Answer: During the past few years I have been gathering data from individuals who are trapped in pornography. I think the following statistics are very important as they describe the powerful negative effect that pornography is having on individuals.

These statistics come from my data sample of more than 4000 men. They filled out the online assessment at www.growthclimate.com

Here’s what 4000 men report.

I keep it a secret:

• 75% say that they do everything they can to hide the pornography they view from the people around them.”

Frequency:

• 53% say that they view pornography 3-5 times a week or more.”

I can’t stop:

• 76% report that they have told themself that they are going to stop viewing pornography only to find that they are viewing it again.”

I skip activities I generally enjoy:

• 36% report that they have skipped activities that they generally like so they could be by themself and view porn.”

Always on my mind:

• 47% report that they can’t stop the fantasies that run through their mind.

• 43% say they don’t like the types of thoughts I have about women/men because of their involvement with porn.

How do does porn influence their relationships?

Pull back from relationships:

• 47% report that they have distanced myself from my partner when I have looked at pornography.
• 40% say they have chosen to view pornography, rather than be sexually intimate with my partner.

Risky behavior:

• 34% have viewed pornography from a work computer.

I would be interested on your feedback on these statistics. What do they mean to you? For me personally, I believe that pornography is creating a lot of chaos in our society. Individuals who are trapped in it are really struggling. Their lives have been changed drastically by pornography. Their relationships are being hurt. They struggle to find and feel peace.

Fortunately, there are solutions. It has been my experience that individuals who put in the effort make great progress. They need more information, good support, and an excellent game plan.

Fighting a pornography addiction is not easy.   In one of my research studies I asked individuals who were attempting to stop viewing pornography to respond to the following statement:

“I have been doing well in my efforts to quit looking at pornography,

but it is a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

Well over 50% of them acknowledged that it was a lot harder than they thought it would be.   Over the years, I have observed hundreds of individuals attempting to quit viewing pornography.   Some of them have cried in my office because they simply couldn’t stop.  They felt helpless in their efforts to quit viewing it.  None of us like feeling out of control.

If you want to reclaim your life, it is going to require a lot of hard work and effort. Hard work is not something to be discouraged by, rather look at this as an opportunity to achieve something hard. You are going to prove to yourself that you can do hard things.

Consider the following image

This is what you are trying to do. You are attempting to step out of the mud and into a clean world where you can reach your full potential.  Pornography has prevented you from achieving your full potential. It may have destroyed your confidence. At times you may feel helpless and hopeless like you will never get out of the mud—this is the lie. You can quit. You can reclaim control of your life.

So how can you begin your fight against pornography addiction?

Here’s five steps you can take to fight your battle against pornography.

Step #1: Get Prepared

The first step is to prepare yourself for success. How can you prepare? Here’s a short list:

Assess your readiness to change. I have written a short assessment that evaluates your readiness for change. You can find it at “Are You Ready to Break a Porn Addiction.” Once you have completed it, you will have a better feel for your readiness to change.

Next, I would encourage you to take the Pornography Addiction Assessment. More than 5000 men and women have completed this online assessment. When you have completed it, you will have a feel for your level of involvement in pornography.  This information will help you understand the extent of your challenge ahead. The higher your level of involvement, the more energy and effort you will need to succeed.

Another way to prepare is to discover your triggers. In other words, you will want to know when you are most vulnerable. In my book “Treating Pornography Addiction” I recommend that individuals increase their awareness by identifying their most vulnerable times—by doing this they discover when they are at greatest risk. This helps them see the patterns that lead them to relapse.

In my first session with clients struggling to stop viewing pornography, I ask them what they have done in an effort to quit viewing pornography. Rarely do my clients describe identifying their triggers. It is almost impossible to change a behavior like pornography if you aren’t aware of the triggers that lead to relapse.

Step #2: Rediscover Yourself

What does it mean to discover yourself? In many instances pornography has taken control of your life. You have forgotten about true joy and happiness. You may have stopped participating in events and activities that you used to enjoy. When my clients succeed it is primarily because they have found themselves again. They realize that they are not the bad, evil, rotten person that pornography made them feel like.

