Continuing Education

Continuing Education

Continuing Education

Modern Clinician's Guide to Porn Addiction

Modern Clinician's Guide to Porn Addiction

Modern Clinician's Guide to Porn Addiction

A Comprehensive Clinical Framework for Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior

A Comprehensive Clinical Framework for Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior

A Comprehensive Clinical Framework for Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior

Section 1:

The Contemporary Landscape

Intro

08:03

The Modern Pornography Landscape

23:20

The Vocabulary Gap

09:09

Section 2:

Why Patterns Form and Persist

Clip: The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

08:03

Porn as Emotional Regulation

23:20

Section 1:

The Contemporary Landscape

Intro

08:03

The Modern Pornography Landscape

23:20

The Vocabulary Gap

09:09

Section 2:

Why Patterns Form and Persist

Clip: The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

08:03

Porn as Emotional Regulation

23:20

Section 1:

The Contemporary Landscape

Section 1:

The Contemporary Landscape

Intro

08:03

The Modern Pornography Landscape

23:20

The Vocabulary Gap

09:09

Section 2:

Why Patterns Form and Persist

Section 2:

Why Patterns Form and Persist

Clip: The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

08:03

Porn as Emotional Regulation

23:20

APPROVED CE

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot
Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Treat pornography addiction
with confidence

Process addictions are among the defining concerns of younger generations, and pornography addiction is near the top of that list. The largest international study of its kind found prevalence rates for problematic porn use between 3.2% and 16.6%1, comparable to depression.

This CE course breaks down the complexities of modern pornography addiction and compulsive use to arm clinicians with assessment tools, diagnostic frameworks, and evidence-based treatment approaches. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and skillset to expand your scope of practice to effectively work with people struggling with pornography use.


In 4 hours, you'll learn directly from Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN, world-renowned technology addiction expert and founder of Healthy Gamer, and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, and Director of HG Institute.


You'll walk away with tools that strengthen client relationships, improve outcomes, increase client retention, and build the kind of clinical confidence that shows up in every session.

1 Bőthe, B., Nagy, L., Koós, M., Demetrovics, Z., Potenza, M. N., Kraus, S. W., Corazza, O., & International Sex Survey Consortium. (2024). Problematic pornography use across countries, genders, and sexual orientations: Insights from the International Sex Survey and comparison of different assessment tools. Addiction, 119(5), 928–950. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16431

"Pornography is a nuclear bomb. Because sex is the fundamental purpose of the biological organism, pornography artificially activates almost every region of the brain and every neurotransmitter system—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and opioids—all at once."

— Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Course Overview

Learn from the team that's redefining how the next generation accesses mental health care.  Join Dr. Alok Kanojia and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, for 4 hours of sharp, engaging clinical education that will deepen your practice and give you modern frameworks for compulsive pornography addiction and use. It's rigorous, relevant, and honestly, it's just a really fun time.

Course Details

Format: Asynchronous

Level: Intermediate

Est. time: 4 hours

CE credits: 4

Quizzes: 1

HG Institute is approved by the organizations listed here to provide accredited Continuing Education (CE) hours.

HG Institute, #1978, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/16/2025-10/16/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 4 continuing education credits.

We encourage you to check with your credentialing body or state board to ensure our courses meet your specific licensing or renewal requirements. To complete the course, it requires a knowledge check and course evaluation. Acceptance may vary by jurisdiction.

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Taught by:

Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

APPROVED CE

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Process addictions are among the defining concerns of younger generations, and pornography addiction is near the top of that list. The largest international study of its kind found prevalence rates for problematic porn use between 3.2% and 16.6%1, comparable to depression.

This CE course breaks down the complexities of modern pornography addiction and compulsive use to arm clinicians with assessment tools, diagnostic frameworks, and evidence-based treatment approaches. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and skillset to expand your scope of practice to effectively work with people struggling with pornography use.


In 4 hours, you'll learn directly from Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN, world-renowned technology addiction expert and founder of Healthy Gamer, and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, and Director of HG Institute.


You'll walk away with tools that strengthen client relationships, improve outcomes, increase client retention, and build the kind of clinical confidence that shows up in every session.

