As humans, we are naturally drawn to our sexual side. While many individuals do maintain healthy sexual relationships, others find themselves dealing with issues involving intimacy, primary sexual attraction, and various other concerns. What brings joy and pleasure to many may be a source of struggle for others.
Sexuality is a complicated matter and encompasses a wide range of behaviours. Some individuals may find their sexual urges, thoughts, or actions feel unmanageable, even cyclical. This can lead to not only serious sexual health issues, but also serious physical and emotional issues.
Sexual behaviours usually become ‘problematic’ if they are hard to manage, illegal, disruptive, and harmful to yourself and others. If you think you might be having a tough time with the idea that your sexual behaviours could be an issue, we have the answers to several frequently asked questions about problematic sexual behaviour.
What Defines Sexual Behaviour as ‘Problematic’?
Sexual behaviour is considered problematic when it starts to have a detrimental impact on your life. This often involves repetitive sexual actions that lead to various consequences, including environmental stressors e.g. relationship loss, getting fired from your job, reduced productivity, financial issues, damaged connections, loss of trust, and more arguments with a partner or spouse due to the behaviour. On top of that, these behaviours can also create internal stressors such as low self-esteem, self-hatred, and intense shame surrounding the actions.
What Kinds of Behaviours Are Seen as Problematic?
One of the most prevalent types of problematic sexual behaviour is the compulsive use of pornography. For some, pornography use may not be inherently problematic, while for other individuals it can quickly become overwhelming. Those who find themselves struggling with pornography often describe it as a compulsion. As noted, this behaviour becomes problematic when it starts to disrupt daily life. Given how easily accessible pornography is, it can be viewed almost anywhere, which raises the chances of harmful consequences for those who are struggling.
What Does Sexual Offending Mean?
Sexual offending means it’s harmful to oneself or others, including when there is no consent for the sexual activity. It can affect anyone, of any age. These offences include physical contact, such as sexual assault, or no physical contact at all, such as showing genitalia to others without their consent. There are also online behaviours involved, including accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM)—commonly known as child pornography—and sharing private sexual images without permission.
Do All Offenders Reoffend?
Roughly 14% of people who have committed a sexual offence will reoffend, however this varies depending on the type of sexual offence and the presence of certain factors. This means when you examine a group of 100 individuals who have committed such an offence, around 14 of them will go on to reoffend. Many people refer to the common saying “Once a sex offender, always a sex offender,”; in actuality however, the longer someone who has committed a sexual offence stays offence-free in the community, the less likely they are to reoffend.
Are All Individuals Who Sexually Abuse Children Considered Pedophiles?
Sexual offending against children and pedophilia is not synonymous. Sexual offending against children is a behaviour, while pedophilia is a sexual attraction to children. However, not everyone who offends against a child has a pedophilic interest, and not everyone who has a pedophilic interest will go on to offend. Many individuals who have a pedophilic interest manage their interest through proper support and strategies.
People who choose to sexually offend may do so for reasons beyond just their sexual interest. These reasons can include sexual preoccupation, impulsiveness, or antisocial behaviour. Even if someone has a sexual interest in children and commits an offense, there are other factors that influence their decision to engage in such behaviour. All these factors need to be tackled in order to effectively prevent sexual offenses against children.
Does Everyone with a Sexual Interest in Children Need Therapy to Stop Them from Offending?
There’s a growing recognition that some individuals with a sexual interest in children are dedicated to preventing committing offences. Many individuals report that they are doing well and don’t feel the need for mental health services. Others might seek mental health support to help manage their sexual interest or for other issues like depression or anxiety. Those with sexual interest in children often struggle to access various mental health services. Our services aim to simplify the process of getting support and assistance.
Is it a Waste of Time and Resources to Help Those Worrying About Their Risk of Offending?
Too often, professional help is only provided after abuse or the offence has taken place. Our services are designed to support individuals who are anxious about their own thoughts, feelings, or behaviours, helping them take charge of their actions to prevent the risks of abuse and offence.
Who is This Therapy Intended For?
This therapy is designed for those who are dealing with sexual thoughts or behaviours that they find troubling, distressing, or harmful. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, therapy is available for individuals who:
- View themselves as engaging in compulsive sexual behaviour
- Are concerned about their use of pornography, particularly if it involves illegal or extreme content
- Are having difficulty with sexual thoughts or fantasies that feel overwhelming or hard to manage
- Want assistance in understanding risky or harmful sexual behaviours
What About the Loved Ones of People Faced With These Issues?
We provide therapy aimed at helping partners/spouses rebuild trust and deal with the emotional fallout from sexual offences. Additionally, we offer support for parents, partners/spouses, and family members of individuals involved in child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM) or other sexual offences through their own individual therapy, creating a safe environment to process complicated emotions and receive guidance for moving forward.
So, whether you’re looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, our services are tailored to address a variety of needs with knowledge, experience, expertise, and understanding.
Can Therapy Assist with Intrusive or Unwanted Thoughts?
Absolutely. Therapy equips you with tools to manage intrusive sexual thoughts and lessen their effect on everyday life.
Does Therapy Tackle Both Behaviour and Thoughts?
Yes. Therapy addresses both thoughts and behaviours, aiding you in making healthier, safer choices.
What’s the Aim of Therapy?
The goal of therapy is to lower risk, enhance self-control, and cultivate healthier coping strategies and relationships.
Will I Face Judgment in Therapy?
Not at all. Therapy offers a secure, non-judgmental environment to take accountability and strive for change.
Is This Therapy Confidential?
There are standard limits to confidentiality. These can be discussed at the onset of therapy.
Is Therapy the Right Call?
Eagle Landing Psychological Services offers a private, organized, and non-judgmental space for therapy, allowing clients to tackle problematic sexual thoughts or behaviours while receiving guidance with taking on the right sense of responsibility for their actions.
Our treatment plans are customized for each individual, with emphasis on ensuring accountability, emotional management, healthy coping methods, and safer and more informed decision-making.