For some reason, pornography is a destroyer of joy. It is what I call a joy killer. You weren’t created to feel horrible or rotten about yourself. Rather you have incredible potential to be a person who shares and gives and loves.  As you understand this concept you will find more resolve to stop viewing porn and instead find true joy and happiness in life.

Step #3: Find and Create True Intimacy

One of the most critical elements of recovery is discovering true intimacy. Porn taints intimacy. In many instances, it prevents and even destroys intimacy. This creates a very big problem—since most humans long for a deep intimate relationship.  In an effort to explain how pornography influences intimacy, I wrote a special report that describes Addiction and Intimacy. In this article I discuss how addictions destroy intimacy and I conclude with specific suggestions on how individuals can rediscover true intimacy in their life and relationships.

If you would like to read an article on ways to improve the intimacy in your life, here’s a link to a short article titled “Relationship Intimacy: Are You Ready for More?” This article talks about different types of intimacy that will be important for you to learn as you begin to succeed.

Intimacy is probably not something that you are enjoying yet in your life. My research indicates that pornography use has a significant impact on individuals trapped in pornography as well as on their partner. I discuss this in-depth with my colleague Geoff Steurer in our CD Series “Strengthening Recovery Through Strengthening Marriage”

Step #4: Find Social Support

In the next step in your recovery you will want to find social support. My research shows that individuals who reach out for help are more likely to succeed. What exactly does support look like? It comes in the form of 12-step groups, getting a sponsor, connecting with friends, and/or talking with a religious leader. Each of these critical supports should be aware of your progress. You should be open and honest with them about your recovery. Reaching out for support is so critical that I can tell you that I have never seen someone succeed without it. If you develop a team of supporters, your chances of success will increase significantly.

Step #5: Keep Learning and Growing

Your success will not happen overnight. It is very important to continue learning. Here are four things that you will want to continue doing as your recover.

First, learn from mistakes. Most people relapse. Don’t give up when you do. Instead, learn from the mistake. Identify what happened and what you could have done differently. As you do this you will want to tell the people of your support network what happened and what you will do differently next time. This powerful tool makes you accountable and will help you eliminate one more barrier.

Second, continue to build upon your knowledge. In reading this article, you are demonstrating a desire to learn. There are many books, resources, counselors, groups, and educational classes that you can take to improve your life. I often recommend that my clients become experts on the recovery process. I encourage them to study and read from good books—not just pornography related. Knowledge is power.

Third, develop your skills and talents. Recovery is more than just stopping a behavior—it is creating a new you. Take the time to discover your true talents. If you are an athlete, get involved in sports. If you are an actor, do a play. If you are a writer,  write. If you are someone who enjoys serving others, give to others in your community.

In conclusion, if you want to truly fight porn addiction, carefully following the steps outlined here will get you started. Remember that true change will require time and effort. As you put in this effort, you will reap the rewards of reclaiming your life.

Let me begin by saying that the word addiction is often misused. In fact, some people argue that we shouldn’t use the word addiction with pornography. I actually agree that the word addiction is over used, but I disagree with those who argue that pornography is not addictive.  After reviewing the literature, listening to my client’s, and looking at my research data I am convinced that we can and should use the word with addiction with pornography. Consider the following answers to questions available from the Assessing Pornography Addiction Survey: (Please note: I have bolded the key findings from each question listed below)

Concept: Feeling Out of Control

What this means is that 45% of individuals in this self selected survey struggle to stop their thoughts–they can’t get pornography off their mind.

Here’s another question on feeling out of control.

Nearly 50% of those who took the survey felt that they couldn’t stop viewing pornography at anytime. That often creates a feeling of hopelessness. None of us want to feel that something has that much control over us and yet for many who are trapped in pornography it is a common feeling.

How Porn Impacts Relationships and Emotions

Now let’s look at how pornography influences a persons relationships and emotions.

What we see is distancing oneself from a relationship. This is one of the reasons why I wrote the article Addiction and Intimacy.

