Dr. Ron Shackelford was trained as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) by Dr. Patrick Carnes who is a renowned sex addiction clinician, researcher and author of numerous books on the topic. A licensed psychotherapist in Mission Viejo , California , Dr. Shackelford treats chemical and sexual addiction patients both in private therapy and in a residential clinic. He is a Cognitive-Behavioral therapist (for example, see Leg One for many of his cognitive interventions for dealing with images and thoughts). Over the years he learned the necessity of incorporating thought, behavior and motivation for lasting change, which he calls the Three-Legged Stool Approach.

As a Christian believer in the Scriptures, one of the tools in his approach is the Ten Commandments found in each Leg's closing section. Each of these Scripture-based precepts will help a user change thought, behavior and, ultimately, one's life. Shackelford believes accessing and developing the spiritual dimension is one of the keys to long-term recovery.