1 Bőthe, B., Nagy, L., Koós, M., Demetrovics, Z., Potenza, M. N., Kraus, S. W., Corazza, O., & International Sex Survey Consortium. (2024). Problematic pornography use across countries, genders, and sexual orientations: Insights from the International Sex Survey and comparison of different assessment tools. Addiction, 119(5), 928–950. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16431

"Pornography is a nuclear bomb. Because sex is the fundamental purpose of the biological organism, pornography artificially activates almost every region of the brain and every neurotransmitter system—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and opioids—all at once."

— Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Course Overview

Learn from the team that's redefining how the next generation accesses mental health care.  Join Dr. Alok Kanojia and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, for 4 hours of sharp, engaging clinical education that will deepen your practice and give you modern frameworks for compulsive pornography addiction and use. It's rigorous, relevant, and honestly, it's just a really fun time.

Course Details

Format: Asynchronous

Level: Intermediate

Est. time: 4 hours

CE credits: 4

Quizzes: 1

HG Institute is approved by the organizations listed here to provide accredited Continuing Education (CE) hours.

HG Institute, #1978, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/16/2025-10/16/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 4 continuing education credits.

We encourage you to check with your credentialing body or state board to ensure our courses meet your specific licensing or renewal requirements. To complete the course, it requires a knowledge check and course evaluation. Acceptance may vary by jurisdiction.

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Taught by:

Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

APPROVED CE

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Karle Red Panda holding a stact of books - HG Institute Mascot

Treat pornography addiction with confidence

Process addictions are among the defining concerns of younger generations, and pornography addiction is near the top of that list. The largest international study of its kind found prevalence rates for problematic porn use between 3.2% and 16.6%1, comparable to depression.

This CE course breaks down the complexities of modern pornography addiction and compulsive use to arm clinicians with assessment tools, diagnostic frameworks, and evidence-based treatment approaches. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and skillset to expand your scope of practice to effectively work with people struggling with pornography use.


In 4 hours, you'll learn directly from Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN, world-renowned technology addiction expert and founder of Healthy Gamer, and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, and Director of HG Institute.


You'll walk away with tools that strengthen client relationships, improve outcomes, increase client retention, and build the kind of clinical confidence that shows up in every session.

1 Bőthe, B., Nagy, L., Koós, M., Demetrovics, Z., Potenza, M. N., Kraus, S. W., Corazza, O., & International Sex Survey Consortium. (2024). Problematic pornography use across countries, genders, and sexual orientations: Insights from the International Sex Survey and comparison of different assessment tools. Addiction, 119(5), 928–950. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16431

"Pornography is a nuclear bomb. Because sex is the fundamental purpose of the biological organism, pornography artificially activates almost every region of the brain and every neurotransmitter system—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and opioids—all at once."

— Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Course Overview

Learn from the team that's redefining how the next generation accesses mental health care.  Join Dr. Alok Kanojia and Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S, for 4 hours of sharp, engaging clinical education that will deepen your practice and give you modern frameworks for compulsive pornography addiction and use. It's rigorous, relevant, and honestly, it's just a really fun time.

Course Details

Format: Asynchronous

Level: Intermediate

Est. time: 4 hours

CE credits: 4

Quizzes: 1

HG Institute is approved by the organizations listed here to provide accredited Continuing Education (CE) hours.

HG Institute, #1978, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/16/2025-10/16/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 4 continuing education credits.

We encourage you to check with your credentialing body or state board to ensure our courses meet your specific licensing or renewal requirements. To complete the course, it requires a knowledge check and course evaluation. Acceptance may vary by jurisdiction.

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Section 1: The Contemporary Landscape
  • The Modern Pornography Landscape

  • The Vocabulary Gap

Section 2: Why Patterns Form and Persist
  • The Neuroscience of Compulsive Behavior

  • Pornography as Emotional Regulation

  • Shame, Exploitation, and Values Clarification

Section 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Clarity
  • Frequency vs. Function

  • Clinical Assessment Tools and the Intake

  • Diagnostic Frameworks

Section 4: Clinical Response and Treatment Planning
  • Foundational Communication and Motivational Interviewing

  • Harm Reduction and Environmental Design

  • Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

  • Scope of Practice and Referral

Section 5: Complexity, Context, and Ethics
  • Differential Presentations

  • Clinical Ethics and Documentation

Taught by:

Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH, ABPN

Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

"What we're seeing across presenting problems isn't simply a rise in sexual dysfunction. It's a broader rise in the human capacity to disappear into a screen and stay there.”

— Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

"What we're seeing across presenting problems isn't simply a rise in sexual dysfunction. It's a broader rise in the human capacity to disappear into a screen and stay there.”

— Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

"What we're seeing across presenting problems isn't simply a rise in sexual dysfunction. It's a broader rise in the human capacity to disappear into a screen and stay there.”

— Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

"What we're seeing across presenting problems isn't simply a rise in sexual dysfunction. It's a broader rise in the human capacity to disappear into a screen and stay there.”

— Alexandra Waxer, LCSW-S

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Diagnosis

Explain ICD-11 CSBD diagnostic criteria, including the 6-month timeline and the exclusion of purely moral or religious distress.

Neurobiology

Explain the neurobiological impact of high-stimulation pornography on thalamic processing and dopamine dysregulation.

Identity Frameworks

Distinguish between functional client guilt and identity-based shame cycles that fuel compulsive behavioral recurrence.

Motivational Interviewing

Apply Motivational Interviewing principles to constructively manage clinical discord and client ambivalence.

Self-Determination Theory

Analyze compulsive sexual behavior through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) core needs frustration.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis

Explain ICD-11 CSBD diagnostic criteria, including the 6-month timeline and the exclusion of purely moral or religious distress.

Explain ICD-11 CSBD diagnostic criteria, including the 6-month timeline and the exclusion of purely moral or religious distress.

Neurobiology
Neurobiology

Explain the neurobiological impact of high-stimulation pornography on thalamic processing and dopamine dysregulation.

Explain the neurobiological impact of high-stimulation pornography on thalamic processing and dopamine dysregulation.

Identity Frameworks
Identity Frameworks

Distinguish between functional client guilt and identity-based shame cycles that fuel compulsive behavioral recurrence.

Distinguish between functional client guilt and identity-based shame cycles that fuel compulsive behavioral recurrence.

Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing

Apply Motivational Interviewing principles to constructively manage clinical discord and client ambivalence.

Apply Motivational Interviewing principles to constructively manage clinical discord and client ambivalence.

Self-Determination Theory
Self-Determination Theory

Analyze compulsive sexual behavior through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) core needs frustration.

Analyze compulsive sexual behavior through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) core needs frustration.

Who Should Take This Course?

Who Should Take This Course?

Who Should Take This Course?

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is designed primarily for licensed mental health professionals, including therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers who are encountering pornography-related concerns in their work and want a clear, evidence-based framework for addressing them.

This course is designed primarily for licensed mental health professionals, including therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers who are encountering pornography-related concerns in their work and want a clear, evidence-based framework for addressing them.

This course is designed primarily for licensed mental health professionals, including therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers who are encountering pornography-related concerns in their work and want a clear, evidence-based framework for addressing them.

It's also a strong fit for:

It's also a strong fit for:

Health and wellness coaches (NBC-HWC) looking to build competency in working with compulsive pornography use

Health and wellness coaches (NBC-HWC) looking to build competency in working with compulsive pornography use

Health and wellness coaches (NBC-HWC) looking to build competency in working with compulsive pornography use

School counselors, nurses, and educators working with adolescents navigating digital behaviors

School counselors, nurses, and educators working with adolescents navigating digital behaviors

School counselors, nurses, and educators working with adolescents navigating digital behaviors

Peer support specialists and behavioral health staff who want a practical, shame-free approach

Peer support specialists and behavioral health staff who want a practical, shame-free approach

Peer support specialists and behavioral health staff who want a practical, shame-free approach

Any helping professional who has had a client bring this up—and didn't feel fully equipped to respond

Any helping professional who has had a client bring this up—and didn't feel fully equipped to respond

Any helping professional who has had a client bring this up—and didn't feel fully equipped to respond

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Meet Your Instructors

Meet Your Instructors

Meet Your Instructors

  • Alexandra Waxer

    LCSW-S

    Alexandra Waxer is the Director of HG Institute (HGI), where she leads initiatives that bridge mental health, technology, and professional development. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor with expertise in adolescent mental health, Alexandra’s work focuses on suicide prevention, anxiety, and depression in digitally connected youth.

