you found traces of porn on your home computer, and you don’t know what to do?  We can help!

Our programs are specifically designed to treat and train individuals and couples.  We are here to help by using distinctly Christian counseling techniques to break through negative habits related to sexual activities, porn-watching, or compulsive unwanted behaviors.

How Sexual Addiction is Treated

Our counseling addresses all areas in a person’s life: spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, familial, and social.  There are general tenets to understanding addiction that apply to all people. At Restoration Counseling of Atlanta, we have a solid understanding of these tenets and how they apply to the treatment of addiction. Our treatment model involves treating the whole person and acquiring an understanding of each person’s past as well as his current situation.  Your counselor will develop a thorough plan that integrates addictive treatment, personal stories, and biblical truth for long-term recovery.

Our primary goal is to help those who struggle with sexual issues learn to walk consistently in freedom – the way God intended them to walk.

What is Sexual Addiction?

“Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one’s work environment.”

Sexual addiction has been called sexual dependency and sexual compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict’s life. Sexual addicts make sex a priority, more important than family, friends, and work. Sex becomes the organizing principle of how addicts live. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior.

No single behavior pattern defines sexual addiction. These behaviors, when they have taken control of addicts’ lives and become unmanageable, include compulsive masturbation, compulsive heterosexual and homosexual relationships, pornography, prostitution, exhibitionism, voyeurism, indecent phone calls, child molesting, incest, rape, and violence. Even the healthiest forms of human sexual expression can turn into self-defeating behaviors. (Patrick Carnes at sexhelp.com)

Online Test

To determine if you may have a sexual addiction problem, take this test: Sexual Addiction Assessment.

Resources

  • Betrayal Bond, Patrick Carnes
  • Out of the Shadows, Patrick Carnes
  • Cybersex Unhook, Patrick Carnes
  • Relationship Recovery and Renewal (couples guide to healing), Mark Laaser
  • Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction, Mark Laaser
  • The Altar of Sexual Idolatry, Steve Galager
  • Every Young Man’s Battle, Steven Arterburn
  • Temptation, Mortification of Sin, John Owen
  • Christian directory (Lust, fornication), Richard Baxter
  • L.I.F.E Guides (men, women, spouse, adolescents)
  • Breaking Free: Understanding Sexual Addiction & the Healing Power of Jesus by Russell Willingham and Bob Davies (good, biblical treatment of sexual addiction)
  • False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg (experienced counselor on sexual addictions/works with Christian leaders)
  • Pure Desire by Ted Roberts (a pastor that overcame addiction to pornography) and Jack Hayford
  • Sex, Lies, and Forgiveness: Couples Speaking Out on Healing from Sex Addiction by Burt and Jennifer Schneider (used only–no longer in print)
  • The Sexual Man by Dr. Archibald D. Hart (based of nationwide research / refutes myths surrounding male sexuality)
  • Secret of Eve: Understanding the Mystery of Female Sexuality by Dr. Archibald D. Hart (used only–no longer in print)
  • She Has a Secret: Understanding Female Sexual Addiction by D. Weiss, Ph.D.
  • A Way of Escape: Freedom from Sexual Strongholds by Neil T. Anderson (president of Freedom in Christ Ministries) and Freedom from Addiction: Breaking the Bondage of Addiction and Finding Freedom in Christ by Neil T. Anderson, Mike Quarles, Julia Quarles, and Terry Whalin

Internet Helps

Scripture References

  • Genesis 1:27 – the creation of sexuality
  • Genesis 2:24-25 – they became intimately one flesh, weren’t ashamed of their nakedness
  • Genesis 34:27-29 – consequences can be devastating if used wrong
  • Genesis 39:9 – resisting sexual sin
  • Exodus 20:14
  • Exodus 22:16-17, 19
  • Leviticus 18:6-20, 22-23
  • Leviticus 19:29
  • Leviticus 20:10-21
  • Leviticus 21:9
  • Deuteronomy 5:18 – adultery
  • Deuteronomy 22:5, 13-30
  • Deuteronomy 23:17-18
  • Deuteronomy 27:21 – bestiality
  • Judges 16:15 – combat temptation
  • I Kings 15:11-12
  • I Kings 22:46
  • Job 31:1-4
  • Psalm 101:2,3
  • Proverbs 2:16-17
  • Proverbs 5:3, 18-20
  • Proverbs 6:25-35 – sexual sin always hurts someone
  • Proverbs 7:25-27
  • Proverbs 22:14
  • Proverbs 23:27
  • Song of Songs – the ultimate of God’s plan for sexuality is beautiful
  • Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5 – sexuality should not be aroused before it’s time
  • Song of Songs 3:6-5:1 – marriage and consummation of sexuality
  • Hosea 4:10-14 – temple prostitution and fertility cults are evil
  • Matthew 5:28 – lust
  • Matthew 15:19
  • Matthew 19:3-9
  • Mark 7:27
  • Mark 10:2-12
  • Romans 1:24-27
  • Romans 6:12
  • Romans 8:13
  • Romans 13:13
  • I Corinthians 3:16
  • I Corinthians 6:9, 13, 15-16, 18
  • I Corinthians 7:3-5, 9, 36-37
  • I Corinthians 10:8
  • I Corinthians 12:21
  • Galatians 5:19-21
  • Ephesians 2:3
  • Ephesians 4:19
  • Ephesians 5:3, 5
  • Philippians 4:8
  • Colossians 3:5
  • I Thessalonians 4:3-8
  • II Timothy 2:22
  • Titus 2:5 – exercise purity
  • Titus 3:3
  • Hebrews 13:4
  • I Peter 2:11
  • I Peter 4:2-3
  • I John 2:16
  • Jude 4, 7
  • Revelation 2:20
  • Revelation 14:4
  • Revelation 21:8
MAILING ADDRESS FOR ALL LOCATIONS is 102 Macy Drive, Roswell, GA 30076