Pornography addiction treatment and therapy
If your use of pornography has started to feel hard to control, or out of step with the life and relationships you want, it can be difficult to know who to talk to.
I offer porn addiction therapy for adults: a confidential, non-judgemental space to understand the pattern and what it may be doing for you, in person or online.
Michael Swales
MBACP, NCPS Acc.In-person therapy in London
Online therapy
across the UKIndividual therapy
from £75Couples therapy
from £95
Who it’s for
Pornography addiction help, whatever you call it
People use different words for this. Some call it porn addiction; others describe a compulsive habit, or simply a pattern they would like to change. You do not need to label it to look for support.
You might be using pornography more than you intend, feeling stuck in a cycle of urges and regret, keeping it secret from a partner, or finding that it has become a way to cope with stress, loneliness or difficult feelings.
Therapy is not about judging you or telling you what is acceptable. It is about understanding the pattern and deciding what you want to change.
Pornography use can also be one of several patterns explored as part of wider addiction support.
Common reasons
When people look for porn addiction counselling
-
Using pornography more often or for longer than intended
-
Urges that feel difficult to resist
-
Shame or secrecy afterwards
-
Promises to stop that have not lasted
-
Using porn to cope with stress, boredom or loneliness
-
Concerns about intimacy or trust in a relationship
-
A partner finding out about your pornography use
-
Time online that is affecting sleep or work
-
Feeling at odds with your own values
-
Wanting to understand what drives the pattern
-
Wanting support that is private and non-judgemental
What to expect
How porn addiction therapy works
Sessions are confidential, respectful and paced around what you feel ready to talk about.
We look at the pattern itself – when urges come, what tends to happen before and after, and what the behaviour helps you avoid or manage – as well as the feelings around it, such as shame, anxiety or loneliness.
From there, we can think about what you want: to stop, to cut down, or to feel more in charge of your choices. The direction is yours to decide.
If a partner has been affected, individual sessions can help you think about how to talk about it, and couples work may be appropriate in some situations.
About the therapist
Working with a pornography therapist
I work in an integrative, relational and trauma-informed way, and have additional training in addiction recovery.
Many people find it hard to speak about pornography at all. In sessions, you can talk openly without being judged, at a pace that feels manageable.
Experienced and accredited
Michael Swales is registered with professional bodies including BACP and NCPS, with additional training in relationship psychotherapy, somatic trauma therapy and addiction recovery.
Locations and online
Porn addiction therapy
in person or online
Sessions take place in person at King’s Cross, Angel and Farringdon, or online by video call, which some people find easier for a private subject.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Here it means talking therapy: a confidential space to understand a pattern of pornography use that feels hard to control, and to work out what you want to change. I offer talking therapy, not medical treatment.
No. People and professionals use different terms for pornography use that feels problematic. What matters in therapy is how the pattern affects you, not the label.
A porn addiction therapist helps you understand the pattern – triggers, urges, shame and what the behaviour gives you – and supports you in making changes that fit your own values. The aim is understanding and choice, not judgement.
Therapy is confidential, with some legal and ethical limits around risk and safeguarding. These can be explained before you begin.
Some people prefer to start on their own. If your relationship has been affected, couples sessions may be helpful later, and this can be discussed during the initial consultation.
Online therapy by video call may suit some people, and some find it easier to talk about a private subject from home. Whether it suits you can be discussed during the initial consultation.
Individual therapy starts from £75. Fees can vary depending on the type of therapy, format and circumstances, and this can be discussed during your free initial consultation.
Get in touch
Take the next step when you're ready
Reaching out can feel like a big step, I offer a safe, confidential place to talk and explore what support might look like for you. Phone, email, video-call or in-person sessions – get in touch in whatever way suits you.
Email
info@michaelswales.com
Response time
I aim to respond to within 1 working day.
I'll be happy to hear from you.
Your details are secure and will never be shared.
This form is confidential.