ABSTRACT
Sexual addiction can best be conceptualized as an intimacy disorder (Schwartz & Masters, 1994) manifested as a compulsive cycle of preoccupation, ritualization, sexual behavior (or anorexia-excessive control over sexual behavior), and despair (Carnes, 1983). Central to the disorder is the inability of the individual to adequately bond and attach in intimate relationships. The origin of the disorder is rooted in early developmental attachment failure with primary caregivers (Schwartz, 1996: Carnes, 1983, 1991). Sexual addiction becomes a way to compensate for this early attachment failure. The ultimate treatment goal for sex addicts is mastering the experience of bonding and attaching in enduring and trusting intimate connections with others. The treatment challenge for clinicians is to find specific strategies to assist these individuals to reach this objective.
