
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
4 CREDITS
4 CREDITS


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







Treat pornography addiction with confidence


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





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





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

"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?
HG InstitutE
LEGAL


HG InstitutE
LEGAL


HG InstitutE
LEGAL


HG InstitutE
LEGAL