One of the common traits of addictive behaviors is turning to the behavior to escape from negative emotions. Consider the statistic which indicates that many individuals are turning to pornography as an escape from their emotional pain. This is a common behavior in individuals who smoke, drink, and use drugs.

The next response is one that makes my heart hurt. It is sad and difficult to hear the many stories I have heard from individuals who feel hopeless because of pornography. Pornography is a “joy killer.” It sucks the life out of life and love. It makes people feel hopeless.

I have just touched the surface the surface of pornography addiction signs. I will continue to build upon this list with addition signs in the near future.

In the meantime, if you want to see more signs you can take the FREE Assessing Pornography Addiction Assessment. It offers valuable feedback and suggestions. It will alsol help you identify more signs.

Thanks for the question.

Dr. Kevin Skinner

Here’s a comment that illustrates my point:

“Pornography has almost cost me my marriage. My wife doesn’t trust me anymore. I am not as effective at work. It is ruining my life.”

This man doesn’t like pornography. In fact, the story that many people trapped in it tell me is that they hate it. Why do we turn to things that we hate? I believe it has a lot to do with the chemical changes that occur while viewing pornography. The research is clear that pornography alters the brains pathways activates the reward center of the brain. The result is that individuals can become dependent upon it. Therefore, they can experience cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and a strong compulsion for it when they try going without it. These are all symptoms of addiction.

My research with more than 4000 men indicates that pornography significantly alters emotions (they become more negative), relationships (they are less confident and at times more critical), and they don’t are as effective at work or school. I am not guessing or just relating anecdotal evidence here. These are real people sharing their lives with me. It is hard to see so many people’s lives being negatively influenced by pornography.

So what is the solution?

I have a basic formula that I have used with hundreds of clients over the years. It is basically five steps that are essential to recovery. I will list them below:

1. Be open and acknowledge that you need help. Many people attempt to keep their involvement in pornography in the quiet. Yes it can be embarrassing to open up and tell someone that you are involved in pornography, but only in opening up and allowing others to help you will you see significant improvement.
2. Seek understanding and knowledge. I am convinced that with the right knowledge overcoming an addiction to pornography can be accomplished. It is not easy, but with the right tools it is definitely possible. I have seen many of my clients make significant improvement. In my book, “Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery” I discuss the first steps to recovery.
3. Find sponsors. Simply said the more people you can talk to about this problem the better. This is especially true when you are struggling with cravings. My experience has been that when my client’s have a sponsor–someone to be open with about their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors they really make vast improvements. I believe that the ability to be candid with someone who understands what you are going through is a big deal.
4. Develop meaningful relationships. The next element of recovery is learning to be intimate. Don’t mistake seeking sexual pleasure for intimacy. In my special report “Addiction and Intimacy” I discuss six different types of intimacy and the importance of each of them in the recovery process. Addictive behaviors prevent true intimacy, therefore I believe that learning to connect with others is a powerful way to overcome an addiction.
5. Find joy and happiness. It is very important to understand that when you take something out of your life–like an addiction that it has to be replaced with something. My belief is that discovering what brings joy and happiness into ones life will aid in the recovery process. One of my favorite exercises for replacing addictive thoughts is to have my client’s write down what they are grateful and why for a solid week. It is a lot of fun watching my client’s discover true joy and happiness again. This is especially true when they enter my office for the first session with their heads down and hopes of recovery almost gone.

When you typed the words, “I am addicted to porn” into the search engine I am going to assume you were wanting help. Over the past 14 years I have worked with hundreds of individuals trapped in pornography. The suggestions I listed above will help you. There are many other resources I offer. Here’s a few:

• Treating Pornography Addiction–The Essential Tools for Recovery (audio)–this audio is three hours of information that I give to my client’s when they first come for therapy. The recording offers critical ideas on how to succeed.
• Strengthening Recovery Through Strengthening Marriage –Many couples do not know how to reconnect when pornography is discovered in the marriage. This six hour CD series is designed to help couples work through their challenges together. It offers the bridge for couple recovery.

I hope you have found this information helpful. Recovery is possible. Please don’t give up.

Best regards,

Dr. Kevin Skinner, LMFT

Okay readers of my blog, what think ye?

