Should I Change Therapists?

Addiction is many times a symptom of a larger problem - escaping negative emotions (such as anxiety) is one of those larger problems. Is the new therapist a CSAT?

 

I wouldn't discount the value of making your life better. If you have more pleasure doing the stuff that makes up the rest of your life outside of porn then why would you ever need to jack off? If you stop jacking off then you're going to have time on your hands... what are you gonna do with it, just lay on the ground and stare at the ceiling???

You're trying to break out of compulsive addiction, which indeed is very very hard. Maybe you should try to probe his thoughts about how people break away from pot or cigs or alcohol? My intuition is that his approach to those addictions will - rightfully - be very similar to how he's approaching yours.

For me, the "practical methods for dealing with" masturbation addiction was to learn other behaviors to replace the time I spent masturbating.

 

I have read all your comments and I think you are in another phase than anyone who is suggesting you things, nobody can understand your situation right now cause their addiction to porn is different.
Your addiction to porn is like you have to do it no matter what, you are bound to do that thing, nothing big is motivating enough for you to stop masturbating, ours is mainly driven by triggers.
I suggest you go to an expert who has handled porn addicts before cause this type of therapist can't help you.

 

Since I suffered a lot in life I've been in therapy for the last eighteen years. With, let's say, six different therapists. I've touched the major approaches (psychodynamic, cognitive-behaviorial, humanist and systemic). The current therapist, which is of course the best, I have been with him since the past nine years. And I came to the conclusion that no therapies/methods/approaches/etc. are better than semen retention, cold showers, breathing exercices, meditation, fastings, social activities, good health behaviors, positive and vibrational music, nature activities and physical training (prerably a fighting art as it's more beneficial).

I'm still going to keep the therapist I have right now as it helps to work on emotions, but the best moments in my life have been the results of what I said previously and not therapists.

 

I think if you feel like the therapy isn't really working for you then you're better off not going on with it. It's concerning he interrupts you, makes me think he isn't actually listening to what you're saying.

 

Huge red flag.
A therapist should listen.

 

Just my thoughts, having gone down a similar road: - like others above, if a therapist interrupts, he's not doing his job. He may need to respond and guide a therapy session, but if it feels like an interruption to you, then that's what it is, and it suggests to me that he's not really listening, and thus not really doing his job.

I've seen several therapists for my PMO problem, and none of them took it seriously. The first was just like your "deer in the headlights", the last was a decent enough therapist, but just didn't seem able to understand that you can get addicted to porn, so there were lots of exasperated moments. I ended up quitting, after several years, and thousands spent of my hard-earned cash. I learned more about addiction generally, and made more progress from reading books by Dr Gabor Mate (especially In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts).

Most therapists are woolly minded baby-boomers who think that sex and porn can only be good for you. If you can find a therapist who has genuine experience in porn addiction, then maybe give them a try, but I'd be wary of anyone who markets themselves as a sex-addiction therapist, because they will have that kind of attitude, and from my experience they won't be able to change it. It's hard to try to change people's minds on most things, most of the time, but why spend your money trying to (in effect) educate a professional about porn addiction, who should be doing this stuff in their own time and at their own expense as part of their own professional development?

Have you considered using an online Nofap coach?

 

Change therapist? Why you go to therapist in the first place? We all can lift ourselves up like crazy and shine. Nobody needs therapist ^^

 

A good therapist:

• Makes a treatment plan
• Is listening, understanding and affirming
• Is empathic
• Is creating an atmosphere safe enough to show your vulnerability and gives space for expressing your real shit
• Is not trying to solve your problem but helps you understand and help you to solve the problem yourself.
• Is listening, asking questions
• Is listening and asking more questions.

So what's gonna be it?

 

I'd add that a good therapist makes you a b it uncomfortable, pushes you to think of things you might not without help, speaks uncomfortable truths and it's afraid to call you on BS.