    At HGI, she designs continuing education and collaborative care models that unite clinicians, coaches, and peer supporters to meet the needs of a tech-driven generation. Outside of work, Alex reads a lot of fantasy and sci-fi and has an ever-growing collection of half-finished craft projects.

  • Dr. Alok Kanojia

    MD, MPH

    Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K) is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and the founder of Healthy Gamer and HG Institute (HGI). Recognized globally as a leading voice in digital mental health and video game addiction, Dr. K blends clinical expertise with deep insight into the mental health needs of digital natives. His experience spans academic research, policy, and clinical care—ranging from Harvard’s residential addiction treatment programs to training over 600 peer support professionals in resilience practices.

    At HGI, Dr. K pioneers innovative, interdisciplinary solutions for the next generation of care.

Alexandra Waxer

LCSW-S

Alexandra Waxer is the Director of HG Institute (HGI), where she leads initiatives that bridge mental health, technology, and professional development. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor with expertise in adolescent mental health, Alexandra’s work focuses on suicide prevention, anxiety, and depression in digitally connected youth.

At HGI, she designs continuing education and collaborative care models that unite clinicians, coaches, and peer supporters to meet the needs of a tech-driven generation. Outside of work, Alex reads a lot of fantasy and sci-fi and has an ever-growing collection of half-finished craft projects.

Alexandra Waxer

LCSW-S

Alexandra Waxer is the Director of HG Institute (HGI), where she leads initiatives that bridge mental health, technology, and professional development. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor with expertise in adolescent mental health, Alexandra’s work focuses on suicide prevention, anxiety, and depression in digitally connected youth.

At HGI, she designs continuing education and collaborative care models that unite clinicians, coaches, and peer supporters to meet the needs of a tech-driven generation. Outside of work, Alex reads a lot of fantasy and sci-fi and has an ever-growing collection of half-finished craft projects.

Dr. Alok Kanojia

MD, MPH, ABPN

Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K) is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and the founder of Healthy Gamer and HG Institute (HGI). Recognized globally as a leading voice in digital mental health and video game addiction, Dr. K blends clinical expertise with deep insight into the mental health needs of digital natives. His experience spans academic research, policy, and clinical care—ranging from Harvard’s residential addiction treatment programs to training over 600 peer support professionals in resilience practices.

At HGI, Dr. K pioneers innovative, interdisciplinary solutions for the next generation of care.

Dr. Alok Kanojia

MD, MPH, ABPN

Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K) is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and the founder of Healthy Gamer and HG Institute (HGI). Recognized globally as a leading voice in digital mental health and video game addiction, Dr. K blends clinical expertise with deep insight into the mental health needs of digital natives. His experience spans academic research, policy, and clinical care—ranging from Harvard’s residential addiction treatment programs to training over 600 peer support professionals in resilience practices.

At HGI, Dr. K pioneers innovative, interdisciplinary solutions for the next generation of care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HGI an approved CE provider for my state and license type?

Is HGI an approved CE provider for my state and license type?

Is HGI an approved CE provider for my state and license type?

Do I need to be licensed/certified to take a course?

Do I need to be licensed/certified to take a course?

Do I need to be licensed/certified to take a course?

Do you provide disability accommodations?

Do you provide disability accommodations?

Do you provide disability accommodations?

What are the requirements for passing a course?

What are the requirements for passing a course?

What are the requirements for passing a course?

What happens if I fail a quiz?

What happens if I fail a quiz?

What happens if I fail a quiz?

What is your refund policy?

What is your refund policy?

What is your refund policy?

What is your complaint or grievance policy?

What is your complaint or grievance policy?

What is your complaint or grievance policy?

What are the minimum requirements for accessing the course player?

What are the minimum requirements for accessing the course player?

What are the minimum requirements for accessing the course player?