April 2026
Rethinking Sex Addiction Terminology
I used to use the term sex addiction, but that seems too condemning now. I prefer the terms compulsive sexual behavior, problematic sexual behavior, or unwanted sexual behavior. The shift from the term “sex addiction” to phrases like “compulsive sexual behavior,” “problematic sexual behavior,” or “unwanted sexual behavior,” reflects more than just a change in vocabulary—it signals a broader evolution in how trained therapists, researchers, and individuals understand human sexuality, agency, and relational distress. Language tends to shape perception, and in this case, it can either reinforce negative stigma or create space for nuance, compassion, and effective care. “Sex addiction”
January 2025
Accountability Relationships for Compulsive Sexual Behavior
In my therapy practice, I often hear about personal experiences of accountability. Usually, though, it’s a description of failed accountability, especially when the accountability issue is compulsive sexual behavior. Let’s explore accountability from the perspective of being set up for success. Accountability can be defined as “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions” (Webster), and as “acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for actions, . . . (Wikipedia). Further, accountability for husbands in a marriage is set up for success by considering the following elements: Intentional/voluntary – Husbands, enter an accountability relationship by your own
March 2020
Created for Connection but Susceptible to Alternatives
Dr. White - I recently reviewed some addiction debate among professionals regarding a YouTube video titled Addiction, by Kurzgesagt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8AHODc6phg And a TED Talk titled Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong, by Johann Hari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs Their point being made is that a potential underlying cause of addiction that has been undervalued in research and treatment is disconnection; addicts often suffer varying degrees of disconnection in their important relationships. Hari concludes that “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection.” I don’t want to enter the debate by taking a stand in far left or far right views. But
