Treatment of Pornography Addiction

This podcast is relevant to both professionals and consumers.

In this episode, R. Trent Codd, III, Ed.S., LPC, LCAS interviews Michael P. Twohig, PhD about Pornography addiction. Topics discussed include:

Definitional matters pertaining to the definition of pornography addiction 

The first controlled outcome study for the treatment of this problem 

An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach to treating pornography addiction 

His research program as it pertains to the treatment of pornography addiction 

DR. TWOHIG BIOGRAPHY

Michael P. Twohig, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Combined Clinical, Counseling, School Ph.D. program in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. The focus of his research is to develop effective treatments for problems of social importance. Therefore, his clinical interests are wide and not topographically based. He predominantly researches treatments for adults but also works with children. To date, his research has focused on anxiety disorders, especially obsessive compulsive disorder and OC-spectrum disorders including Tourette’s Disorder, Trichotillomania, and chronic skin picking. He works in the areas of developmental disabilities, substance abuse, eating disorders, problematic pornography viewing, stigma and prejudice, and multicultural issues. He generally researches treatments that are in the behavioral tradition, including contingency management and exposure-based therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. His work has two immediate aims: 1) to determine the effectiveness of particular treatment modalities, and 2) to determine the processes (mechanisms of action) through which treatments produce their effects.

Dr. Twohig completed his B.A. and M.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he specialized in behavior analysis. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and completed his clinical internship at the University of British Columbia Hospital. He has an impressive scholarly record of publications, books, presentations, grants, and awards.