Dr. Libby strives to provide more balance in the sex lives of his clients. He offers help for those who are unbalanced, obsessive and compulsive about sex. Those who obsess about sex and who are compulsive in their sexual behavior, sometimes associated with Internet pornography, are candidates for help from Dr. Libby. Those with an obsessive/compulsive personality usually express their disorder in more than one way. They may be obsessive and compulsive about sex, but they typically are also obsessive and compulsive about dirt, being on time, putting everything in an exact place, etc. Any obsession is not healthy, but this does not qualify all of them as addictions.
Some therapists and the media refer to "sex addicts" as those who are addicted to sex and Internet porn. These therapists use the same model for addiction that they use for alcohol and drug addictions. Dr. Libby was cited as an authority on the subject in The New York Times. In the article, Dr. Libby points out that sex addiction is the wrong term, because you can only be addicted to substances that are external to your body, such as alcohol and drugs. You cannot be addicted to yourself! Discussing sex as an addiction is semantic sophistry.
Sex addiction therapists sometimes moralize about those who are sexual enthusiasts, who enjoy a lot of sex. The twelve-step program they often use has a moralistic basis. Dr. Libby does not moralize. Instead, he utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients get rid of distorted thoughts that make them feel obsessed and compulsive. He does not discourage being highly sexual. He emphasizes a sense of balance, and healthy sexual fantasies and behavior, recognizing that people differ in their level of sexual desire and activity.
When a man or a woman are heavily drawn to the Internet for pornography or chat rooms, Dr. Libby suggests having a real sex life instead of an over-emphasis on an imagined sex life. He recognizes that it is unhealthy to confuse fantasy with reality. When there is a couple, he sees both people separately, and then together, to develop a treatment plan to improve mutual sexual satisfaction. He sometimes suggests watching The Better Sex Video Series, which he helped create, to enhance mutual sexual pleasure and intimacy.
