Time To Talk About Sex
For clinicians

Clinical essays by Dr Michael Yates

Six clinical essays by Dr Michael Yates setting out how he understands compulsive sexual behaviour in men, and how the programme works with it.

Dr Michael Yates
Dr Michael YatesClinical Psychologist and Psychosexual Specialist
Clinical essay 1

How compulsive sexual behaviour develops in men

Early reward, the off switch, escalation, and why the pattern keeps returning.
Clinical essay 2

Threat, drive and soothing in compulsive sexual behaviour

The three systems behind compulsive sexual behaviour, and why compassion is strength.
Clinical essay 3

Shame and self-criticism in compulsive sexual behaviour

Shame as precursor and consequence, secrecy, and the self-critical voice.
Clinical essay 4

How loneliness drives compulsive sexual behaviour

What men are really seeking, and why intimacy can be the hardest place.
Clinical essay 5

How it shows up: pornography, apps, sex work, and drugs and sex

Porn, apps, sex work, drugs and sex, escalation and technology.
Clinical essay 6

What actually helps: values, sober sex and why the group matters

Values, preferences, boundaries, sober sex, and why the group matters.

If these essays describe something you recognise, this is what the programme was built for.

A six-month group therapy programme for men whose sex lives have started to feel out of control. Available across the UK.

See how the programme works