Published evidence

Peer-reviewed publications

1. Yates, M., Hampson, C., Langmans, T., Irons, C. & McCormack, C. (2026). A compassion-focussed group intervention for compulsive sexual behaviours: an exploratory study. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2026.2614638

2. Yates, M., Hampson, C., Langmans, T. & McCormack, C. (2026). Participant experiences of a compassion-focussed group intervention for compulsive sexual behaviours. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2026.2639314

What this research shows

Two peer-reviewed papers sit behind the way we work. The first is an outcomes study of a structured, ten-session compassion-focused group intervention for men with compulsive sexual behaviour. It demonstrated a large reduction in compulsive sexual behaviour, meaningful improvements in self-compassion, and significant reductions in the shame and self-criticism that so often keep these patterns running. Completion was strong. The findings support the compassion-focused approach as a non-shaming alternative to approaches based on abstinence.

The second paper is a qualitative companion, drawing on the accounts of the men themselves. Participants consistently described three things: relief at finding they were not the only one, the power of being understood by men who had been through the same thing, and a change in how they saw their own behaviour, with less self-blame and more kindness towards themselves. After the group, they blamed themselves less and understood themselves more.

The programme and the research

Time To Talk About Sex is built on the theoretical foundations these papers establish, and delivers a substantially more comprehensive, longer and more developed programme than the intervention that was studied. It is the evolution of that clinical work, incorporating all the knowledge, skills and learning taken from years of working with those struggling with these difficulties.

The published research looked at a ten-session programme. Time To Talk About Sex has twenty-four sessions, in two phases over six months. New Chapter (sessions 1 to 12) builds understanding of what drives compulsive sexual behaviour and other ways to manage it. New Direction (sessions 13 to 24) helps men rebuild their sex life and relationships in line with their own values, boundaries and preferences.

The compassion-focused approach that the published research supports is the starting point. Time To Talk About Sex extends and deepens that model, with structural additions and clinical development drawn from a decade of practice, and offers free places to men across the UK. Ongoing evaluation of Time To Talk About Sex’s own outcomes is being established.

For clinicians and commissioners

For Dr Michael Yates’s full clinical discussion of the evidence base and the therapeutic model that underpins Time To Talk About Sex, read the Bridging Essay at drmichaelyates.co.uk.