What Is a CSAT? How Sex Addiction Therapy Is Different

If you or someone you love is struggling with compulsive sexual behavior or pornography use, you may have come across the letters "CSAT" while searching for help. Maybe you've wondered what they mean, or whether it matters if a therapist has that training.

It's a good question, and asking it is a sign you're taking your healing seriously. In this article I'll explain what a CSAT is, what makes this kind of therapy different, and how it supports not only the person struggling but also the partner and family who have been hurt.

What Does CSAT Stand For?

CSAT stands for Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. The credential is offered through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). The CSAT credential and training model come from the work of Dr. Patrick Carnes and the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). In my practice, that training informs how I work with both the person who is struggling and the partner who has been hurt. Therapists who pursue it complete specialized training in understanding and treating compulsive sexual behavior, plus supervised clinical work. The training is designed to be added to a therapist's existing license, so a CSAT is first a licensed mental health professional.

You can look up CSAT-trained clinicians in IITAP's public directory, and you're always welcome to ask any therapist, including me, about their training and how they use it.

What Is "Sex Addiction" or "Porn Addiction"?

People use different words for this struggle: sex addiction, porn addiction, compulsive sexual behavior, or "unwanted sexual behavior." Clinicians don't all agree on the label, and you don't need the "right" word to ask for help.

What matters most is the pattern. Many people I work with describe:

• Trying to stop or cut back and not being able to
• Spending more time on sexual behavior or pornography than intended
• Keeping secrets, lying, or living a "double life"
• Continuing despite harm to a marriage, job, finances, faith, or self-respect
• Using sexual behavior to escape stress, loneliness, anxiety, or pain
• Deep shame after acting out, followed by the cycle starting again

If this sounds like you, please hear me: shame keeps people stuck. Curiosity and support help people change.

How CSAT-Informed Therapy Is Different

General counseling can be very helpful, but compulsive sexual behavior often needs a more structured approach. CSAT training emphasizes a few things that make a difference.

It looks beneath the behavior

The behavior is usually not the whole story. I help clients search for the deeper roots, like old wounds, unmet needs, trauma, and coping patterns that began long before the first secret.

It's structured

Rather than only talking about the week, this work often follows a clear path that includes understanding your patterns and triggers, building a plan for sobriety and relapse prevention, and working toward honesty in relationships.

It treats the brain and body, not just willpower

Many people have tried to stop through willpower alone and felt like failures when it didn't last. Habits that have been repeated for years are deeply learned, and new, healthier patterns take time, practice, and support to develop. Approaches like EMDR and ART can also help process underlying trauma that may be fueling the behavior.

It includes the partner

This is one of the most important differences. A CSAT-informed approach recognizes that the partner has experienced betrayal trauma and needs care of their own, not just a role in helping the addicted partner get better.

Recovery Is for the Whole Family

I serve those who have a sex and/or porn addiction, along with the betrayal trauma experienced by their partner and family. I believe the breakdown of the family has a ripple effect, and that when we help individuals and couples heal, families grow stronger too.

In practice, that can look like:

• Individual counseling for the person struggling with compulsive behavior
• Individual support for the betrayed partner, focused on safety, stabilization, and trauma healing
• Couples work when both partners are ready and it's safe to begin
• Faith-integrated counseling for those who want it. Christian counseling is one of the approaches I offer.

You can read more on my Betrayal Trauma page if you're the partner who has been hurt.

What to Look for in a Sex Addiction Therapist in Utah Valley

Whether or not you choose to work with me, here are a few questions worth asking:

1. What specific training do you have in compulsive sexual behavior and betrayal trauma?
2. How do you support the partner, not just the person struggling?
3. What does treatment generally look like over time?
4. Do you use trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR or ART?
5. Is there room for my faith and values in this work?
6. Do you offer telehealth if I'd prefer privacy or live outside the city?

A good therapist will welcome these questions.

How I Help in Utah Valley and Beyond

I am a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), and I bring EMDR and ART training and a warm, nonjudgmental approach to this work. I see clients in person in Utah and by telehealth in Utah, Nevada, and Washington. Learn more on my Sex Addiction Counseling in Utah Valley page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a CSAT the same as a licensed therapist?
A CSAT is a specialized certification added to a mental health license. The therapist still needs to be licensed in your state.

Do I have to call it "addiction" to get help?
No. Some people prefer "compulsive sexual behavior" or "unwanted sexual behavior." We can use whatever language feels right to you.

Can my spouse come to sessions?
Often yes, when the timing is right. Many couples benefit from each partner having individual support first.

Is telehealth private enough for this kind of work?
Telehealth sessions are held on a secure platform, and many clients appreciate being able to meet from a private space at home.

Take the First Step

Reaching out can feel vulnerable, especially when shame is loud. You don't have to have it all figured out. Just take the next step.

Book an appointment through my secure SimplePractice scheduler, in person in Utah or by telehealth in UT, WA, NV.

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This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).