Short answer: A CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) is a licensed mental health professional who has completed specialized training and supervision through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) in treating compulsive sexual behavior. That includes four training modules, 30 hours of supervision by a CSAT supervisor, and renewal every two years. A general counselor can be very helpful, but a CSAT has focused training in assessment, partner trauma, disclosure, and long-term recovery for this specific struggle.
When people call my office about porn or sex addiction, one of the first things they often ask is, "What does CSAT mean, and do I really need one?" It's a fair question. You're about to trust someone with the most private part of your life, and you deserve to know what you're getting.
Where the CSAT credential comes from
The CSAT credential is awarded by IITAP, an organization founded around the work of Dr. Patrick Carnes, one of the early researchers in sexual addiction. According to IITAP, the certification is open to licensed mental health practitioners. It requires:
- Four training modules (each about 4.5 days and worth 30 continuing-education credits), spaced about six months apart.
- 30 hours of supervision with a CSAT supervisor.
- A final application, including a supervisor evaluation and professional recommendations.
- Renewal every two years, with ongoing continuing education (IITAP, CSAT Certification).
Clinicians who finish the training with fewer than five years in the field receive an associate credential (ASAT) instead.
What a CSAT is trained to do
A CSAT is not a different kind of license; it's specialized training on top of a state license. Here's what the IITAP curriculum covers that a general counselor may not have studied in depth (IITAP):
- Careful assessment. CSATs learn to use the World Health Organization's criteria for compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. They also learn to tell it apart from other sexual concerns, and to use validated tools such as the Sexual Dependency Inventory.
- The partner's experience. A whole module focuses on the spouse or partner. That includes the impact of discovery, betrayal trauma, gaslighting, boundaries, and how to support a partner through disclosure.
- Therapeutic disclosure. Disclosure is a structured, planned process where the person in recovery tells the full truth in a way that is safer for everyone. Done poorly, disclosure can deepen the wound. Done well, it can become a turning point.
- Trauma and shame. Many people who struggle with compulsive sexual behavior carry earlier trauma. CSAT training includes trauma-focused, task-based treatment.
- Long-term recovery. This includes relapse prevention, rebuilding healthy sexuality, and repairing the relationship over time.
Why that focus matters
Compulsive sexual behavior often comes wrapped in intense shame. Many people have already tried willpower, accountability software, or a talk with a pastor, and they still feel stuck. Sometimes a well-meaning counselor without this training will minimize the problem ("everyone watches porn"). Or the counselor may focus only on the person acting out and miss the trauma the spouse is living through.
A CSAT is trained to hold both. In my office, I often work with the person in recovery while making sure the partner has their own support. When the timing is right, I bring the couple together.
That said, a credential is a starting point, not a guarantee. You should feel safe, respected, and understood by whoever you see. If the fit isn't right, it's okay to look for someone else.
How to check a CSAT's credentials
- State license: In Mississippi, you can verify a counselor's license on the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors lookup.
- CSAT status: IITAP keeps a public therapist directory where you can search for CSATs by location.
- Ask directly: A good therapist won't mind questions like "How long have you worked with this?", "Do you also work with partners?", and "What does treatment usually look like?"
A little about my own training
I'm Bruce Thomas. I'm a CSAT through IITAP (certification #2023-4209), and I'm licensed as a Professional Counselor in Mississippi and Texas and as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas. I'm also:
- A Certified Sex Therapist (CST) candidate through the Institute for Sexual Wholeness, which is also where my somatic training comes from.
- A RelateStrong facilitator and Gottman Level 1 certified, and trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples work.
- A TBRI Certified Practitioner.
- Working toward EMDR certification (in progress).
Before and alongside counseling, I've spent 25+ years working with youth, adults, and families. That includes abused and abandoned children and their caregivers in Romania. That work shaped how I sit with people: slowly, without judgment, and with a lot of respect for how hard it is to ask for help.
I come from a Christian background, and faith can be part of our work if you'd like it to be. If not, that's completely fine.
When to reach out
If you're worried about your own sexual behavior, or you've discovered something that turned your world upside down, you don't have to sort it out alone. I see clients at Covenant Counseling, 2692 W Oxford Loop, Suite 108, Oxford, MS, and online anywhere in Mississippi. Call 662-380-6644 or request an appointment.
If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 any time.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for therapy or an individual assessment.