There is no easy answer to this question. Here’s a few questions I would want to ask as a follow up to this question.

• Have there been other sexual behaviors outside of the relationship? (If yes, I would have your partner checked for STD’s before I would be sexually intimate)
• How are you doing emotionally? My research with more than 400 women is pretty clear that relationship trauma is common after the discovery of a partner’s involvement in pornography. As a result sexual intimacy can trigger a lot of emotional pain in women. They often fear that if they are not sexual their partner will keep acting out. As a result some women feel like they need to be more sexual–(just a side note here: Being more sexual with your partner rarely changes their behavior if they are indeed addicted to pornography).  It is important to trust your own instincts in this area. If sex is creating more pain for you, I recommend that you be open and honest with your partner about your feelings. (Most couples struggle to reconnect sexually after pornography involvement has been discovered). If you want to explore how pornography is influencing your sexual relationship you can take the following quiz:

• How is your partner dealing with your discovery? Does he/she want to stop? Are they open to talking with you? Are they blaming you for their behavior? Do they hide their behavior? My experience as been that that if a partner is openly talking about their involvement and are trying to stop sexual intimacy is a lot easier. It is more difficult when denial and blame are present.

These are just a few of my thoughts. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

I have one more question to everyone whose partner has been involved: After discovering your partner’s involvement in pornography how long did you take before becoming sexually intimate with your partner?

Thanks for the good question.

Dr. Skinner

Your results:

Precontemplation Questions: 1, 5, 8, 13, 17, 21, and 24.

If you want to add up the scores yourself here’s a few guidelines:

If you want to score yourself here’s a few guidelines. Lower scores indicate a lower desire to stop viewing pornography. If you scored below 14 you are not in a mindset that would indicate that you are ready to stop viewing pornography.

Contemplation Questions: 2, 7, 9, 15, 18, 23

If you want to add up the scores yourself here’s a few guidelines:

Lower scores indicate a strong desire to get started in the recovery process. If you scored below 14 you are beginning the process toward recovery. Scored above 15-20 would indicate that you are considering change, but aren’t sure you want to take action yet. Scores above 21 indicate that your desire to change is not yet strong enough to create lasting change.

Taking Action Questions: 4, 6, 11, 14, 19, 22

If you want to add up the scores yourself here’s a few guidelines:

Lower scores indicate that you have started taking action in the recovery process. This is generally accompanied with successful experiences and some episodes of relapse. If you scored below 14 you are taking actions toward recovery. If you scored between 15-20 this would indicate that at times you take action to prevent relapse, but aren’t very consistent yet. Scores above 21 indicate that you have not taken important actions steps to begin the recovery process.

Maintenance Questions: 3, 10, 12, 16, 20

If you want to add up the scores yourself here’s a few guidelines:

Lower scores indicate that you are trying to maintain progress you have made. You have developed a plan of action and are working toward maintaining the progress you have made. This is called the maintenance stage of recovery. If you scored below 10 you are actively trying to maintain the progress you have made. If you scored between 11-17 this would indicate that you have made some progress in recovery and at times make an effort to succeed, but at other times your commitment wanes and you don’t reach out for help. If you scored above and 18 you aren’t doing the things that generally lead to recovery.

Note: The Attitude Toward Pornography Assessment is not for diagnosing pornography addiction or chances of recovery. The assessment has been designed to increase your awareness and help you identify where you are at in the change process. If you would like more information about these stages you can learn more as they apply to pornography in the book “Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery.”

However, when looking for a good treatment center you may want to ask the following questions to make sure the center focuses on sexual addiction and not just substance or chemical dependency.

Here are some questions you should ask when looking for a good sex addiction treatment program:

1. Does the center focus on sexual addiction and have trained staff who have experience in working with sexual addiction ?
2. How much time is spent in group work?
3. How big are the groups? Are there groups available for couples?
4. Are 12-step meetings available while in treatment?
5. How much therapy time focuses on sexual addiction ?
6. Are the substance dependent groups and sexual addiction groups combined?
7. What training or background does the staff have in relationship to treating a sexual addiction ?
8. How does the center incorporate families and others into the treatment plan? How much one on one and couple treatment is available?
9. How much education is involved in the program. Education about sexual addiction if very helpful. It is critical to learn how the addiction forms and what can be done about the addiction .
10. Are groups available for spouses or partners?

