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This is not a book about morality, cultural beliefs, cultural norms, or religion. It is not written to challenge those who enjoy porn use and other tech-driven forms of sexuality either casually or as a lifestyle. As mental health and addiction professionals it is not our job to judge human behavior in any way. Instead, we have written this book to help people whose porn use, sexual hookups, and the like have escalated to the point where those activities have become a driving life force at the expense of their own personal beliefs, morality, and lifestyle. In other words, this book is written for those whose abusive or addictive involvement with online porn and non-intimate sex (via apps and the Internet) consistently and persistently distracts them from larger personal goals like academic achievement, career development, family, intimate relationships, recreation, and community. Within these pages we offer understanding, compassion, direction, and hope to those too ashamed, fearful, or embarrassed to reach out in other ways.

Although there are many views about whether pornography, virtual sex, and casual/anonymous sex are “wrong” or “right”—along with a multitude of moral, ethical, and religious beliefs on the subject—it is not the intent of this book to define or address these issues in any meaningful way. The authors support every adult in his or her right to engage in any solo or mutually consensual (and legal) sexual activity or experience that provides pleasure, satisfaction, and fulfillment. We do not believe that we or anyone else has the right to judge what turns someone on or how a person pursues sexual activity, as long as that person’s choices do not violate the intrinsic rights and safety of themselves or others. Our work is not focused on what is ethically, religiously, or politically correct for any individual or the culture at large. We do not promote censorship, nor do we believe that all pornography is problematic or exploitative, though some certainly can be—child porn most assuredly.

Our primary goal within these pages is to assist people who struggle with compulsive sexual behaviors, especially when those behaviors are tech-driven, helping them to identify their problem as the chronic emotional disorder it is and to understand that it can be put into remission with proper care and direction—just like alcoholism, gambling addiction, or drug addiction. In a nutshell, we want people who are suffering from sexual addiction to know that their sexual concerns can be addressed without shame, moral, or cultural bias. We also seek to offer direction and insight to therapists and other professionals who may be unfamiliar with the treatment of sex addiction. But most of all, we want to offer cybersex addicts hope, letting them know that long-term change and healing are possible.