Sexual Addiction:Strength/Hope/Recovery

Listen to this repeat show about The Impulse Center and how it can help Addicts.

Carol the Coach knows what damage Sexual Addiction can do to a relationship. To offset the damage she inteviews founder and Clinical Director of the Center for Relational Recovery in Leesburg Virginia, Michelle Mays LPC, CSAT  who has over 13 years experience in providing individual, couples and group therapy to those struggling with sexual addiction, trauma and relationship issues.   Michelle is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist trained under Dr. Patrick Carnes. She is also trained in Post Induction Therapy by Pia Mellody for the treatment of relational trauma. Michelle is sought out as a writer, trainer and speaker on sexual addiction, partners of sex addicts, the developmental model of trauma treatment, and relationship issues. In addition, she mentors and supervises upcoming therapists. Michelle will be talking about addiction as an attachment disorder (intimacy disorder) and the way in which addicts often attach to the substance or process they are using compulsively as a substitute for meaningful and consistent attachment in their relationships and the way that this is set up in childhood, and how recovery must address attachment and learning how to ‘do relationships’ if it is going to be successful long-term for the person.

Carol the Coach will be interviewing Craig S. Cashwell one of the co-authors of Shadows of the Cross. This book  focuses on sex addiction recovery for Christian men and women. Often, Christians who struggle with sex addiction live the ultimate "Jekyll and Hyde" existence, being active in their church communities even as they hide their addiction. The Christian church, in general, struggles to address issues of sexuality in a non-shaming way, which further supports the hidden nature of the addiction. For these men and women, spirituality and sexuality have become compartmentalized. Recovery, then, must involve the integration of healthy spiritual beliefs and practices with healthy sexuality. Shadows of the Cross used in conjunction with Dr. Patrick Carnes's book Facing the Shadow provides a roadmap for this healing journey. Shadows of the Cross provides an early spiritual focus to recovery while addressing issues of sexuality in a non-shaming way using Biblical scripture to encourage long-term recovery. Shadows of the Cross offers unique guidance on spiritual practices such as Christian meditation, contemplative reading, solitude, confession, study, and prayer. This book was written specifically for the subset of those in recovery who self-identify as Christian.  

Carol the Coach will be interviewing Adam Calvert who is a licensed professional counselor and CSAT-Supervisor. So many sexual addicts want a program that integrates solid recovery with  scripture based Christian Theology. Route1520’s EMBARK Men’s Recovery Intensive is a four-day event designed to provide a jumpstart for the recovery journey. The intensive focuses specifically on sexual addiction and involves a comprehensive approach to healing that goes beyond the acting out behavior and gets to the root issues that are driving the unwanted behavior. Attendees of the intensive are divided into small groups and work with licensed counselors, including a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT), specifically trained in treating sexual addiction.   If you are wanting a scriptured based recovery program ... Route 1520 is for you! Route1520 approaches recovery from sexual addiction by following a twelve-step model that integrates with Scripture-based Christian theology. Those who identify with Route1520 community are primarily people who identify their Higher Power as the God of Scripture.  

Carol the Coach will be interviewoing Paul Hartman who will be speaking about his  double mission. First is helping the addict get sober, stay sober, and progressing to deeper recovery. That includes healing past and present trauma wounds, exploring family of origin issues, accessing emotions that may have been repressed or stuffed, reducing shame, claiming self esteem, and living life as a functional adult. His second mission focuses on the couple because he believe the original relationship wounded by sexual betrayal cannot be healed. Even when both partners want to preserve the relationship, the wounds are too deep and the old relationship must be allowed to die. The good news is that if the addict establishes consistent, relapse free sobriety and the partner chooses to believe that partner is a new person in recovery who is honest and trustworthy, they can create a brand new relationship together. With willingness, help, and hard work over time; the new relationship can be better than anything they have ever had together including going back to a time that predates the addiction.    This is an inspiring show that will help both the addict and the partner to trust in hope-strength-recovery!  