Focus of Sexual Addiction Treatment

As with any addiction , the first step is to stop the addictive behavior. This requires a significant amount of support (12-step groups, family, social support) and one on one therapy. In severe cases sexual addiction is only able to be curtailed in a structed environment such as an in-patient facility. Once the acting out behavior has been stopped, the next step is to increase the awareness inside the individual and work to support the entire system (family).

The second step is to gain awareness into self and the addiction itself. Treatment providers use education to help the sexual addict undertand how sex has become an addiction in the mind. Personal insight into the problem is another key compenent of the second step. With increased awareness comes emotional pain and discomfort. Most sex addicts have lost something that they genuinely value such as a spouse, their job, the respect of their child, or something else. This awareness can be very painful and often requires a good support system to avoid relapsing into old behaviors while in pain.

Treatment Centers

Here is a list of three of very good sex addiction treatment centers in the United States.

1. Sexual Recovery Institute

The Sexual Recovery Institute is headed by Robert Weiss LCSW, CAS. Mr. Weiss spent four years training under the direction of Patrick Carnes, Ph.D. (the leading researcher on sexual addiction ), providing inpatient clinical services for the treatment of sexual addicts and sexual offenders.

Many services are available for sex addicts and their partners. The Sexual Recovery Institute offers the following services:

• Individual treatment
• Group treatment
• Couples treatment
• Partners and spouses treatment
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Phone and online treatment

When looking for help with sexual addiction , it is always a good idea to work with the professionals who specialize. That is why I have ranked the Sexual Recovery Institute in the top five.

2. The Meadows

The Meadows has different locations, but their Dakota facility specializes in treating sexually compulsive behaviors. They are set in the peaceful atmosphere of the high desert, the Dakota extended-care facility is dedicated to treating all aspects of sexual disorders. Dakota works with clients to sustain sexual sobriety by facilitating the healing of core issues, which enhances recovery and developmental maturity.

One of the things I like the most about their facility is that they consult with well-respected experts in the field of addictions.

3. Keystone Center

The Keystone Center is an extended care unit that helps people heal from sexual compulsivity and trauma. Their Extended Care Unit (ECU) provides a multidisciplinary team made up of seasoned professionals dedicated to the treatment of sexual addiction and trauma that have worked in the ECU since its inception. The multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrist certified in addiction , physician, psychologists, social workers, family therapists and interns.

If you want more options for possible treatment centers I would suggest that you visit

This is the best organization in the country for getting information on treating sexual addictions.

Here’s the question of the day, “My husband is addicted to porn, what should I do?”

Ouch! I am sorry to hear that. Right now there are many things that you can and should do. I would like to offer a few suggestions, but I want to acknowledge that there are no easy answers to your question.

First, you indicate that your husband is addicted pornography. While this may be the case, I would prefer we step back and consider the term addiction. Many people tell me that they are addicted to pornography, but when I assess their behaviors they don’t really have an addiction to porn. An addiction to pornography generally has the following components:

• It is a compulsive act
• There is a recurrent failure to resist impulses to view pornography
• The behavior continues despite negative consequences
• Tolerance for the behavior increases
• They experience withdrawal symptoms
• Attempts to quit are unsuccessful

These are some of the signs you would look for in someone who has a pornography addiction. While you consider these signs, please be aware that most of the people I have worked with go back and forth between heavy involvement and minimal to no involvement. If you and your husband are talking about his involvement, I would recommend that you have him take the test found at GrowthClimate.com which will assess his level of involvement and offer free feedback. There is also a free assessment for you. This will help you better understand how his involvement is impacting you.

Second, I have worked with hundreds of men struggling with pornography. Most, but not all of the men I have worked with do NOT like pornography. This may sound strange to you, but I have heard over and over again from men that they hate pornography. They don’t like the way it makes them feel. They feel guilt and shame. They feel bad that they keep letting their wives down.

