For media

Press and editorial enquiries.

For journalists, producers and editors covering compulsive sexual behaviour, drugs and sex including chemsex, sexual shame, group therapy, or the wider mental and sexual health context. Dr Michael Yates is available for clinical commentary, expert review of editorial copy, and on-the-record contributions.

Areas of clinical commentary

The work.

Dr Michael Yates is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and Psychology & Talking Therapies Lead in NHS specialist psychosexual practice. His clinical and research work focuses on compulsive sexual behaviour, drugs and sex including chemsex, sexual shame, the cycle of compulsion, and the application of compassion-focused therapy in group settings.

He can speak to: compulsive sexual behaviour and the clinical evidence base; sexual shame, self-criticism and the compassion-focused approach; drugs and sex including chemsex, harm-reduction, and clinical pathways; group therapy for men and the mechanisms that make it therapeutic; the classification of Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (6C72) in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11); and the wider intersection of sexual health, mental health, and identity.

Published research

Peer-reviewed outcome studies.

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. DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2026.2614638

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. DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2026.2639314

Full context on the evidence page.

Editorial principles

How Dr Michael Yates works with editors.

Dr Michael Yates does not participate in editorial framing that reduces compulsive sexual behaviour to character failure, treats men as pathological, or sensationalises drugs and sex including chemsex. He is happy to expert-review draft copy on request before publication to ensure clinical accuracy. Patient identifiability is never compromised.