He is careful to distinguish between those that struggle sexually and those who suffer from sexual addictions but provides hope and practical advice for both.
Willingham theorizes that a common thread running through the lives of the sexually addicted is that they are lonely to the core and have frequently experienced abandonment. He emphasizes that they often have personal histories characterized by physical, sexual or emotional abuse in childhood and suggests these experiences result in unmet yearnings for love, acceptance and security.
Because of the lack of adequate nurturing in the formative years, the sexually addicted are subjected to powerful and often relentless temptations as they attempt to satisfy the underlying for love and nurture. Motivated by inner emptiness, they are frequently driven by an overwhelming need to feel valuable and worthwhile. Willingham believes that these unmet childhood needs, though valid, are mistakenly thought to be sexual needs and lead to addictive and sexually obsessive behaviour.
Breaking Free also attempts to identify the demonic undercurrents of sexual addiction and portrays sexually compulsive behaviour as an idolatrous attempt to meet ones personal needs apart from God. This is undertaken as the sexually addicted take their deep hunger for love to a "sexualized goddess" in an act of worship.
For those suffering under the yoke of sexual addiction, Willingham holds out a promise of hope and deliverance. He stresses though, that this can only be accomplished through consistency in prayer, full cooperation with God's Word, and the establishment of authentic relationships to provide support and accountability within the Body of Christ.
He then outlines the process of breaking free from sexual addiction through an intimacy with Christ that invites him into the pain and allows him to meet the needs for love, acceptance and nurture.
Breaking Free is written in a down to earth and readable style and is a good place to start for Christians who struggle with sexual addictions or for those who provide counsel and support to them.