Therapists Report Rise In Problematic Porn Use

More therapists are reporting a surge in people saying their pornography use is out of control — and it’s starting to show up in everyday life. A new survey suggests the issue is no longer just a private embarrassment; it’s becoming a problem that brings people into clinics and counselling rooms. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) polled almost 3,000 accredited therapists and counsellors. Some 53% said they had seen an increase in clients seeking help for porn use that was disrupting work, study, relationships or daily responsibilities, or driving them towards more extreme material. Therapists say many clients do not begin therapy because of porn itself. Often they present with anxiety, depression, relationship breakdown or other addictions, and only later recognise that excessive pornography has been part of the problem. NHS sexual health services are sometimes referring men with physical sexual difficulties, including erectile issues, who link these symptoms to their online viewing. Dr Paula Hall, who runs services treating sex and porn problems and has launched an online self-help resource called Pivotal Recovery, says the phenomenon should be treated as a public-health concern. She wants a coherent national strategy that looks at the wider social and economic costs, and at early education for young people — not a moral crusade against porn, but a plan to recognise and reduce harm where it occurs. A major barrier to people getting help, therapists say, is shame. Secrecy and stigma make it harder to talk about problems until they become entrenched coping strategies. Hall describes problematic porn use as a spectrum: what starts as casual viewing can become habitual and a way to avoid uncomfortable feelings. Andrew Harvey, a BACP-accredited therapist in Nottingham, warns of the relational fallout. For some clients, online pornography offers novelty and stimulation that outstrips intimacy with a partner, and over time it can become their primary way of experiencing sexuality. That escalation often leads people to seek increasingly extreme material, sometimes in ways that confuse them about their own preferences. There is debate about whether pornography fits the strict definition of addiction. Still, therapists report many clients whose day-to-day functioning is clearly affected — hours spent online, missed commitments, frayed relationships. Treatment, they emphasise, is not about banning sexual expression but helping people regain control and rediscover healthy, fulfilling intimacy. The new data points to growing demand for specialist support and a wider conversation about how society recognises and responds to this modern strain of harm. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article