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A Message of Hope

Before you begin your search for a therapist, here are a few words from Rob, one of our trustees, who also has lived experience of recovery from Compulsive Sexual Behaviour (CSB).

Hello, and firstly may I acknowledge the courage it may have taken to visit the ATSAC website, and particularly these pages.

If this is your first time here, you may be at the beginning of your own recovery journey. You may be finding things difficult at the moment, and I know how that can feel because I was once where you may be now.

The second thing I want to say is that whatever position you are in, there is hope. Recovery from CSB is possible. An important part of that recovery is being able to be honest with yourself and with your therapist. Through therapy, you can begin to understand yourself better, connect with your feelings, find healthier ways to regulate your emotions and, if previous trauma has affected you, begin to process those experiences so their impact on your life can be reduced.

If you have not already done so, it can be helpful to review your own situation before finding a therapist. This can help you start to understand your issues more clearly and may be useful to share with your therapist. If you click here, you will be taken back to the CSB assessment tool offered earlier.

Choosing the right therapist is a very important step at the start of your recovery, so take time to find someone who feels right for you. With the increased availability of online therapy, your therapist does not always need to be local to you, although it is still important to check that they are able to work with you appropriately depending on where you are based.

Therapists use a variety of different approaches and techniques, so ask questions about these and do your own research to see whether their way of working feels appropriate for you. Many therapists offer an initial consultation, which gives you the chance to explain your situation, ask questions and understand more about their approach. This is also an opportunity for both you and the therapist to consider whether working together feels like the right fit.

It can be helpful to speak to more than one therapist before making a final decision.

If you have a diagnosed neurodiversity condition such as ADHD or autism, or if you identify as LGBTQ+, you may want to look for a therapist with proven knowledge and experience in those areas. This can help ensure that the advice, support and therapy you receive is better tailored to your needs.

Even if you have not received a formal diagnosis, you may still wish to consider whether neurodiversity has been a factor in your life and in the development of CSB. There are many initial self-assessment tools available that may help you think about this further.

The ATSAC database of therapists includes a search facility and filters, so you can select the criteria that are important to you during your initial search.