Comparing Porn Addicts Anonymous & other treatment options
Published:
Feb 19, 2025
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06:13 p.m.
ET
It is estimated that 11% of men and 3% of women in the United States suffer from porn addiction, with that number likely being higher due to an increase in those seeking out treatment in recent years. The treatment options available for porn addiction can be overwhelming to evaluate for those actively struggling, with many different paths available nowadays to overcome their addiction. Treatment can range from inpatient services, outpatient groups, individual therapy and virtual counseling depending upon an individual's needs. Here we will explore the benefits and challenges of different treatment options, including PAA.
What is Porn Addicts Anonymous?
Porn Addicts Anonymous (PAA) is a 12-step, spiritually-based self-help program. The program states that the only requirement for joining is the desire to stop using pornography in all its forms.
PAA follows a typical structure of 12-step programs, with participants sharing their experiences and lending support to one another. In terms of costs, PAA’s Seventh Tradition states that every meeting ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. As such, each PAA group should ensure that any costs associated with running their meeting are “paid appropriately via member contributions.” Meeting locations can be found through the PAA website and can include additional resources for friends and family.
What other treatment options are there for Porn Addiction?
Virtual Treatment
Virtual counseling is conducted in a very similar way to traditional in-person therapy. A therapist will complete an initial consultation to identify and discuss the concerns of the patient. A diagnosis may be made during the initial visit, and a plan for treatment will be agreed upon between both parties. Virtual therapy can be beneficial for porn addiction specifically, as the specialized nature of the treatment needed can be difficult to find with in-person therapy.
Birches Health offers specialized virtual counseling with therapists trained in treating porn addiction. Birches also offers free self-assessments, resources and confidential referral pathways for loved ones. To explore virtual treatment options or learn more about the offerings, you can book an appointment, call (833) 483-3838 or email help@bircheshealth.com.
In-Person Individual Counseling
In-person counseling has also been found to be beneficial in treating the symptoms of porn addiction. Therapeutic techniques that address behavioral changes can help individuals challenge negative thoughts and feelings that impact maladaptive behaviors, such as excessive porn use. In-person therapy can also help provide a strong bond between a therapist and client, which can help facilitate the therapeutic process.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can include support groups, like Porn Addicts Anonymous, or other groups offered in virtual settings. Group therapy offers individuals a safe space of support that allows them to discuss their stories, share experiences and obtain guidance. Group therapy can be done both in-person or online, depending on an individual's needs and what is accessible in one's immediate location.
Family Counseling
If an individual's porn addiction negatively impacts their loved ones (a common occurrence), family counseling may be necessary. While porn addiction may seem like a very personal struggle, the partners and children of someone with a porn addiction may face negative consequences as well. Family counseling provides a space for loved ones to discuss the impact of porn addiction on the family unit and help all involved have a better understanding of why porn addiction occurs and how the recovery process will look moving forward.
In-Patient Residential Addiction Centers
Depending on the level of severity of an individual's porn addiction a more intense level of treatment may be necessary. In-patient and residential treatment centers help someone remove themselves from everyday life which can involve triggers that intensify their addictive behaviors. In-patient treatment provides 24/7 supervision that typically includes a variety of therapies and support services for an extended amount of time.
Comparing Porn Addicts Anonymous and Birches Health
With multiple options to help treat porn addiction, there isn’t just one path towards recovery. Individuals have the option of choosing which treatment fits their needs and lifestyle best and can adjust their needs as they progress towards recovery. Porn Addicts Anonymous and Birches Health are two different approaches to treating porn addiction. PAA is a group-based type of support, while Nirches offers one-on-one, specialized counseling services in a virtual setting. It is important for those seeking out treatment to understand the benefits of all treatment options so that they feel empowered to make choices that best support their desire to stop using porn.
It’s also worth noting that it does NOT need to be a one-or-the-other type of decision. Birches Health counselors have found that group support can be a positive, complementary part of a holistic treatment plan, on top of individual virtual counseling.
Advantages of Porn Addicts Anonymous
There can be notable benefits to attending a self-help group such as Porn Addicts Anonymous while struggling with pornography addiction. A notable benefit of PAA is the access to the shared experiences and stories of others who are struggling or dealt in the past with the same addiction. PAA also provides support and encouragement while celebrating milestones and progress through the recovery process.
PAA is structured after the 12-step program made popular by Alcoholics Anonymous, which helps members accept responsibility for the consequences of their addiction, learn healthier coping mechanisms and improve overall self-awareness.
Challenges with Porn Addicts Anonymous
One of the main challenges with self-help groups can be access to a meeting based on the location and time. In-person meetings may not be realistic for everyone, depending on their distance away and schedule.
Another issue may be the religious components that are main pieces of the 12-step program. “God” is mentioned 8 times in the 12 steps overall, and Step 2 specifically is “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” This strong religious component of the PAA program does not align with everyone’s personal beliefs and can result in some people not feeling comfortable with this recovery option.
Advantages of Birches Health
Birches Health offers virtual therapy from the comfort of home, which allows for greater flexibility in scheduling sessions around people’s busy lives. It also does not require allocating time for travel to appointments.
Virtual sessions provide access to specialized treatment, such as porn addiction therapy, regardless of location. Birches Health also has the added benefit of a one-on-one setting, where many feel more comfortable sharing their personal struggles than in a group environment.
Birches Health clinicians are also specially trained and certified in treating porn addiction, along with the ability to identify and provide care for other potential co-occurring disorders that may be hindering an individual’s progress in treatment.
Challenges with Birches Health
Virtual treatment is also not the right choice for everyone, including some individuals with higher-acuity challenges that require a more structured setting for treatment, based on the severity of their addiction.
Additionally, it may come down to personal preference between online counseling and in-person, face-to-face therapy. While some prefer the latter, others like the flexibility of the virtual option and don’t see any drawbacks from it.
Is virtual treatment as effective as in-person care?
There are benefits to both in-person and virtual treatment and the efficacy of one model versus the other has been a long-debated topic among professionals. For many mental and behavioral health conditions, including porn addiction, virtual therapy has shown promising results.
Depending on the type of therapy modality used, virtual counseling can provide the same benefits as in-person treatment. Virtually administered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been found to be just as effective as in-person treatment, specifically when conducted by professionals trained in the CBT model.
Teletherapy has also risen in popularity and acceptability since the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person treatment was not an option and mental health care needs increased. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that virtual treatment sees higher attendance rates than in-person sessions.
Additional resources and information about Porn Addiction
In addition to in-person therapy, virtual treatment and self-help groups, there are other resources that are easily accessible to those looking for more information about porn addiction. Helpful articles to learn more about porn addiction and treatment include:
