The Drama Triangle

Ever reflect back on an argument with a loved one and wonder what the heck you were actually arguing about? Somewhere the conversation must have derailed. In any conversation there are two important elements at play — the actual content of the conversation and...

Co-Addiction vs. Trauma Informed Treatment for Betrayed Partners

In the early days of sex addiction treatment, clinicians took a copy + paste approach from successful substance abuse treatment protocols and applied it to sex addiction treatment. While some of this was (and remains) helpful for treating addiction, it unfortunately...

Shame Messages: Negative Core Beliefs

Shame & guilt are universal emotions that we have all experienced. The best way to distinguish between guilt & shame is this — guilt says “Woops, I did something wrong, I did something bad.” Shame says “I am bad, there is something...

Why Recovery Groups?

Addiction is a topic of concern around our country; it is estimated that over 30 million Americans struggle with various addictions including drug, alcohol, gambling and sex addiction. Joining a recovery group can be one of the most important and effective ways...

Disclosure After Infidelity Part II: Emotional Impact Letter

After a disclosure of infidelity or sex addiction, a couple may choose to complete the difficult and important process of the full disclosure. Disclosure day is painful for both partners and can stir up a lot of difficult emotions. The final two parts of the...