News & Events

Internet Porn Is Causing Problems for Teens

Posted: June 29, 2008

A 16-year-old girl who calls herself Addicted and Ashamed in Iowa recently wrote to Dear Abby: “I’m friendly, cheerful, religious and an honors student. I am also addicted to porn.” The girl’s school counselor encouraged her to think of porn use as just “expressing her sexuality in her own way,” but Abby strongly disagreed. Addicted was experiencing serious symptoms such as: feeling scared, becoming apathetic about her grades, losing respect for the opposite sex, being unable to quit when she wanted to, compulsively thinking about sex, and having thoughts of sexually acting out. Explaining that addiction involves being consumed by and unable to stop a behavior, Abby encouraged Addicted to talk more candidly with her mother about her Internet porn problem and obtain professional help._______ While some readers may consider Addicted and Ashamed an unusual case, as counselors we know that she represents the tip of the iceberg of a growing problem among today’s youth. Porn comes at children and teens in ways we couldn’t have imagined when we were growing up. It’s on the Internet, on cable television, on cell phones, and even in videogames. Today’s kids, rather than encountering major obstacles to contacting porn, often have difficulty avoiding it. As a result, in many cases, porn is hijacking their sexuality and causing serious harm.______ The numbers are startling. The average age of first porn exposure is 11. One in four children with Internet access are accidentally exposed to porn while online. We all know how easily that can happen. Just by typing in a search word while doing research for a book report, for example, a child can land on one of over 400 million pages of porn on the Internet. An alarming 80 percent of 15- to 17- year-olds have multiple exposures to hardcore pornography. Surveys show that youth under the age of 18 are now one of the largest consumers of the more than $97 billion dollar global industry porn has become._______ For many young people today, porn is their first and most formative sexual experience. This is especially disturbing, given that most children do not receive thorough sexuality education to combat the lies and misleading information porn provides them about sex.______ Unfortunately, as the letter to Dear Abby illustrates, most parents and professionals that work with children are not prepared to advise and treat porn-related issues. Kids developing porn problems today need help in so many areas: basic sex education, social skills development, learning about the difference between porn sex and healthy sex, identifying the negative consequences of porn use and addiction, developing self-soothing and stress management skills, and assistance recovering from porn-related damage to sexual attitudes, interests, and conditioned behaviors._______ As a society we need to overcome our embarrassment about talking about porn use and issues. We need to have the same courage Addicted and Ashamed had in bringing the problem out of the darkness. We need to rid ourselves of the outdated perceptions and beliefs about porn. It is not just harmless entertainment for many people, especially those too young to understand what an impact it can have on their lives. Only when we remove these barriers can we as a society begin to do the protective and preventative work that will be required to keep our children safe.______ Children have a right to sexual innocence. They have a right to let their sexuality develop at a natural pace, not one that is sped up and led astray by an industry whose primary goal is to make money. Children have a right to have their first sexual relationship with a partner whom they care about, not with a machine that teaches them to interact with a product, not a person. As parents, educators, and communities, we work hard to keep youth from smoking and using drugs and alcohol. We need to get past our group shame so we can help them resist the powerful pull of pornography as well.______ Addicted and Ashamed was brave enough to share her story, but not all children are, nor should they have to be. It is time we start facing our own fears, because in today’s porn-rich environment, a simple talk about the birds and the bees is not nearly enough._______ Wendy Maltz and Larry Maltz, licensed clinical social workers, are coauthors of . The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography

Larry and Wendy on KATU-TV AM Northwest

Posted: May 26, 2008

Porn Addiction was the hot topic on Portland, Oregon's prized morning talk show AM Northwest on May 23, 2008. Helen Raptis interviewed Wendy and Larry in a lively, highly informative six minute segment of the show. CLICK HERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN

FOXNEWS.com Article Features The Porn Trap

Posted: May 23, 2008

Fox News sexuality expert Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright recommends The Porn Trap in her article, "7 Ways to Tell If You Are Addicted to Porn". Referring to porn addiction as a "national dilemma" Dr. Fulbright enthusiastically describes The Porn Trap as a "well-written and thoughtful" resource for healing.

Wendy speaks in Seattle May 28th

Posted: May 8, 2008

Wendy Maltz joined John Bradshaw, Pat Carnes, Bill O'Hanlon, and other national speakers in presenting workshops at the 21st Annual Northwest Conference on Behavior Health and Addictive Disorders in Seattle (Bellevue) on May 28-30, 2008. The conference was sponsored by the Institute for Integral Development and the US Journal Training. Wendy spoke on the "The Porn Trap:Overcoming Problems of Pornography and the Internet" and "Recovering Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse and Addiction." For more information visit www.usjt.com,U.S. Journal Trainings

Just Released! The Porn Trap

Posted: April 22, 2008

Hooray! Wendy and Larry’s new book,The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography is now available in local bookstores and via booksellers on-line. A groundbreaking resource, The Porn Trap helps readers understand how porn problems develop, surface, and impact a person’s life. Hailed as "Excellent," "Masterful," and "Much-needed," this book offers step-by-step guidance for moving away from porn and developing a richly satisfying sex life without it. If you are troubled by an unwanted relationship with porn or know someone who is, The Porn Trap can be your lifeline to understanding and profound healing.

Book Release Party

Posted: April 6, 2008

Come join Wendy and Larry Maltz to celebrate the release of their new book,The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography , on Friday, May 2nd, 2008, from 7:00 -8:30 pm at the Baker Building, 975 High Street, in downtown Eugene, Oregon. They will discuss the purpose, contents, and writing of the book, as well as answer questions. Refreshments will be served. The Porn Trap and a variety of Wendy’s other books and videos/DVDs will be available for purchase and Larry and Wendy will be on hand to personally sign books.

Recovery Couples Wanted For National Media Appearances

Posted: March 1, 2008

We are currently looking for couples that would be willing to share their story of recovering contact us and briefly describe why and how you quit porn, what type of support you received that was most helpful, and how your life and intimate relationship have improved as a result of your decision and recovery work. We will reply with more information. Your story can help others heal. Share your story.