IB Counselling Blog

Healing after betrayal trauma can feel paradoxical and confusing. A person may want answers while feeling overwhelmed by them. They may long for closeness while fearing intimacy. They may hope the relationship can recover while also questioning whether staying is emotionally safe. For partners affected by sexual addiction, compulsive sexual behaviour or prolonged deception, recovery is not simply about saving the relationship. It is also about restoring personal identity, emotional stability,...

Betrayal within an intimate relationship is often described as heartbreak, disappointment or a loss of trust. For many people, however, prolonged deception can create something far more destabilising. It can affect their understanding of the relationship, their memories, their self-worth and their ability to feel safe. This experience is often described as betrayal trauma. It may develop following the discovery or disclosure of affairs, hidden pornography use, compulsive sexual behaviour,...

There is now more discussion than ever around dopamine, compulsive behaviours and the impact pornography can have on the brain. Yet despite the headlines, the reality is far more complex than simply blaming dopamine alone. To Dopamine and beyond, the ingredients of porn you need to know Porn addiction and compulsive pornography use often involve multiple systems working together — reward, anticipation, novelty, learning, habit formation and emotional regulation. In therapy, much of the work...

Accessing professional counselling services has never been easier. With the growth of online therapy, individuals and couples can now receive expert support from the comfort of their own home—without compromising on quality, confidentiality, or effectiveness. At IB Counselling, online counselling services are designed to help you understand, manage, and overcome challenges such as addiction, relationship difficulties, emotional distress, and personal development concerns.What Are Counselling...

Porn addiction therapy—how do we begin? You’ll have to forgive my love of research, but setting the scene helps explain why a thorough history-taking and appraisal are essential in porn addiction recovery. Understanding the “why” behind the process is key to meaningful change.There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each individual brings a unique story, and in a future post I’ll explore the biopsychosocial model that underpins this appraisal. For now, it’s important to recognise that every...

In 2017, British chav porn was among the top searches in the UK. These were the days when Pornhub was, in a way, happy to share vast amounts of information about how customers used their content. They weren’t shy about revealing the depth of data they held, and annual insights gave us a snapshot of changing tastes — including the rise of chav porn.The Rise and Fall of Chav Porn in UK Searches By 2018, British chav porn was already dropping out of the top searches, with Love Island and Tinder...

Online counselling is one form of online therapy we offer at IB Counselling. It forms part of our wider online therapy service, where we provide structured, confidential psychological support through secure Zoom sessions. IB Counselling specialises in sex addiction and compulsive sexual behaviour. Online counselling can form part of a broader sex addiction therapy programme, or be used as standalone support depending on your needs. If you are unsure which approach is right for you, you can...

Masturbation and Sex Addiction Can I masturbate to porn or porn fantasy in recovery? It’s a great and very often asked question and though some may wish a quick a simple direct answer, the following I hope explains why this needs the support it does rather than direction which isn’t based on the uniqueness of each individuals circumstance history and needs. Masturbation and Sex Addiction: When Does It Become a Problem? Is it possible for masturbation to become problematic—especially for...