Carol the Coach is checking in with Dr. Patrick Carnes to get his take on the evolution of Sexual Addiction. In this riveting interview, he will be discussing what he believes will be necessary to maintain good recovery for the future. Dr. Carnes is a nationally known speaker on sex addiction and recovery isssues. He is the founder of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals and Gentle Path Press. He  has written numerous books on sexual addiction and recovery, including.... Out of  the Shadows:Understanding Sexual Addiction,  A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Principles, and Recovery Zone. He is a Senior Fellow of the Gentle Path treatment program at the Meadows. This is an opportunity for the listener to hear from "The Master" and find hope, strength and recovery that comes from sexual addiction.

It may seem like your relationship has  been irrevocably damaged but with a lot of hard work and support you both can get through this and have the intimacy that you deserve. Listen as Carol the Coach helps you to find the tools to strengthen the bond and repair the painful wounding that occurs in Sexual Addiction.

Carol the Coach will be answering emails and taking your calls to answer questions about sexual addiction or loving someone who has a sexual addiction. This disorder can wreak havoc in  families with sexual addiction so ask the expert what you can do if you suspect sexual addiction in your life!

It can be tough to come in for that first appointment when you have sex and love addiction. Listen as Carol the Coach shares with you what it would be like to give information to help form I throw treatment plan. She is going to share the diagnostic information she needs from "Jane" so they can get a thorough history and identify where to start working

Do you think that you might need intensive treatment? Carol the Coach interviews "Joey" who went through intensive treatment and wants to share his hope-strength and recovery with our listeners. He talks about the his realization that he needed Intensive Residential Treatment and then he talks about the extra steps that he took to get and stay healthy. It is a big decision to invest in intensive programing so listen to how he made the decision and what he is doing back in his community to stay healthy!

Carol the Coach interviews Ken Howard about how to deal with the shame and guilt that naturally occurs with sexual addiction. Most sex addicts, once they get into recovery, want to build trust and so Ken will be identifying the steps necessary to build the trust and let go of the shame and guilt. Carol the Coach helps you to learn how to be more authentic and honest which brings about trust and intimacy.

Many people wonder if they have a sex addiction ...while others question whether they are addicted to Love. Carol the Coach interviews Jessica Levith, a marriage and family therapist who admits that she too suffered from Love and Sex Addiction. Listen in ... as she discusses the criterea for this very real condition and how she found sanity and serenity one day at a time. In this honest interview, Jess discusses the definition of sex and love addiction and the myths associated with this addiction. She will discuss the causes that typically play into the development of this condition and more importantly the recovery process that builds strength from this very real disorder.

Partners often times experience PTSD that may have originated in childhood. Other times the trauma is about feeling betrayed by the person that you should be able to trust the most! Listen as Carol the Coach interviews trauma specialists who help the partner to reconfigure their life and redefine their relationship.

Carol the coach is interviewing Paul Ginocchio who is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the producer and a recovering sex addict about his new documentary --- The Courage to Love. He interviews 4 recovering sex addicts including himself who all have a different story but all  suffer from this addiction. The compulsivity and loss of control plagues each one of them as they talk about their breaking points with addiction. This is a riveting documentary that helps to educate the public about how REAL ..... Sexual Addiction is and what steps an addict can take to rever and manage it.  

It is not uncommon for sex addicts and their partners to be overwhelmed by their feelings. Carol the Coach interviews Ken Howard who is the founder of Aspen Partnership in Kansas City, Missouri about his practice to help clients identify their feelings and to begin to develop the trust that they so richly deserve.He works with clients to restore their connection and typically uses a very successful type of intervention called "Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy." Sexual Addiction is a disorder that requires strategies to assist you in maintaining recovery. This show is to help you access the books, the experts and the people who are managing recovery with The 12 Step Program and Patrick Carnes Recovery Task Model that reinforces the steps you need to take to manage your recovery and take your life through the journey so that you not only conquer the "Addict" but develop into the person you were meant to be! Carol the Coach is a Certified Sexual Addictions Therapist who is ready to take you on the journey and expose you to the experts who will guide you through the steps.