Pornography is the Problem: Cogitations from a Novice Therapist

Unfortunately, in my program, I only had one class that addressed addiction. It glossed over some key terms and general strategies, but the takeaway was that it usually meant you were working at a residential treatment facility or hospital. With my limited knowledge base, I assumed that addiction wouldn’t be in mainstream counseling, let alone private practice. Little did I know, that is not the case. Addiction can come in many forms and even varieties of forms, and so on. What I have learned so far is that addiction is not a standalone counseling strand, a certain “type” of client or even a separate diagnosis but rather derives from a bigger issue or problem. Working at a private practice for the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with clients of all ages and backgrounds who presented with a variety of concerns. One population that I work most with seems almost taboo, with an addiction that therapists don’t want to address, don’t know how to address or don’t want to work with. Hi, my name is Shelley Harris and I am a licensed juvenile sex offender treatment provider.

Keywords: Juvenile sex offenders; Pornography; Addiction