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According to figures released by the UK Addiction Treatment Group, 60,000 people in Britain visited its online porn and sex addiction support site in 2022.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies porn addiction as an impulse control disorder rather than an addiction. But clinicians and therapists have called for the porn industry to be regulated like others that encourage behavioural addiction, such as gambling.
This topic has long been taboo, and this week’s Igniting Change guest is keen to normalise the conversation and does so by spreading awareness and support with Pivotal Recovery.
Our Hosts were excited to sit down (virtually) with the incredible and inspiring Dr Paula Hall…
Meet Paula
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Dr Paula Hall has been supporting people struggling to beat porn & compulsive sexual behaviours for over 20 years, providing a wide range of therapy, training, and support services. As founder of the Laurel Centre, she’s built a successful practice and a large team of therapists in the UK, with others delivering her proven methodology worldwide.
Paula has also authored several books and peer-reviewed academic papers. She is regularly invited to appear on National TV & radio, and in newspapers and magazines to lend an expert opinion on issues around porn and sex addiction.
My message to those struggling with compulsive sexual behaviours or porn addiction would be to seek help. If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelmed, or that you cannot tackle this alone, there is always help available. Dr Paula Hall, Clinical Director, Pivotal Recovery
About Pivotal Recovery
Not everyone is able to access the specialist expertise they need to beat sex and porn addiction. Location, cost, and time commitments mean many aren’t able to benefit from vital psycho-educational interventions.
Renowned sex and relationship psychotherapist and author, Dr Paula Hall, had a vision of making her core recovery treatments available to a wider audience for years…as a result, Pivotal Recovery CIC was founded as a not-for-profit community interest company dedicated to providing research-based, academically robust and tested low-cost recovery services for people struggling with pornography addiction, sex addiction, and compulsive sexual behaviours.
Dr Hall already runs the Laurel Centre, a specialist private clinic that treats people with porn addiction.
Last year, the centre warned that working from home had fuelled a sharp rise in the number of people reporting an addiction to porn. Some patients accessing the centre were said to be watching up to 14 hours of porn a day.
The centre found that some people had been watching up to 14 hours of porn per day. The pilot study follows the CHOICE recovery model, which has six steps of recovery, which are:
Challenging core beliefs
Having a vision
Overcoming compulsive behaviours
Identifying positive sexuality
Connecting with others
Establishing confident recovery
This new course is divided into two parts consisting of 60 podcasts accompanied by workbooks and further resources. In partnership with Leeds Trinity University, the pilot study sets out to better understand how users engage with the course and to objectively assess their results.
Users have access to the programme and are asked to complete a series of surveys for taking part. Profits from the course will be donated to charitable organisations that undertake essential research and raise public awareness for porn and sex addiction. The funds will go towards providing education and educational resources to people struggling with these addictions and those who care for them.
Listen to the full episode here
To hear more of the incredible conversation with Paula listen now using the links below!
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Published on 12 June 2023, last updated on 12 June 2023