“You’re Addicted to What?” – Challenging the Myth of Sex Addiction – By: Marty Klein – Published July/August 2012 – The Humanist
In his Humanist article, sex therapist Marty Klein challenges the utility of the concept of “sex addiction,” making an argument that the addiction framework is counter-productive to achieving goals (ie. to no longer engage in sexual activity that’s causing harm to self of others). He objects to the ‘Powerlessness” model of addiction and proposes that the psychotherapy model of “you’re responsible for your choices; I wonder why you keep doing what gives you what you say you don’t want?” is more useful. The discussion of the value of labels, diagnostics and pathologizing is relevant but also rhetorical. How about a more flexible, both/and approach? Whatever brings relief, hopefulness, fulfillment…bring it on.