Question 1

Do you work with concerns about pornography use or compulsive sexual behavior?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I see men and teenage boys dealing with a wide range of issues, but concerns about pornography use and other compulsive sexual behaviors have become a significant part of my practice. I didn’t set out to become the “porn therapist” in Charleston, but over time I’ve learned how to address this awkward topic in a direct, straightforward way that makes it easier to talk about.

Question 2

What if porn isn’t my main concern, but it’s part of the picture?

Accepted Answer

Many of the guys I work with come in for other reasons such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or school and work stress. During the course of my standard intake, we often discover that porn use has become a concern or is making other problems worse. I routinely screen all clients—regardless of why they initially come to see me—about their pornography use, which has led to some important and honest conversations.

Question 3

Why is pornography such a big issue now, especially for teenage boys?

Accepted Answer

I started my counseling career just as smartphones became commonplace. Porn has been around forever, but smartphones were a complete game‑changer because they made explicit content instantly available, anonymous, and portable. For teenage boys who are going through puberty and developing a normal curiosity about sex, internet pornography can sometimes hijack the process of typical, healthy sexual exploration and set up patterns that are hard to change later.

Question 4

Is “porn addiction” real?

Accepted Answer

Although “porn addiction” is not yet an official diagnosis in standard psychological manuals, the pattern is very real in people’s lives. I’ve worked with hundreds of adults and teenagers who have struggled to moderate or eliminate their pornography use. The pattern has many of the same hallmarks as addictions to alcohol and drugs: cravings and difficulty limiting use, continued use despite negative consequences, increasing tolerance, negative impact on school or work performance, and strain on relationships.

Question 5

How do I know if my porn use is a problem?

Accepted Answer

One challenge with pornography is that there are no clearly established benchmarks for what is “normal” or “acceptable,” like there are for alcohol or substances. Instead, we look at the impact on your life:

Are you trying to cut back but can’t?
Is it affecting your mood, motivation, school or job performance, or relationships?
Is it changing the way you see yourself or other people?

If the honest answers to those questions concern you, it’s worth talking about.

Question 6

What does treatment for pornography and compulsive sexual behavior look like with you?

Accepted Answer

Over the years, I’ve developed a practical, effective protocol for working with teenagers and adults who want to eliminate or significantly reduce their porn use. We focus on understanding your specific patterns, identifying triggers, developing alternative coping strategies, and creating realistic limits or goals. One of the keys is stripping away the secrecy and anonymity of the behavior and building honest accountability into our sessions.

Question 7

Does your approach actually help people change their porn use?

Accepted Answer

In my experience, this approach is generally effective, especially when the client is motivated to make a change and willing to be honest in our work together. I’ve seen many men and teenage boys move from feeling ashamed and stuck to feeling more in control, more connected to their values, and more hopeful about their relationships and future.

Question 8

What experience do you have with porn‑related issues?

Accepted Answer

Because of my extensive experience treating pornography use and compulsive sexual behavior, I’ve been invited to speak about porn addiction at the annual Lowcountry Mental Health Conference. I’ve also presented on this topic to the South Carolina Society for Clinical Social Workers and at various continuing education programs for psychotherapists.

FAQ

Getting Started

Who do you work with?

How do I get started with you?

Where is your office located? Do you offer online sessions?

My Approach to Therapy

What is your approach to therapy?

How long do people usually work with you?

What is your counseling style?

I’ve never been to therapy before and feel skeptical. Is that okay?

Why do you only work with adult guys and teenage boys?

Frequent Issues

What kinds of concerns do you work with most often?

Do you offer life coaching as well as therapy?

Do you see couples or only individuals?

Counseling for Teenage Boys

Do you work with teenage boys? What ages do you see?

What kinds of issues do you help teen boys with?

My son doesn’t want therapy. Can you work with teens who are resistant?

What experience do you have with adolescents?

How do you handle parent involvement and confidentiality for teens?

Pornography Use and Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Do you work with concerns about pornography use or compulsive sexual behavior?

What if porn isn’t my main concern, but it’s part of the picture?

Why is pornography such a big issue now, especially for teenage boys?

Is “porn addiction” real?

How do I know if my porn use is a problem?

What does treatment for pornography and compulsive sexual behavior look like with you?

Does your approach actually help people change their porn use?

What experience do you have with porn‑related issues?

Business Partnership Counseling

What is business partnership counseling?

What kinds of problems do you help business partners with?

How is this different from hiring a consultant or coach for our business?

Does business partnership counseling always “save” the partnership?

Who is a good candidate for business partnership counseling with you?

Logistics, Privacy, and Practical Details

How do scheduling, paperwork, and billing work?

How do you handle confidentiality?

What if I’m not sure you’re the right therapist for me?