Treating Pornography Addiction by Kevin B. Skinner Summary

Kevin B. Skinner’s book provides a structured roadmap to overcome pornography addiction through stages like preparation, action, and maintenance. It emphasizes creating a personalized game plan with boundaries, goals, and emergency drills to manage triggers. The book includes practical exercises, self-assessment tools, and insights into rewiring addictive patterns, focusing on long-term behavioral change and emotional resilience.

This book is designed for individuals struggling with pornography addiction, partners or family members seeking to understand the issue, and counselors looking for evidence-based strategies. Reviewers note its value for those unable to access therapy or seeking supplemental support alongside programs like 12-step meetings.

Yes—readers praise its actionable steps, clear frameworks, and practical exercises. However, some suggest it’s best used alongside counseling or support groups. Critiques note it assumes readers live with others (limiting solo strategies) and may need updates to address modern internet pornography accessibility.

Skinner’s game plan involves three pillars: setting boundaries to avoid triggers, defining goals for motivation, and practicing emergency drills to simulate high-risk scenarios. This proactive approach helps build reflexive responses to cravings, turning theoretical tools into habitual actions.

1. Recognize risks by acknowledging thoughts that lead to relapse.
2. Identify triggers (emotional, situational, or environmental).
3. Choose outcomes by consciously selecting alternatives to pornography consumption.

This method disrupts addictive cycles and fosters healthier coping mechanisms.

Emergency drills are rehearsals for high-risk situations, such as loneliness or stress. By mentally simulating these scenarios and practicing predetermined responses (e.g., calling a friend, exercising), individuals build confidence and reduce impulsive reactions to triggers.

1. Preparation: Developing awareness and tools.
2. Action: Implementing the game plan consistently.
3. Maintenance: Reducing cravings and integrating recovery into daily life.

The final stage focuses on sustaining progress and celebrating personal growth.

Yes—the book features the “Assessing Pornography Addiction” questionnaire, helping readers evaluate the severity of their addiction and track progress during recovery.

Critics highlight its limited applicability for individuals living alone and the need for updated strategies to address ubiquitous free online porn. Some note it’s not a standalone solution but a supplement to therapy.

Skinner’s approach complements Carnes’ theories by emphasizing practical, immediate steps rather than solely theoretical frameworks. Reviews suggest the book’s exercises and drills make it a actionable companion to broader addiction literature.

The book briefly addresses how addictive behaviors alter brain chemistry, reinforcing compulsions. Recovery involves rewiring these neural pathways through consistent practice of new habits, though this topic is less detailed than practical strategies.

Each chapter ends with exercises like journaling prompts, boundary-setting templates, and scenario-based drills. These tools help readers apply concepts like trigger management and goal-setting in real-life contexts.