Meetings help. Sometimes you also need a therapist who gets it.
A CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) is a licensed clinician with specialized training in compulsive sexual behavior, on top of whatever license they already hold. This page explains the credential and points you to the directories that keep an actual up-to-date list — that's a job best left to the organizations that certify these therapists, not a static page like this one.
What "CSAT" actually means
CSAT training was created by Dr. Patrick Carnes and is administered by IITAP (the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals). It's an add-on certification — every CSAT is required to already be a licensed therapist, counselor, or social worker in their own jurisdiction, and the certification adds specialized training in assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behavior on top of that license.
A few related credentials you might see alongside "CSAT" on someone's bio: CSAT-S (a supervisor who trains other CSATs, usually meaning more experience), CPTT (Certified Partner Trauma Therapist, for treating betrayed partners specifically), and CMAT (Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist, for co-occurring addictions).
Search the official worldwide directory
IITAP maintains the primary CSAT directory and keeps it current as therapists certify, recertify, or stop practicing — something no third-party list can promise to do. You can search by country, state or region, and specialty.
Search the IITAP Therapist Directory →If your area doesn't show many results
CSAT coverage is strongest in the US and still growing elsewhere. A few ways to widen the search:
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Ask about teletherapy
Many CSATs see clients by video across an entire country or region, not just their home city — worth checking even if the nearest listed therapist looks far away.
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Try the SASH member directory
The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health is a related professional body for sexual health clinicians more broadly, including many CSATs and adjacent specialists.
Visit sash.net → -
Broaden the search on general therapist directories
Sites like Psychology Today let you filter by issue (look for "sex addiction" or "compulsive sexual behavior") and by teletherapy availability, which can surface clinicians who haven't listed with IITAP directly.
A note for LGBTQ+ readers
Not every CSAT has specific experience with LGBTQ+ clients, even though the certification itself is orientation-neutral. It's fair game to ask directly, in a first email or consultation call, about their experience working with LGBTQ+ clients before booking — a good therapist won't be put off by the question.
Before you book
Confirm the therapist's underlying license is active in your state or country (CSAT is an add-on, not a license by itself), and ask what a first session looks like. Cost, session format, and availability vary a lot between practices, so it's worth a short call before committing.