Sexual Compulsives Anonymous

{{Short description|Twelve-step program}} {{distinguish|Sex Addicts Anonymous|Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous|Sexaholics Anonymous|Sexual Recovery Anonymous}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} thumb|right|180px|Sexual Compulsives Anonymous logo '''Sexual Compulsives Anonymous''' ('''SCA''') is a twelve-step program for people who want to stop having compulsive sex.<ref name="SCATRADITIONS">{{cite web |url=http://www.sca-recovery.org/traditions.htm |title=The Twelve Traditions of SCA |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |accessdate=16 March 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111162402/http://www.sca-recovery.org/traditions.htm |archivedate=11 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="SCA1990">{{cite book |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=A Program of Recovery |location=New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA |year=1990 |isbn=0962796603 |oclc=27338605 |publisher=SCA}}</ref> SCA founding is attributed variously to 1982 in New York City<ref name="SALMON1995">{{cite journal |last=Salmon |first=Richard F. |title=Therapist's Guide to 12-Step Meetings for Sexual Dependencies |journal=Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=193–213 |year=1995 |doi=10.1080/10720169508400081}}</ref> and to 1973 in Los Angeles.<ref name="ADVOCATE1973">{{cite journal |title=Where do tearoom queens com from? |date=1973-11-07 |journal=The Advocate |volume=8 |issn=0001-8996 |oclc=2256995}}</ref> Although the fellowship originally sought to address issues of sexual compulsion among gay and bisexual men, and this is still the fellowships predominant demographic, today the program is LGBT friendly, open to all sexual orientations, and there is an increasing number of women and heterosexual men participating.<ref name="PARKER1999">{{cite book | last1 = Parker | first1 = Jan | first2 = Diana L | last2 = Guest | title = The Clinician's Guide to 12-Step Programs: How, When, and Why to Refer a Client | chapter = Chapter 3: Choosing the Appropriate 12-Step Program for your Client | pages = [https://archive.org/details/cliniciansguidet0000park/page/41 41–64] | isbn = 0865692785 | year = 1999 | publisher = Auburn House/Greenwood | location = Westport, Connecticut | oclc = 40890897 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/cliniciansguidet0000park/page/41 }}</ref><ref name="PARKER2002">{{cite book | last1 = Parker | first1 = Jan | first2=Diana |last2=Guest | title = Clinical Management of Sex Addiction | chapter = Chapter 8: The Integration of Psychotherapy and 12-Step Programs | pages = 115–124 | editor = Carnes, Patrick | editor-link = Patrick Carnes |editor2=Adams, Kenneth M | year = 2002 | location = New York, New York | publisher = Psychology Press | isbn = 1583913610 | oclc = 49312705}}</ref><ref name="BUXTON">{{cite journal |last=Buxton |first=Amity P. |title=When a Spouse Comes Out: Impact on the Heterosexual Partner |journal=Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=317–332 |year=2006 |doi=10.1080/10720160600897599|s2cid=143689205 }}</ref> SCA meetings are most likely to be held in urban areas with larger gay and bisexual male populations. The majority of members are white, but vary in age and socioeconomic background. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop having compulsive sex.<ref name="PARKER1999"/><ref name="PARKER2002"/><ref name="WEBSITE2000">{{cite journal | title = Web Site Review | journal = Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | year = 2000 | pages = 147–155 | doi = 10.1080/10720160008400213| s2cid = 219693969 }}</ref>

== Sexual recovery plans == right|thumb|A sample of a (blank) SCA recovery plan document SCA supports healthy sexual expression and does not expect members to repress their sexuality, which they believe is associated with sexual anorexia. Members are encouraged to develop their own definition of sexual sobriety that does not place unreasonable demands on their time or energy, place them in legal jeopardy, or endanger their health.<ref name="SCA1990"/> SCA members incorporate their definition of sexual sobriety into what they call a sexual recovery plan. Sexual recovery plans are modeled on the work of Patrick Carnes, a sexual addiction researcher, based on the model for Overeaters Anonymous (OA), whose members create individualized "food plans."<ref name="SALMON1995"/><ref name="PARKER1999"/>

Sexual recovery plans have three columns: abstinence, high-risk, and recovery—analogous to the three circles used in Sex Addicts Anonymous. The sexual recovery plan is used as a blueprint for recovery. The abstinence column includes "bottom-line" behaviors corresponding to relapse and from which members ask their Higher Power to be freed. The high-risk column includes behaviors, emotional states, ritualized activities, and situations that make them vulnerable to relapse. The recovery column includes positive behaviors that support their wellbeing and meet their needs in a healthy manner.<ref name="PARKER2002"/>

== Literature and publications == SCA distributes its own literature, including the primary book used in the fellowship, ''Sexual Compulsives Anonymous: A Program of Recovery,'' and several book-length and smaller brochures and pamphlets, such as ''What About Masturbation?'', ''Q&A: A Guide for Newcomers'' and ''Secret Shame.''<ref name="SCALIT2007">{{cite web |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=Literature & resources |date=2013-01-26 |accessdate=2013-01-26 |url=http://sca-recovery.org/literature}}</ref> Parts of these brochures are published on the SCA website.<ref name="LERZA2002">{{cite journal | last = Lerza | first = Linda J |author2=Delmonico, David L | title = Sexual Compulsivity in the Workplace: Resources for Behavioral Health Providers |date=April 2002 | journal = Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 173–183 | doi = 10.1080/10720160290062248| s2cid = 145089256 }}</ref> SCA also publishes an online journal known as ''The SCAnner.''<ref name="WEBSITE2000"/> * {{cite book |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous: A Program of Recovery |edition=3rd |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-1-949225-06-8 |year=2021}} * {{cite book |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=What About Masturbation? |isbn=978-0-9627966-3-0 |year=1995 |publisher=International Service Organization of SCA}} * {{cite book | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = Q&A: A Guide for Newcomers to Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | isbn = 978-0-9627966-2-3| year = 1993 | publisher = International Service Organization of SCA }} * {{cite book | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = Secret shame: sexual compulsion in the lives of gay men and lesbians | year = 1991 | publisher = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | isbn = 978-0-9627966-1-6 | oclc = 26723608 }} * {{cite book | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = El Librito Azul | isbn = 978-0-9627966-6-1 | language = Spanish |trans-title=The Little Blue Book| year = 2011 | publisher = SCA International Service Org. }} * {{cite book | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = Avoiding Common Pitfalls on the Road of Recovery | date = March 2012 | publisher = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | isbn = 978-0-9627966-7-8}} * {{cite book | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = Moving Through Withdrawal | isbn = 978-0-9627966-4-7| year = 2005 | publisher = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous }} * Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (2024) ''Our Journey of Recovery'': SCA Daily Meditations {{ISBN|978-1-949225-24-2}} * Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (2021) ''Pornography, Apps & Internet Addiction'' {{ISBN|978-1-949225-05-1}}

SCA developed "The Twenty Questions," an instrument allowing potential members to self-evaluate their sexual compulsivity.<ref name="SCA20QS">{{cite web | author = Sexual Compulsives Anonymous | title = The Twenty-questions Test | date = 2007-03-26 | accessdate = 2007-10-22 | url = http://www.sca-recovery.org/20questions.htm}}</ref> The results of this questionnaire correlate with symptoms of prefrontal cortex dysfunction, an area of the brain thought to be relevant to addiction—not only to substances, but also behaviors such as sex and gambling as measured according to the (FrSBe) Frontal Systems Behavior Scale.<ref name="SPINELLA">{{cite journal |last=Spinella |first=Marcello |title=The Role of Prefrontal Systems in Sexual Behavior |journal=International Journal of Neuroscience |volume=117 |issue=3 |year=2007 |pages=369–385 |pmid=17365121 |doi=10.1080/00207450600588980|s2cid=40851463 }}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.sca-recovery.org/ Sexual Compulsives Anonymous] * [http://www.scanneronline.org/ The SCAnner] * https://sca-recovery.org/WP/sca-workbook/ [SCA Workbook for the Twelve Suggested Steps, 2023]

Category:Addiction organizations in Canada Category:Twelve-step programs Category:Human sexuality organizations Category:Organizations established in 1982 Category:Sexual addiction Category:LGBTQ family and peer support groups Category:1982 establishments in New York City