Confidential Resources
Help exists for every situation in this report.
Whether you are worried about your own use, concerned about a child or partner, or struggling with thoughts you have not told anyone about — confidential support is available. Many of these services are free.
Local · San Francisco Bay Area
In the Bay Area? See the local resource directory.
Stanford's Addiction Medicine clinic explicitly treats pornography addiction. Plus CSAT-certified Bay Area therapists, hospital programs, peer-support meetings, and university counseling.
Featured Program · Sponsored
HOPE Program
Established 2008 · California
Outpatient mental health agency offering evidence-based, affordable treatment across California — including a specialized program certified by the California Sex Offender Management Board.
Programs offered
- Adult Sexual Behavior Program
- Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders
- Trauma Program
- Mood & Anxiety Disorders
- Domestic Violence Program
- Youth Forensic Services
- Anger Management
Clinical approach
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Psychological evaluations and risk assessments
- Relapse prevention planning
- Specialized tracks for developmentally delayed and dual-diagnosis clients
- Telehealth and in-person sessions
16 California locations
- Capitola
- Concord
- El Cajon
- El Cerrito
- Escondido
- Hayward
- Merced
- Modesto
- Moreno Valley
- Salinas
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Maria
- Stockton
This is a paid placement. Inclusion as a Featured Program is editorially independent of the research presented elsewhere in this report. See the About page for editorial policy and the Get Help page for the full list of unaffiliated, free helplines.
Emergency contacts
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. The contacts below are for crisis support and suicide prevention.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
United States
Free, confidential 24/7 support for people in distress, including those struggling with compulsive behavior and shame.
Call or text 988
Visit websiteSamaritans
United Kingdom & Ireland
24/7 listening support for anyone struggling, including emotional crises related to compulsive sexual behavior.
116 123
Visit websiteCrisis Text Line
US, UK, Canada, Ireland
Free, 24/7 text-based crisis support from trained counselors.
Text HOME to 741741 (US/Canada), 85258 (UK), 50808 (Ireland)
Visit website
Recovery from problematic pornography use
If your pornography use feels out of control, evidence supports both professional treatment and structured peer support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy have the strongest evidence base.
SAMHSA National Helpline
FreeUnited States
Free, confidential 24/7 referral service for mental health and substance use issues, including behavioral addictions.
1-800-662-4357
Visit websiteFind a CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist)
International
Directory of clinicians specifically trained to treat compulsive sexual behavior, maintained by IITAP.
Dr. Jerel Armstrong, Ph.D. — Forensic Psychology
San Francisco Bay Area · CA PSY27272
Forensic psychology practice offering clinical evaluation and treatment for hypersexuality, compulsive sexual behavior, and paraphilic disorders. Uses validated assessments (Static-99R, Stable-2007, AASI-3, PPG) and provides expert testimony. Adults and juveniles. Useful when a formal diagnostic or forensic evaluation is needed alongside or instead of self-directed recovery.
(628) 399-1748
Visit websiteSex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
FreeInternational
12-step fellowship for those wanting to stop addictive sexual behavior. Free meetings, in-person and online.
Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
FreeInternational
12-step program with a specific sobriety definition. Research shows step advancement predicts reduced compulsive behavior.
r/PornFree
FreeOnline
Peer support community focused on quitting pornography. Less rigid than abstinence-only forums; emphasizes harm reduction.
Fortify (by Fight the New Drug)
International
Science-based recovery app with educational modules and progress tracking. Non-religious.
Confidential support before harm occurs
If you are concerned about your own sexual thoughts or behavior involving minors, confidential and legally protected help exists. Seeking help is not the same as offending. The resources below are designed specifically for prevention.
Stop It Now!
FreeUS · UK & Ireland · Netherlands · Australia
Free, confidential helpline for anyone concerned about their own thoughts or behavior toward children, or someone else's. Operated by the Safer Society Foundation (US) and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (UK & Ireland), with sister programs in the Netherlands and Australia. Seeking help is not the same as offending.
US: 1-888-773-8368 · UK/IE: 0808 1000 900 · AU: 1800 01 1800
Visit websitePrevention Project Dunkelfeld (Don't Offend)
FreeGermany
The most studied primary prevention program in the world. Free, medically confidential treatment combining behavioral therapy, sexual medicine, and pharmacological options.
Support for parents, partners, and families
If you have discovered concerning behavior in a loved one, or want to begin proactive conversations with your child, these resources offer evidence-based guidance.
Culture Reframed
FreeInternational
Free, research-based parent courses (Program for Parents of Tweens, Program for Parents of Teens) on pornography's impact and family conversation.
Internet Matters
FreeUnited Kingdom
Practical, parent-focused guides on setting up parental controls and having age-appropriate conversations.
NCMEC CyberTipline
United States
Report online exploitation of children, including grooming, sextortion, CSAM, and online enticement.
1-800-843-5678
Visit websiteTake It Down
FreeInternational
Free NCMEC service that helps minors remove or stop the spread of nude or sexually explicit images of themselves taken before age 18.
Recovering Couples Anonymous
FreeInternational
Peer support for couples affected by compulsive behavior in one or both partners.
Support for survivors
If you have experienced sexual abuse, or had intimate images shared without your consent, these organizations offer confidential, trauma-informed support.
RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline)
FreeUnited States
Free, confidential 24/7 hotline for survivors of sexual violence, including online abuse and image-based abuse.
1-800-656-4673
Visit websiteCyber Civil Rights Initiative
United States
Crisis helpline and removal support for victims of non-consensual intimate imagery (including deepfakes).
1-844-878-2274
Visit websiteRevenge Porn Helpline
United Kingdom
Confidential support for adults experiencing intimate image abuse, including AI-generated deepfakes.
0345 6000 459
Visit websiteNSPCC Helpline
United Kingdom
Free, confidential 24/7 support for anyone concerned about a child's safety.
0808 800 5000
Visit website
Important notes about this list
- This site is informational. It does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice.
- Contact information is current to the best of our knowledge as of February 2026. Hours and availability vary; visit the organization's website to confirm.
- The confidentiality of each helpline is governed by that organization's policy and applicable mandatory reporting laws. Most prevention helplines explicitly do not require identifying information.
- If you are aware of a child who is being harmed, please report immediately to local authorities or, in the United States, the NCMEC CyberTipline.