Majority of UK Therapists Report Surge in Problematic Pornography Use Among Clients
New survey finds more than half of counselling professionals seeing a rise in out-of-control porn consumption affecting daily life and relationships
More than half of therapists and counsellors in the United Kingdom have reported an increase in clients presenting with what they describe as problematic or out-of-control pornography use, highlighting growing concern within the mental health profession about the impact of digital sexual content on daily functioning, intimate relationships and psychological wellbeing.
A survey conducted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found that approximately fifty-three per cent of accredited practitioners who work with male clients noted a rise in people seeking help for compulsive pornography consumption that interferes with responsibilities and personal relationships.
Many clinicians described cases in which clients said their use of pornographic material had escalated in frequency and intensity, in some instances accompanying physical sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction and referrals from sexual health clinics.
The trend, they said, often emerges alongside other mental health challenges: individuals may initially present for anxiety, depression or relationship problems before acknowledging that pornography use lies at the core of their distress.
Experts in the field describe this behaviour as a spectrum that can begin as recreational consumption but gradually evolve into habitual, difficult-to-control patterns that clients identify as addictive.
Some practitioners reported that clients feel compelled to seek more extreme content over time, underscoring the sense of loss of control that impairs their quality of life and intimacy.
While there is ongoing debate over whether problematic pornography use constitutes a clinical addiction, many professionals emphasise the need for increased awareness, early intervention and broader support services to help people develop healthier coping mechanisms and restore wellbeing.
The findings come amid wider discussions about digital behaviour, mental health pressures and online safety, as clinicians work to understand and address emerging challenges in the digital age.
A survey conducted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found that approximately fifty-three per cent of accredited practitioners who work with male clients noted a rise in people seeking help for compulsive pornography consumption that interferes with responsibilities and personal relationships.
Many clinicians described cases in which clients said their use of pornographic material had escalated in frequency and intensity, in some instances accompanying physical sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction and referrals from sexual health clinics.
The trend, they said, often emerges alongside other mental health challenges: individuals may initially present for anxiety, depression or relationship problems before acknowledging that pornography use lies at the core of their distress.
Experts in the field describe this behaviour as a spectrum that can begin as recreational consumption but gradually evolve into habitual, difficult-to-control patterns that clients identify as addictive.
Some practitioners reported that clients feel compelled to seek more extreme content over time, underscoring the sense of loss of control that impairs their quality of life and intimacy.
While there is ongoing debate over whether problematic pornography use constitutes a clinical addiction, many professionals emphasise the need for increased awareness, early intervention and broader support services to help people develop healthier coping mechanisms and restore wellbeing.
The findings come amid wider discussions about digital behaviour, mental health pressures and online safety, as clinicians work to understand and address emerging challenges in the digital age.
