Parents' Guide to

Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Mature series takes serious look at sex addiction.

TV VH1 Reality TV 2009
Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Jaclyn S.
Jaclyn S. Adult
March 16, 2018
age 16+
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In SEX REHAB WITH DR. DREW, Dr. Drew Pinsky works with nine minor celebrities who've voluntarily entered rehab to get help for their sex addiction. With the help of sex therapist Jill Vermeire, the participants work on controlling their compulsions -- which range from porn addiction to extreme promiscuity -- so that they no longer serve as the dominant force in their lives. Cameras film the patients as they try to create boundaries around their bodies and work within various therapeutic environments to understand how they're using sex to cope with painful issues like childhood sexual trauma and and/or substance abuse in order to get their destructive behavior under control. Medical facts about the condition and its potentially devastating consequences -- including cancer, bankruptcy, and death -- are also included.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

Sex Rehab attempts to eliminate some of the shame and ignorance that surround sexual addiction. The show contends that sex addiction is the hardest addiction to deal with because it requires patients to work with deeply rooted and emotionally distressing problems in order to control their compulsive behavior.

Pinsky calls the celebs' willingness to tackle their addiction on camera "courageous," but you still have to wonder why they made the choice to do so on a reality show. But no matter what their motives, their appearance succeeds in breaking some of the taboos surrounding the subject. Sex Rehab certainly isn't for kids, but it definitely has something to offer for those mature enough to handle it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why problems related to sex and sexual addiction are often treated as taboo (or as a source of humor) by the media. What makes this subject so difficult to talk about or take seriously? Do you think this show will prompt people to view sexual addiction differently?

  • Why do celebrities agree to go on reality shows like this? Are they trying to bring attention to these issues, or are they just looking for a chance to be in the media spotlight? Do you think the celebs' efforts to confront their addiction make them role models?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate