Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A practical guide to sex addiction therapy, porn addiction counseling, and betrayal trauma healing at BPB Counseling Group.

1. What exactly is sex addiction?

Sex addiction—sometimes called compulsive sexual behavior—happens when sexual thoughts or behaviors feel increasingly difficult to control and start to interfere with your life or relationships. It’s less about how often you think about sex and more about whether the behavior feels out of alignment with your values or is causing distress.

At BPB Counseling Group, we help clients explore what’s driving the behavior underneath the surface, whether it’s loneliness, shame, stress, or unresolved trauma. Learn more about our approach to individual therapy for men here: https://bpbcounseling.com/individual

2. How is porn addiction different from casual porn use?

Porn becomes a problem when someone feels stuck in a compulsive cycle—wanting to stop or cut back but never quite being able to. Many clients describe feeling disconnected, ashamed, or secretive about their porn use, even when they’re outwardly successful.

If porn has begun affecting your mood, motivation, self-esteem, sexual intimacy, or relationship trust, therapy can help you break the cycle. Explore our specialized work in porn addiction recovery: https://bpbcounseling.com/sex-porn-addiction-book-recommendations

3. How do I know if I should seek therapy for porn or sex addiction?

You might benefit from therapy if you notice any of the following:

• Repeated attempts to stop, followed by frustration or secrecy

• Feeling “out of control” with porn or other sexual behaviors

• Using porn or sex to escape difficult emotions

• Relationship strain, conflict, or secrecy

• Guilt, shame, or fear of being discovered

You can also take our free assessments to get clarity:
Porn Addiction Quiz: https://bpbcounseling.com/porn-addiction-quiz
AI Girlfriend Addiction Quiz: https://bpbcounseling.com/ai-girlfriend-addiction-quiz

4. What therapeutic approaches do you use?

Our work is grounded in a structured, research-informed model called Sustainable Sexual Integrity, developed through our own clinical training and experience. Therapy sessions may include:

• CBT-informed tools

• Shame-resilience and emotional regulation skills

• Trauma-informed care

• Attachment and intimacy work

• A practical 14-item curriculum designed to support long-term change

You can learn more about our overall philosophy here: https://bpbcounseling.com

5. Do you offer online therapy?

Yes. Many clients prefer virtual therapy for added privacy, flexibility, and convenience. Whether you’re local to Boston or elsewhere in Massachusetts, online sessions allow you to receive high-quality support without commuting.

Read why virtual therapy often works even better for this type of work: https://bpbcounseling.com/blog/why-virtual-therapy-is-better

6. How long does sex or porn addiction therapy usually take?

There’s no universal timeline, but most clients begin noticing change within the first several weeks when they engage consistently.

Our structured model—combined with homework, accountability, and optional groups—helps sustain progress between sessions. Some clients choose a more intensive format; others pace their work gradually over several months.

See our available intensives and groups: https://bpbcounseling.com/schedule

7. Can my partner be involved in the process?

Yes. Partners often need support as they navigate betrayal trauma, broken trust, and the emotional fallout of secrecy.
We offer:

• Couples therapy

• Partner-specific support

• Reading lists and resources tailored to partners

Learn more about couples and partner work with Jess: https://bpbcounseling.com/jess

8. What does “sustainable sexual integrity” really mean?

It’s a framework designed to help you develop a healthy, honest, values-aligned relationship with sexuality—without relying on shame or fear-based motivation. It’s not about “white-knuckling” or perfection. It’s about building skills, emotional resilience, connection, and long-term internal strength.

Our model is rooted in real clinical experience and supported by emerging research on the neurobiology of compulsive sexual behavior.
Read one of our most-visited articles here:
https://bpbcounseling.com/elevated-oxytocin-sex-addiction

9. What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?

This is incredibly common. Many clients come to us after years of feeling stuck.
A few reasons our clients often make more progress here:

• We specialize exclusively in sex/porn addiction and betrayal trauma

• We provide structure, not vague “talk about your week” sessions

• We lean heavily on accountability and emotional skill-building

• We integrate behavior, attachment, identity, shame-work, and relationship repair

You can explore our clients’ typical pathways here: https://bpbcounseling.com/individual

10. What’s the first step to getting started?

Simply schedule a first session or consultation using our online portal. You’ll receive pre-work to help you reflect before we meet, and we’ll map out a plan together. Schedule with Blair or Jess here: https://bpbcounseling.com/schedule

11. Do you accept insurance? What’s your cancellation policy?

We are an out-of-network provider, and many clients receive partial reimbursement from insurance depending on their plan.
Our cancellation policy is straightforward: sessions canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice are billed at the full session rate.

Details can be found on our scheduling page:
👉 https://bpbcounseling.com/schedule

12. Do you work only with men?

While a significant portion of our individual clients are men, we also work with:

• Partners navigating betrayal trauma

• Couples working to rebuild trust

• Women affected by porn addiction or compulsive behavior

• Individuals exploring problematic digital intimacy (e.g., AI relationships)

When a case isn’t the right fit for us, we help clients find an appropriate referral.

13. What if I live outside Massachusetts?

If you're located in Massachusetts, you can use our online therapy services. If you're out of state, reach out and we’ll let you know whether we can legally work with you—or we’ll help connect you with trusted resources.

Learn more about the benefits of online therapy here:
👉 https://bpbcounseling.com/blog/why-virtual-therapy-is-better

14. How does group therapy work?

We offer structured men’s groups focused on:

• Accountability

• Emotional skill-building

• Peer connection

• Healthy sexual integrity

• Practical recovery tools

Group work often accelerates progress because clients hear stories that normalize their own experience.

See current group openings:
👉 https://bpbcounseling.com/schedule

15. What should I do if I relapse?

A relapse isn’t the end of your progress—it’s information. Instead of hiding or spiraling into shame, we help you understand:

• What triggered it

• What you were feeling or avoiding

• What support structures were missing

• How to rebuild quickly without losing momentum

Shame thrives in secrecy; healing thrives in honesty and connection.

16. What role do shame and trauma play in sex or porn addiction?

For many clients, the behavior isn’t “the problem”—it’s a coping strategy. Underneath, we often find:

• Childhood emotional neglect

• Attachment wounds

• Relational trauma

• Anxiety, depression, or loneliness

• Chronic shame

• Difficulty regulating emotions

Therapy helps you build new emotional and relational skills so you don’t have to rely on the old patterns.

Read our article explaining the neurobiology of compulsive behavior:
👉 https://bpbcounseling.com/elevated-oxytocin-sex-addiction

17. What makes BPB Counseling Group different?

Here’s what clients tell us they appreciate most:

• A specialized focus on sex addiction, porn addiction, and betrayal trauma

• A structured but compassionate roadmap for recovery

• Therapists trained in both clinical counseling and the relational dynamics underlying compulsive behavior

• A curriculum and community that encourages accountability

• Warmth, directness, and zero judgment

You can learn more about Blair, Jess, and our mission here:
👉 https://bpbcounseling.com/about

18. How do I maintain progress long-term?

We help clients build long-term momentum through:

• Ongoing group work

• Practical assignments between sessions

• Relationship work when applicable

• Regular check-ins to prevent drift

• A deeper emotional toolkit to handle stress, loneliness, and triggers

Recovery becomes less about “stopping a behavior” and more about becoming the person you want to be.