Celibacy contract involves a prescribed period of no sexual activity with self or others, any pornography, chat rooms, affairs, etc. The primary goal of the celibacy period is to allow the fear, anxiety, pain and shame that the sex addict has been trying to escape - to surface.
Sex addict can often for the first time begin to glimpse the myriad of issues they have sought escape from and the ritualized fantasy they have often engaged in.
During this celibacy period, the therapist has the opportunity to obtain a detailed sexual history, a detailed family of origin history, and begin the process of understanding how the sex addict became socialized around their sexually compulsive behaviors as well as the process of self-harm as an escape mechanism.
As the client's treatment progresses, the clinician is able to illuminate how their distorted self-belief system has concretized their belief that acting out with masturbation increases their sense of isolation and separateness. What the client seeks in their masturbatory fantasy world probably centers on sexual acts with others yet their compulsive masturbation reinforces the belief that, "I am alone, no one will desire sexually; therefore I am responsible for meeting more core sexual needs alone."
Early in the treatment it is suggested that sex addicts abstain from all sexual activities, including masturbation, for 30-90 days (because masturbation is so often a part of the compulsive behavior of the sex addict, it is important to refrain from this activity as well).
An abstinence period enables them to learn that they can indeed survive without sex, and allows them to get in touch with feelings that have been avoided and covered up with sexual activity.
When they stop all sexual activity, some addicts report psychological withdrawal symptoms.
See also: Sobriety plan