Exploring the Professional Literature of Social Work Interventions for Sexual Addiction

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to review the literature utilizing the “Cochrane Methodology” regarding the prevalence of sexual addiction to assist clinicians to better understand diagnosing, treating, and creating a therapeutic alliance with clients who exhibit sexually addictive, sexually compulsive, or hypersexual behaviors. This manuscript reviews the prevalence of sexual addiction amongst client populations by reviewing the professional social work literature to examine interventions and treatment of sexual addition. By doing so, perhaps this paper will assist clinicians to better understand diagnosing, treating, and creating a therapeutic alliance with clients who exhibit sexually addictive, sexually compulsive, or hypersexual behaviors. While research supports the reality of addictions and addictive behaviors through abundant research and case studies, there is a major lack of empirical research and literature that supports sexual addiction specifically, as well as a lack of literature that teaches clinicians how to work with this population. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) uses the keywords: sexual addiction, intervention, and social work, to examine the literature published on sexual addiction within the last ten years. The review confirmed the prevalence of sexual addiction in clinical settings and supported the need for additional literature and clinical education on sexual addiction. Additional research on sexual addiction is necessary for social workers to work in their scope of practice and to use evidence based research that will help clients create sustainable change.