Consider the following question from the “Assessing Pornography Addiction” test:

“I feel down and empty due to my involvement with porn.”

Nearly 4250 men have answered this question and 57% of the men agreed with it. Unfortunately, many of them haven’t discovered the right tools to succeed. They don’t know where to turn for good help and as a consequence they hide their unhealthy habit for years. Their behavior hurts you and makes you feel hopeless and scared. You may find yourself asking questions like, “Is he going to start acting out in other ways?” or “Does he compare me to the women he looks at while viewing pornography?” These are the types of questions that run through the minds of the women with whom I work.

Fortunately, there is hope for you and your husband. However, it is critical to get the right information. If you want to seek professional help, might I suggest that you visit this website www.sash.net. Here you will find a list of clinicians who specialize in treating pornography and sexual addiction. The site has a list of professionals throughout the country.

You can also find help here on my website. Below is a short list of products that may be of help to you.

• Dealing with Your Partner’s Sexual Addiction
• Strengthening Recovery Through Strengthening Marriage
• Treating Pornography Addiction (Book and Educational CD’s)

I am convinced that with the right help and knowledge you and your spouse can heal. This won’t be easy and it will require time and effort, but it can be done. I have seen couples heal from the pain created by pornography.

My hope is that your husband is willing to seek that help. Remember you cannot do his recovery for him. This concept is emphasized in the educational CD’s “Dealing with Your Partner’s Sexual Addiction”

Thanks for your question. Please feel free to write again or ask a follow-up question.

Best regards to you and your husband,

Dr. Kevin Skinner

P.S. I have decided that my blog will address questions just like this one. If you have a question and would like me to address it, please add your question below and I will do my best to address your questions.

Here’s a few questions you may want to ask yourself if you think pornography is not addictive.

1. Is gambling addictive? Ask those who live in Vegas who are attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings. They will tell you about their addiction. But wait, gambling isn’t a substance taken into the body. How could it be addictive?

2. Have you ever talked with someone who cannot stop viewing pornography? When grown men and women cry because the desire for pornography has taken control over their lives, it may mean that pornography has more to it than what meets the eye (pun intended).

3. Would you like your 12-year-old son viewing pornography? Pornography alters the minds of children. Not to mention the damage it does in skewing normal, healthy desires into deviant, difficult-to-fulfill appetites. I have 100s of clients who began viewing pornography between the ages of 12-14 and now cannot stop. Try telling these grown men that pornography is not addictive.

Here’s a few responses that have been shared with me by men who were asked if they thought they were addicted to pornography:

• Yes, because it interferes with my day-to-day life. I started lying to my spouse, and utimately she chose to separate from me.
• I go on a binge about every 2 months. I am probably addicted because when it happens, I can’t stop it. I spend even more time fantasizing in addition to all the lost time I spent watching porn. I feel most guilty and frusrated at my lack of control. I am generally an in-control guy.
• I do believe I am addicted, because I have no idea why I go back to it. It hurts my fiance and does nothing for me. We are sexually active and she satisfies me plenty, I do not know why I always go back to porn.

I could go on and on with stories of individuals who simply cannot stop on their own. The criteria for an addiction include:

1. Loss of control (compulsivity)—Notice the responses above. "I cannot stop it" and "I feel moste guilty and frustrated at my lack of control."
2. Continuation despite adverse consequences—"It hurts my fiance" and "My spouse separated from me."
3. Obsession or preoccupation—"It interferes with my day to day life" and "I spend even more time fantasizing in addition to all the lost time I spent watching porn."

These are voluntary responses from men and women who have visited the assessing addiction page of this website. Clearly, these individuals share experiences that would meet all of the criteria for substance dependence according to the DSM-IV.

Furthermore, around 10% of all adults who engage in viewing pornography feel that they are addicted. These are self-reports of men and women who cannot stop viewing pornography. The consequences of pornography addiction (dependence) may not always be clear, but let me list a few consequences that I have personally observed.

