"I tried quitting porn and sexual acting out countless times, making empty promises to God that 'this time would be different."
Shame kept me isolated, believing I was alone in my struggle.
When I finally found mentors who offered understanding instead of judgment, I discovered a powerful truth:
Addiction thrives in darkness, but healing flourishes in community." - Adam V.A (Certified Professional Mentor).
Professional Mentoring
Misconceptions about sexual addiction?
"Only really messed up people are addicts..." This is a misconception
"If I were a good Christian, I wouldn't be struggling with porn or sex..." This is a misconception
"Trauma wounds and PTSD are for war veterans. There's no way I suffer from emotional trauma..." This is (often) a misconception
What does sexual addiction look like?
Defensive behaviors often manifesting as attachment disorders, characterized by intense emotional reactions, manipulation through gaslighting, engagement in high-risk activities, self-destructive tendencies or harm to others, narcissistic traits, judgmental attitudes, and co-occurring depression and anxiety. Such individuals typically demonstrate limited empathy, being unable to relate to others' emotional experiences. Their behavior patterns may appear inconsistent or contradictory, creating confusion in relationships—similar to what Dr. Carnes describes in addictive relationship dynamics where power, control, and objectification become central themes.
What is the difference between professional mentoring and clinical counseling?
Focus: Mentoring focuses on "addiction recovery, trauma-informed, post-traumatic growth" while counseling concentrates on "healing past trauma or emotional distress"
Temporal orientation: Mentoring addresses "past, present, and future" while counseling typically focuses on "past and present"
Personal experience: For mentors, personal learned experience is "essential by definition" whereas for counselors, self-disclosure is a "violation of ethics code"
Availability: Professional mentoring has "high availability, but limited number trained" while counseling faces a "severe shortage, especially Christian trauma, addiction trained"