Treatment for Sexual Addiction

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Treatment for Sexual Addiction

• At Life Works Recovery, through our training as
  sex therapists and sex addiction therapistswe
  bring extensive knowledge and understanding of
  sex its place in healthy sexuality and
  courtship and how it manifests in addiction as
  a compulsive force as well as in committed
  passion and intimate love as a healing and
  connecting force.
• We have specialized training and experience and
  we are Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSAT)
  because we are passionate about helping people
  heal. We understand what it means to be there.
  We want to help you and your loved ones heal.
  Its what we do.
• Here are some questions you should ask when
  looking for a good sex addiction treatment
  program
• What percentage of the therapy program will be
  focused on sexual addiction and compulsiveness?
• What are the groups that address these issues?
• What is the staffs experience facilitating the
  groups or program for sexual addiction and
  compulsiveness?
• Is the program based on a 12-step philosophy, and
  are there appropriate 12-step meetings to attend
  while in treatment?
• In addition, look for these components in a
  treatment program
• A separate group that allows couples to work on
  the more intimate issues of their relationship
• Education about sexual addiction and
  compulsiveness that clarifies misconceptions
  about this highly misunderstood set of behaviors
• A disclosure process facilitated by trained staff
  who understand the vulnerability of each family
  member and make appropriate decisions about which
  family members

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• need to hear what information about the specific
  symptoms and behaviors. This is essential in
  developing a therapeutic relationship between the
  patient and family.
• Time for the family members or spouses to receive
  support in processing and debriefing information
  that the individual discloses during treatment
• A focus on the health risks involved for both
  partners and how to address these in a
  continuing care plan
• Unlike drug or alcohol treatment, the goal of
  sexual addiction treatment is not lifelong
  abstinence, but rather a termination of
  compulsive, unhealthy sexual behavior. Since it
  is very difficult for a sex addict to
  distinguish between healthy and unhealthy sex,
  programs usually encourage abstinence from any
  sexual behavior during the first phase of
  treatment. Many programs suggest a 60- to 90-day
  period of self-imposed abstinence. This enables
  you, along with the treatment team, to understand
  the emotional cues and circumstances that
  trigger sexual thought and compulsive sexual
  behavior.
• Treatment Focus-

Treatment will focus on two main issues. The
first is the logistical concerns of separating
you from harmful sexual behavior in the same way
drug addicts need to be separated from
drugs. Accomplishing this might require inpatient
or residential treatment for several weeks. An
inpatient setting protects you from the abundance
of sexual images and specific situations or
people that trigger compulsive sexual behavior.
Its simply harder to relapse in a structured
and tightly controlled setting. Sometimes, you
can succeed in an outpatient setting with
adequate social, family and spiritual support.
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The second and most difficult issue involves
facing the guilt, shame and depression associated
with this illness. It takes trust and time with a
competent therapist to work through these
emotions. If you are very depressed, the best
treatment might be an inpatient residential
setting where professionals can monitor and
properly manage your symptoms. 12-Step
Programs-
Twelve-step programs, such as Sexaholics
Anonymous, apply principles similar to those
used in other addiction programs, such as
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
However, unlike AA, where the goal is complete
abstinence from all alcohol, SA pursues
abstinence only from compulsive, destructive
sexual behavior. By admitting powerlessness over
their addictions, seeking the help of God or a
higher power, following the required steps,
seeking a sponsor and regularly attending
meetings, many addicts have been able to regain
intimacy in their personal relationships. Cogniti
ve-Behavior Therapy-
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This approach looks at what triggers and
reinforces actions related to sexual addiction
and looks for methods of short-circuiting the
process. Treatment approaches include teaching
addicts to stop sexual thoughts by thinking about
something else substituting sexual behavior
with some other behavior, such as exercising or
working out and preventing the relapse of
addictive behavior. Interpersonal Therapy-
People addicted to sex often have significant
emotional baggage from their early lives.
Traditional talk therapy can be helpful in
increasing self control and in treating related
mood disorders and effects of past trauma. Group
Therapy-
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Group therapy typically consists of a health care
professional working with a group of between six
and10 patients. Working with other addicts allows
you to see that your problem is not unique. It
also enables you to learn about what works and
what doesnt from others experiences, and draw
on others strengths and hopes. A group format is
ideal for confronting the denial and
rationalizations common among addicts. Such
confrontation from other addicts is powerful not
only for the addict being confronted, but also
for the person doing the confronting, who learns
how personal denial and rationalization
sustained addiction. Medication-
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Recent research suggests that antidepressants may
be useful in treating sexual addiction. In
addition to treating mood symptoms common among
sex addicts, these medications may have some
benefit in reducing sexual obsessions.