The fellowship of Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is here to help.

Members of SAA share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that they may find freedom from addictive sexual behavior and help others recover from sexual addiction. SAA was founded in 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today, SAA is an international society with meetings in many countries.

SAA is a resource for you

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is dedicated to cooperation with the professional community to achieve our common goal of assisting people suffering from compusive or addictive sexual behaviors. SAA provides free resources to you and your clients. Our goal is to improve our connection with you and to cooperate more effectively together in helping people who are struggling to regain their lives. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

SAA believes that sex addiction is a threefold disease: physical, mental, and spiritual. Like alcoholism and substance abuse, in our experience the addiction is not cured, but recovery is possible. The SAA program is a resource that can enhance your client’s recovery. We can off er our personal experience, strength, and hope with recovery from sex addiction and serve as an ongoing support system for recovering sex addicts.

Examples of problematic sexual behavior

In our experience, no single behavior defines sex addiction. One common characteristic is that when we tried to stop or moderate our problematic sexual behaviors, we found we could not. Sex addiction can include any number of chronic or compulsive behaviors, such as:

• Sexual or romantic obsession
• Pornography addiction, cybersex, or cyber-stalking
• Destructive or serial relationships
• Sexual avoidance / anorexia
• Infidelity / affairs
• Risky, anonymous, or illegal sexual activity
• Voyeurism or exhibitionism

Consequences of sex addiction

Left untreated, sex addiction often leads to painful consequences, such as:

• Divorce / family breakups
• Financial stree / ruin
• Job / career loss
• Loss of freedom / incarceration
• Risk to life or health (suicide, STIs, homicide)

The mental anguish of sex addiction can be just as severe and can include:

• Depression, despair, loneliness
• Guilt, shame, remorse
• Fear, anxiety, hopelessness

SAA has developed a list of questions your clients could use to help them decide if they might benefit from the SAA Program. Those questions can be found at:

Common Client Questions

How does SAA work?

The basic premise of SAA is that addicts can help each other recover from sexual addiction. The core of the SAA program is the Twelve Steps, a set of guidelines that can help addicts achieve recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other addicts, those seeking recovery learn to face life in a sexually sober manner. The steps can also help addicts recover from the damaging beliefs and attitudes underlying their sexual addiction.

Why is SAA anonymous?

Anonymity is one of the guiding principles of the SAA program. Anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of their identify being disclosed. Confidence that their anonymity will be respected can help an addict feel safe attending meetings.

Can anyone be an SAA member?

Membership is open to anyone with a desire to stop their addictive sexual behavior. There is no other requirement. Our fellowship is open to all genders, regardless of race, religion, ethnic background, marital status, or occupation. We welcome members or any sexual identity or orientation.

What are SAA meetings?

Meetings are the heart of the SAA fellowship where our primary approach to recovery – addicts helping addicts – takes place.

Most SAA meetings are held at the same time and place each week, in a public facility or online, and are led by the members. A list of SAA meetings can be found here.

Is SAA a religious organization?

Sex Addicts Anonymous is not aligned with any sect, denomination, or dogma. The Twelve-Step program of recovery is considered spiritual in nature because the program leads to inner change and involves surrender to a power greater than ourselves. Our program includes religious and non-religious members. Everyone is welcome.

What SAA offers to its members

Acceptance and support

Members receive acceptance and understanding of their problems from people who have experienced the same or similar issues. This supportive community offers the kind of help and encouragement needed to initiate and sustain recovery.

Recovery tools

The SAA Twelve-Step program provides the tools, guidance, and accountability needed to recover from sex addiction.

Hope

SAA offers hope of a new way of life – free fro compusive sexual behavior

SAA offers daily support and accountability for clients between professional appointments. Our program has helped many people recover from a wide range of problematic sexual behaviors. As a result, many professional refer their clients to SAA as a complement to professional treatment.

What SAA does NOT do

SAA is not therapy or treatment, has no opinion on the subject, and does not diagnose any medical or psychological conditions. All participation is voluntary. SAA does not pressure or solicit people to attend. SAA offers no clinical, scientific, or professional expertise. We do not participate in research or keep any records or case studies. We are not allied or affiliated with any outside organization or cause, although SAA members, groups, and special workers in our international service office frequently cooperate with them. SAA does not compete with anyone. We make no claims of eff ectiveness.

Free resources for the professional community

Sex Addicts Anonymous is happy to cooperate with professionals. SAA provides free and confidential resources for you as well as for you clients. Resources available for you as a professional include:

• Free email subscription ot our bi-monthly newsletter The Outer Circle
• Client referral packets (collection of basic pamphlets and a welcome letter from SAA to the newcomer, customized for your area)
• List of SAA members willing to talk to your clients, if available
• SAA speakers and information presentations at your facility
• Open meetings (meetings that you, your colleagues, and other non-sex addicts are welcome to attend)
• Exhibitors and / or speakers for professional conferences
• SAA literature

Please contact McKinney-SAA with questions or guidance to get these resources.

(Information provided by International Service Organization of SAA, Inc., PO Box 70949, Houston, TX 77270, www.saa-recovery.org)