• Separation and divorce
• Being unavailable to children
• Job loss
• A fiance ending the relationship
• An increased tendency to argue
• Lack of trust in relationships
• Sexually acting out

While many argue that pornography is a matter of freedom of speech, they are missing the point. Pornography hurts people. Do you really wonder who it hurts? It hurts marriages. It hurts employers (see #1 below). Finally, it hurts the individual who becomes addicted. Those caught in this addiction are likely to be depressed and feel out of control. They will not be as focused in their relationships with others.

If you aren’t anti-pornography—you might want to consider the social implications that pornography is having upon all of us. It is time to wake up and realize that pornography is destroying far too many good men and women’s lives.

#1. More than 30% of 1,500 surveyed companies have terminated employees for inappropriate use of the Internet, while only 37.5% of companies use filtering software. Websense Incorporated and The Center for Internet Studies, 2000.

On a regular basis I have clients ask me, "Do you think I am addicted to pornography?", I have wondered what is the best way to respond to them. Consider the following definition of addiction—

A recurrent failure to control the behavior and continuation of the behavior despite increasingly harmful consequences.

In my experience using this definition, most of my clients would fit into that definition. They often continue viewing pornography even though they know there are harmful consequences.

Unfortunately, this definition doesn’t match or meet the needs of all of my clients. As I have assessed pornography addiction over the years, there are varying degrees of addiction which makes it critically important to distinguish individuals who are in need of intensive treatment versus individuals who need the right educational tools to help them stop the behavior. In other words, each individual needs treatment based upon their level of involvement with pornography.

Assessing Pornography Addiction

In recognizing the need for assessing different levels of pornography addiction, I have created an assessment test, the Assessing Pornography Addiction test identifies six levels of addiction.

What experience has taught me is that there are common behaviors in all of my clients. However, each individual still has their own reasoning of why they looking at pornography. Some clients are much more involved in pornography than other clients. For example, Client A could spend hours a day looking at pornography, while Client B seems to relapse about every two weeks. While client C may have seen pornography once in the last six months.

During the past 8 years, I have observed many patterns in clients involvement in pornography which has lead me to create an assessment test for clients. This pornography assessment test is based upon the clinical work that I have done with over 100 clients over the years.

The pornography assessment tool was developed from clinical experience and has assisted me in evaluating and understanding the men and women that have been involved in viewing pornography in some form or other. I have identified six unique levels to help individuals do a self-analysis of their personal addiction or dependency on pornography. This scale helps me understand what level of intervention my clients need in treatment. However, while this assessment helps me assess my clients needs, I have noticed that a personal assessment by an individual dealing with pornography addiction is only the beginning. Once a person understands their level of addiction, they have to make a choice. The choice is to take responsibility and learn how to change the behavior or to do nothing and keep doing the same thing, or as is often the case their level of involvement gets worse.

The test I have written will help people assess their own level of involvement in pornography. However, it is one thing to assess the problem and an entirely different thing to overcome the addictive behavior. If a person really wants to change, they will need to follow the recommended treatment ideas and suggestions outlined below.<="" assessment="" the="">

Once the Assessing Pornography Addiction test has been completed, specific suggestions are provided to individuals. These suggestions are based upon the personal addiction level of each individual.

How Parents, Spouses, and Clergyman Can Use the Assessing Pornography Addiction Tool

The “Assessing Pornography Addiction” tool can also be used by individuals who are working with people who are involved in pornography. In looking for the signs of sexual addiction or pornography addiction, they can use this tool by reading through the assessment questions and familiarizing themselves with the responses. If your partner, spouse, or child is involved in viewing pornography, this tool can help you identify their level of involvement. You will also learn what questions to ask them and receive ideas on how you can help them get appropriate treatment.

I invite all people who are involved in pornography and those who want to assess pornography addiction levels and who work with these individuals to take the "Assessing Pornography Addiction" test. This test can be used in the following ways:

1. Assessing pornography addiction—Learn how to identify your personal level of dependency or addiction
2. Gain the right knowledge so that you can overcome and treat pornography addiction
3. How to discuss your involvement in pornography with a counselor, clergyman, or family member.