ChemSex Recovery Group Therapy in Philadelphia
Group therapy can be one of the most powerful tools for ChemSex recovery. Many people feel isolated in their experiences, believing they're the only ones struggling in this way. In isolation, shame only grows.
Healing often begins when you realize you're not alone. I offer a confidential, LGBTQ+ affirming ChemSex Recovery Group in Philadelphia, a space to be understood by others who have lived it too. The group runs as a 16-week closed cohort, and the next cohort begins in January 2027. It meets Thursday evenings in Center City Philadelphia from 7:30 to 9:00 PM, and sessions are offered on a sliding scale from $20 to $80. Reach out now to reserve a spot.
The ChemSex recovery group offers a confidential, judgment-free space; honest conversations about PnP experiences; support from others who understand the cycle; and opportunities to rebuild connection without substances.
If ChemSex, or party and play (PnP), has started to feel less like a choice and more like something you can't stop, you're not alone. What you're experiencing is a recognized pattern that responds well to the right kind of support, including individual and group therapy.
Why Group Therapy?
ChemSex is what happens when the search for connection, pleasure, and belonging becomes inseparable from substances, when drugs become the bridge to intimacy that feels otherwise out of reach. It deserves compassion, not judgment. For a lot of people, that bridge is built through apps. Hookup apps like Grindr, Sniffies, and Scruff make it possible to find a sexual partner and a supply of drugs within minutes, from your phone, without ever having to plan ahead or reach out to someone in person. That immediacy is part of what makes ChemSex so hard to interrupt. There's no waiting, no build-up, just an opening and an app. Naming how central these platforms have become to the pattern isn't about giving up your phone; it's about understanding one more piece of what keeps the cycle going.
ChemSex often thrives in isolation, in the gap between who you are in public and what happens behind closed doors. Shame grows in that gap. Group therapy closes that gap. It puts you in a room with people who already know, because they've lived it too. In that moment of recognition, the shame loses its power. You stop being a person with a secret and start being a person in a community. Recovery isn't just about stopping a behavior; it's about rebuilding a relationship with intimacy, trust, and your body, in the presence of others doing the same.
Our Approach to ChemSex Recovery
Collaborative Healing: the success of your recovery is connected to your participation in group. Share experiences and gain insight from others navigating the same struggle. Reduce your shame by connecting with people that have had the same experiences. Healing is more powerful in community.
Skill-Building: develop practical tools for long-term recovery, including emotional regulation, stress management, communication skills, and the ability to be vulnerable emotionally with other men. Most importantly this group space will help you develop a healthy relationship with your body and your sexual self.
Specialized Recovery: facilitated by an LGBTQ+ Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) with 15 years of experience working with people that struggle with ChemSex. We treat the substance use, the sexual compulsivity, the fusion of these things, and the shame that drives the behavior.
Safe Space: you will leave this group surprised by how openly and honestly other men are sharing about their experience. The group is designed to be confidential and boundaried. Unlike 12-step programs, it's led by a licensed clinician who is bound by confidentiality law, and every member agrees to strict confidentiality rules.
If you're struggling with ChemSex in Philadelphia, it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. These patterns often develop for understandable reasons, and they can be worked through with the right support.
This group can help those looking to better understand their relationship with substances, sex, and connection.
Get Started: The next 16-week cohort begins in January 2027. Reach out confidentially to learn more or reserve a spot.
Contact: akapnek@metamorphosispa.com | 484-393-1185.
ChemSex Recovery Group FAQ
Who is the group for?
Anyone whose use of drugs during sex, often called ChemSex or PnP, has started to feel out of control, and who wants support from people who understand.
How do I know if I'm ready for group?
You don't need to have it all figured out. We'll talk briefly first to see whether the group is the right fit for where you are right now.
When and where does it meet?
Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in Center City Philadelphia. The next 16-week cohort begins in January 2027.
How much does it cost?
Sessions are offered on a sliding scale from $20 to $80.
Is the group confidential?
Yes. The group is led by a licensed clinician who is bound by confidentiality law, and every member agrees to keep what's shared in the room.
Can I do individual therapy at the same time?
Yes. Many people combine group with individual ChemSex recovery therapy, in person in Bala Cynwyd or by telehealth across Pennsylvania.
How do I join?
Use the form below to reach out confidentially and reserve a spot. We'll set up a brief conversation first to make sure the group is a good fit.
