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12-Step Groups for Sex Addiction

Why is a cup of coffee pictured here? Because coffee is almost a trademark of 12-step meetings where members sit down with one another to find help with their problems.

Fortunately, there are 12-step meetings for sex addicts and their partners just as there are for other addictions. The list below gives a brief description of the programs, their focus and attendance. The national telephone numbers can also provide specific meeting information in various cities. I have also included the local numbers for the Washington, DC, metro area.

S.A.A. - Sex Addicts Anonymous: National 12-step program encourages participants to define their sexual sobriety through the boundaries of a "Sex Plan" which is evolved by working with other recovering members. Population is mixed, primarily men, both homosexual and heterosexual with some female attendance. Has a program for partners of sexual addicts called C.O.S.A.

SAA, P.O. Box 70949, Houston, TX 77270

National telephone: 713-684-6174

COSA - 612-537-6904

Washington, DC: 703-912-1904

SAA for Helping Professionals in DC: 202-843-4124

www.sexaa.org

S.C.A. - Sexual Compulsives Anonymous: 12-step program found in major urban areas nationally. Primarily attended by gay and bisexual men and some women. Participants define their sexual sobriety through the boundaries of a "Sex Plan" which is evolved by working with other recovering members. Has a program for partners of sexual addicts.

SCA, P.O. Box 1585, Old Chelsea Station

New York, NY 10013-0935

      or

P.O. Box 4470, 170 Sunset Blvd. #520
Los Angeles, CA 90027

National telephone:

      New York: 212-439-1123

      Los Angeles: 310-859-5585

      800-977-HEAL

Washington, DC: 202-736-3736

www.sca-recovery.org

S.L.A.A. - Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous: National 12 step program focused on addictive sexual and romantic relationships. Helpful for people who consistently involve themselves in abusive, non-nurturing relationships as well as sexual addicts. This program tends to attract more mixed male/female group.

SLAA, P.O. Box 338, Norwood, MA 02062-0338

National telephone: 781-255-8825

Honolulu: 808-926-0166

Washington, DC: 202-232-1991

www.slaafws.org

S.A. - Sexaholics Anonymous: National 12 step program which employs the most restricted definition of sexual recovery. Sobriety is defined as "No sexual behavior outside of a committed (heterosexual) marital relationship." Population is primarily heterosexual men, some women do attend. Has a program for spouses of sexual addicts and offenders called S-Anon.

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), P.O. Box 111910,

Nashville, TN 37222

National telephone:

      SA - 615-331-6230

      S-Anon - 615-833-3152)

Washington, DC,

      SA: 703-866-6929 and 410-558-4510

      S-Anon: 703-440-1875 and 410-558 4510

www.sa.org

S.R.A. - Sexual Recovery Anonymous: 12 step program located in the northeast (the tristate area) and in western Canada. Sobriety includes "freedom from sex outside a mutually committed relationship." Population is primarily men, both homosexual and heterosexual, with some female attendance.

SRA, P.O. Box 73, Planetarium Station

New York, NY 10024

National telephone: 212-340-4650

R.C.A. - Recovering Couples Anonymous: A newly beginning 12 step program which helps partners who are addicts or co-addicts on issues of commitment, intimacy and mutual recovery, with a focus on improving the significant-other bond. All couples, married, non-married, gay and straight, are welcome.

RCA, P.O. Box 11872, St. Louis, MO 63105

National telephone: 314-830-2600

Washington, DC: 202-298-0841

Group descriptions came from: http://www.delamohospital.com/services/sexualdisorder.htm (3/20/00)

David C. Bissette, Psy.D. Alexandria, VA 703-705-6161