Support for partners

Discovering your husband/wife/partner is struggling with sexually compulsive behaviour can evoke powerful feelings, including shock, rage, betrayal and hopelessness.

The consequences of ‘out of control’ sexual behaviour can impact negatively on couple and family relationships, and can affect finances, sexuality, social life, and parenting.

Questions partners often ask include:

• ‘How come I didn’t realise?’
• ‘Why does he/she prefer Internet images/chatting/prostitutes to me?’
• ‘Who do I talk to?’
• ‘Will I ever trust again?’
• ‘Shall I stay or go?’

You may find yourself becoming over-involved, or even obsessed, with your partner’s behaviour. Help and support include ‘letting go’ of responsibility for someone else’s difficulties and choices, and learning ways to improve self-care and esteem. Individual therapy and support groups can enable you to cope and heal.

A full list of therapists can be found here

Treatment centres

 Many treatment centres offer support to partners, in group or private sessions.

A list of treatment centres and the help they provide can be viewed here

Support groups

If you are interested in attending a group for support, many of the below organisations offer support for partners:

 Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)

SAA offers peer support groups for people with sex addiction following the 12-step principles. Meetings are free and held all around the UK.

Click on the following link for more information: www.saa-recovery.org

Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)

SLAA offers peer support groups for people with sex and/or love addiction following the 12-step principles. Meetings are free and held all around the UK.

Click on the following link for more information: www.slaauk.org

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)

Sexaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength, and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover. Meetings are free and held all around the UK.

Click on the following link for more information: www.sauk.org

COSA

COSA is a 12-step recovery program for men and women whose lives have been affected by compulsive sexual behaviour. Meetings are free and held all around the UK.

Click on the following link for more information: www.cosa-recovery.org