Sex Addiction Recovery Groups
Here are the main sex addiction recovery groups that are widely recognized and active, offering support to individuals seeking recovery from compulsive sexual behavior:
| 1. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) | |||||
| Website: https://saa-recovery.org | |||||
| Overview: Based on the 12-step model similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, SAA supports men and women recovering from sex addiction. | |||||
| Meetings: In-person and online; worldwide. | |||||
| Key Feature: Emphasizes anonymity, sponsorship, and step work. | |||||
| 2. Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) | |||||
| Website: https://www.sa.org | |||||
| Overview: One of the strictest 12-step groups; defines sobriety as no sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. | |||||
| Meetings: Global presence, with many in-person and phone/Zoom meetings. | |||||
| Key Feature: Very clear boundaries for sobriety. | |||||
| 3. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) | |||||
| Website: https://slaafws.org | |||||
| Overview: Focuses not just on sex addiction but also on love and relationship addiction. | |||||
| Meetings: Offers in-person, phone, and virtual meetings worldwide. | |||||
| Key Feature: Helpful for people who struggle with romantic obsession or codependency. | |||||
| 4. Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) | |||||
| Website: https://sca-recovery.org | |||||
| Overview: Originally founded to serve gay men, now open to all regardless of sexual orientation. | |||||
| Meetings: Strong presence in urban areas; in-person and online. | |||||
| Key Feature: Flexible definition of sobriety (“sexual recovery plan”). | |||||
| 5. Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA) | |||||
| Website: https://sexualrecovery.org | |||||
| Overview: A fellowship based on the AA 12 steps, welcoming people of all orientations and defining sexual sobriety in terms of committed relationships. | |||||
| Meetings: Fewer than some others but still available in several cities and online. | |||||
| Key Feature: Sobriety within a committed relationship, not limited by gender or marital status. | |||||
| Honorable Mentions: | |||||
| Pure Desire Ministries: https://www.puredesire.org – Christian-based recovery with group programs for men and women. | |||||
| Faithful & True: https://faithfulandtrue.com – Christian counseling and workshops. | |||||
| Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com – Christian 12-step program for all addictions including sexual addiction. | |||||
| For family members, partners, and friends of individuals struggling with sex addiction, several 12-step support programs provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space to share experiences and find healing. These fellowships are modeled after Al-Anon (for loved ones of alcoholics) and offer similar spiritual and emotional support. | |||||
| 1. S-Anon (Sexaholics Anonymous Family Groups) | |||||
| Website: https://www.sanon.org | |||||
| Audience: Spouses, family, and friends of Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) members or anyone affected by someone’s compulsive sexual behavior. | |||||
| Approach: 12 steps and 12 traditions, focus on personal recovery and detachment with love. | |||||
| Meetings: In-person, online, and phone. | |||||
| Key Feature: Closely aligned with SA’s definition of sexual sobriety. | |||||
| 2. COSA (Codependents of Sex Addicts) | |||||
| Website: https://www.cosa-recovery.org | |||||
| Audience: Anyone whose life has been affected by another person’s compulsive sexual behavior (partner, family, friend, etc.). | |||||
| Approach: 12-step program focused on healing from codependency, betrayal trauma, and emotional wounds. | |||||
| Meetings: Local, online, and phone meetings available. | |||||
| Key Feature: Independent of any specific sex addiction group, making it more inclusive. | |||||
| 3. Recovering Couples Anonymous (RCA) | |||||
| Website: https://www.recovering-couples.org | |||||
| Audience: Couples seeking to rebuild their relationship after addiction (including sex addiction). | |||||
| Approach: 12-step recovery as a couple, with emphasis on communication and rebuilding trust. | |||||
| Meetings: Online and in-person. | |||||
| Key Feature: Focused on joint healing as a couple rather than individual recovery. | |||||
| 4. Al-Anon (for general codependency and family support) | |||||
| Website: https://al-anon.org | |||||
| Audience: Family members and friends of people struggling with any kind of addiction, including sexual. | |||||
| Approach: 12-step, but not sex-addiction-specific. | |||||
| Key Feature: Broad community support, can be helpful when more specific groups are unavailable. | |||||
| Group | Best For | Sobriety Definition | Key Features | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAA(Sex Addicts Anonymous) | All genders and orientations struggling with compulsive sexual behavior | Personal "bottom line" behavior (self-defined sobriety plan) | Inclusive, flexible recovery definitions, 12-step program | saa-recovery.org |
| SA(Sexaholics Anonymous) | People seeking strict abstinence and traditional sobriety | No sex outside of heterosexual marriage | Very clear and conservative definition of sobriety, structured 12-step work | sa.org |
| SLAA(Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous) | Those struggling with love addiction, fantasy, or codependency in addition to sex addiction | Personalized "bottom lines" plus emotional sobriety | Broad scope (sex, love, and relationship addiction), trauma-informed | slaafws.org |
| SCA(Sexual Compulsives Anonymous) | Initially for gay men, now open to all | Personal sexual recovery plan | LGBTQ+ inclusive, strong urban presence, flexible approach | sca-recovery.org |
| SRA(Sexual Recovery Anonymous) | People of all orientations looking for values-based sobriety | Sex within a committed relationship | Emphasizes committed, spiritual, and ethical sexual recovery | sexualrecovery.org |
Key Differences:
Strictest definition of sobriety: SA
Most flexible/personalized plans: SAA, SCA, SLAA
Inclusive of LGBTQ+: SCA, SAA, SLAA, SRA
Addresses love/relationship addiction too: SLAA
Spiritual/religious emphasis: SA, SRA
| Group | Best For | Based On | Unique Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-Anon | Spouses/family of SA members | 12 Steps | Spiritual and emotional support aligned with SA |
| COSA | Loved ones of any sex addict | 12 Steps | Personal recovery from codependency and trauma |
| RCA | Couples | 12 Steps | Joint healing in relationships |
| Al-Anon | Loved ones of addicts in general | 12 Steps | Broader addiction support |