If you need urgent support
Call or text 9-8-8 anywhere in Canada if you are thinking about suicide or feel unable to cope. Support is available 24 hours a day. If your safety is at immediate risk, call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency department.
Where to begin
A family doctor or nurse practitioner can assess physical symptoms, medication effects, mood and referrals. A counsellor or psychotherapist can work on triggers, coping, shame, anxiety and behaviour change. A qualified sex therapist can address sexual concerns without assuming consensual sexuality is pathological.
- 211 Canada: local mental-health and community services.
- CCPA directory: Canadian Certified Counsellors.
- AASECT directory: certified sexuality counsellors and therapists.
What to say
Try: “I am spending much longer than I intend on pornography and masturbation. It is affecting sleep and I have not been able to reduce it. I want help regaining control.” You can bring a short note if saying it aloud is difficult.
Questions for a provider
Ask how they define compulsive sexual behaviour, what training they have in sexual health, how they avoid moralizing consensual sexuality, what treatment would involve, and what confidentiality limits apply.
A provider should be able to discuss goals beyond abstinence. If the approach increases shame, ignores your identity or makes claims unsupported by evidence, you can seek another opinion.