The basic premise of SAA is that addicts can help each other recover from sexual addiction. The core of the SAA program is the Twelve Steps, a set of guidelines that can help addicts achieve recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other addicts, those seeking recovery learn to face life in a sexually sober manner. The Steps can also help addicts recover from the damaging beliefs and attitudes underlying their sex addiction.

Membership is open to anyone with a desire to stop their addictive sexual behavior. There is no other requirement. Our fellowship is open to all genders, regardless of age, race, religion, ethnic background, marital status or occupation. We welcome members of any sexual identity or orientation.

Meetings are the heart of the SAA fellowship where our primary approach to recovery – addicts helping addicts – takes place. In the SAA Big Book Study Intergroup (BBSI), our meetings could be in-person at a physical location, online through a zoom meeting, over the telephone (telemeeting), or a hybrid (a combination of in-person and online). See our BBSI Meeting page for details.

Because we choose to use the text of Alcoholics Anonymous (aka the Big Book of AA) as our basic text for understanding the nature of addiction and its Solution (i.e., the Twelve Steps), it can sometimes seem like we’re just as interested in alcoholism as we are in sex addiction. Please rest assured that you’ve found the right place. These are meetings of Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA). In our meetings we attempt to understand and apply the Twelve Steps as originally described and practiced by the originators of the concept–the authors of the Big Book as originally published in the 1930s–because we believe that this enables us to most accurately apply the Steps to our condition as sex addicts. For more information on this approach, you can read about our Five Guiding Principles.

A sponsor is a sober member of the fellowship who can show others how they worked the Twelve Steps. A foundation meeting will give an overview of sex addiction and the first three steps and help you determine if you are a sex addict.

A sponsor is a person in the fellowship who acts as a guide to working the program of SAA – a fellow sex addict we can rely upon for support. Ideally, a sponsor is abstinent from addictive sexual behavior, has worked the steps, and can teach us what they have learned from working the steps. We can learn from a sponsor’s experience, strength, and hope. Our sponsor can help explain program fundamentals, such as how to define our sexual sobriety and, most importantly, sponsors guide us through the Twelve Steps.

The best way to find a sponsor is to attend SAA meetings. At the end of the meeting, members will share their names and phone numbers, for sponsorship and fellowship.

Anonymity is one of the guiding principles of the SAA program. Anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of their identity being disclosed. Confidence that their anonymity will be respected can help an addict feel safe attending meetings.

Sex Addicts Anonymous is not aligned with any sect, denomination, or religion. The Twelve Step program of recovery is considered spiritual in nature because the program leads to inner change and involves surrender to a Power greater than ourselves. The Twelve steps are a methodology not a theology. Our program includes religious and non-religious members. Everyone is welcome.

With respect to the SAA Big Book Study Intergroup (BBSI), the BBSI represents a collection of SAA meetings that utilize the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous to help its members better understand their sex addiction.

The SAA Big Book Study Intergroup (BBSI) provides the following areas of responsibility:

• Serves to help the SAA groups that it represents carry the message to the sex addict who still suffers
• To provide resources to individual members and the member SAA groups, e.g. the website and telephone conferencing system
• To allow for the effective use of BBSI funds to facilitate workshops, retreats, the website, and much more

Step 10 of the SAA program is, “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it”. It acts as a daily maintenance tool for emotional sobriety, helping individuals monitor their actions, rectify mistakes immediately, and prevent the buildup of resentment or negative emotions that could trigger relapse. When you hear someone offer “to take 10th steps”, it means that they offering their undivided attention to be present and listen to you share your personal inventory with them.