Expand your world! Live life to the fullest! Beth Mares RP works afternoons and evenings. Her addiction-related work focuses on sex addictions and adult children of alcoholics issues. Her psychotherapist license allows her to work on underlying causes. She has practiced in Toronto for over 30 years, and now works throughout Canada via video therapy and chat IM using platforms that meet all privacy standards. More at Beth's approach and bio. Overcoming compulsive sexual behaviour isn't about willpower--it's about getting help to find the underlying causes and change them.
You are an individual and need to be treated as such; you can give two people the same label, but their paths to recovery will be different.
Psychotherapy for a sexual addiction doesn't just solve the obvious problem--it also makes life richer and happier. I adapt my approach based on what works for an individual. The type of work may need to change over time.
Especially if something explosive has come out, the focus will initially be on damage control and dealing with acute stress.
After that there is a shift towards working with the underlying causes, while continuing to take care of practical problems and forming new habits. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and when required, other well-researched methods. Do Step programs help? Most of my clients have had no interest in step programs, or have tried them and not liked them; but others find them very helpful, and I have sometimes helped a client to work the steps.
