Sexual Compulsives Anonymous

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) is a twelve-step program for recovery from sexual compulsion.cite book |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=A Program of Recovery |location=New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA |year=1990 |isbn=0962796603 |oclc=27338605] SCA was founded on June 22, 1982 in New York City to address particular issues of sexual compulsion among homosexual men. Today, the program is LGBT friendly, open to all sexual orientations and there is an increasing number of women and heterosexual men participating—the majority of members, however, are homosexual men.cite book | last = Parker | first = Jan | coauthors = Guest, Diana L | 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 = 41-64 | isbn = 0865692785 | year = 1999 | publisher = Auburn House/Greenwood | location = Westport, Connecticut | oclc = 40890897] cite book | last = Parker | first = Jan | coauthors = Guest, Diana | title = Clinical Management of Sex Addiction | chapter = Chapter 8: The Integration of Psychotherapy and 12-Step Programs | pages = 115-124 | editor = Carnes, Patrick; Adams, Kenneth M | year = 2002 | location = New York, New York | publisher = Psychology Press | isbn = 1583913610 | oclc = 49312705] 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] 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] SCA meetings are most likely to be held in urban areas with larger homosexual 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.cite journal | title = Web Site Review | journal = Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | year = 2000 | pages = 147–155. | doi = 10.1080/10720160008400213]

Sexual recovery plans

(OA) of members creating individualized "food plans."

Sexual recovery plans have three columns: abstinence, high-risk, and recovery—similar to the three circles used in Sex Addicts Anonymous. The sexual recovery plan is used like a blueprint for recovery. The abstinence column includes "bottom-line" behaviors corresponding to relapse, which must be avoided. The high-risk column includes behaviors, emotional states, ritualized activities, and situations that make the addict vulnerable to relapse. The recovery column includes positive behaviors that support the addict's wellbeing and meet his or her needs in a healthy manner.

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."cite web |author=Sexual Compulsives Anonymous |title=Literature & resources |date=2007-03-26 |accessdate=2007-10-22 |url=http://sca-recovery.org/literature.htm] Parts of these brochures are published on the SCA website.cite journal | last = Lerza | first = Linda J | coauthors = Delmonico, David L | title = Sexual Compulsivity in the Workplace: Resources for Behavioral Health Providers | month = April | year = 2002 | journal = Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 173–183 | doi = 10.1080/1072016029006224 | doi_brokendate = 2008-06-25] SCA also publishes an online journal known as "The SCAnner."

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SCA developed "The Twenty Questions," an instrument allowing potential members to self-evaluate their sexual compulsivity.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] 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.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]

Trivia

* Following her affair with Bill Clinton, and at the prompting of her psychologist, Monica Lewinsky vowed to stay celibate for one year and attended Sexual Compulsives Anonymous meetings.cite news |last=Sarler |first=Carol |title = Monica: I'm a sex addict |publisher="The People" |page=21
accessdate=2007-11-22 |date=1999-03-07 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60153374.html]

See also

* List of twelve-step groups
* Sex Addicts Anonymous
* Sexaholics Anonymous
* Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

References

External links

* [http://www.sca-recovery.org/ Sexual Compulsives Anonymous]
* [http://www.scanneronline.org/ The SCAnner]
* [http://www.scaorigins.com/ Documentation and KPFK recordings concerning earliest West Coast meetings starting in 1973]