1) How can therapy help me?
Often therapy is about empowerment. The simple fact that you are looking at this cite could be considered empowering. Attending therapy regularly can help build on this and help you address new or long-standing issues or problems in your life. Your sexual behaviors, or those of someone close to you, can as hurtful as they once were pleasurable. Addressing the hurt that has been inflicted to you or by you can mean the difference between healthy and unhealthy future relationships. Specifically, our work generally focuses on problems of sexual nature. Therapy done by a qualified professional can help you change problematic behaviors, improve coping strategies, and identify healthy ways for you to move forward in your life, individually or in your personal and/or professional relationships.
2) How long does therapy last?
Some clients are in therapy for a few months and some for a few years. This range often depends on factors such as: the issue for which they are being seen and their responsiveness to the treatment being offered. Additionally, one significant factor can be what is known as “rightness of fit” with their therapist. This is discussed more in the General Questions section of this cite. After a few sessions (usually 2-4) your therapist will likely be able to formulate a treatment plan with you to help better assess the goals and length of treatment.
3) Is there ever any sexual touching involved in therapy?
NO, NEVER. Psychotherapy is talk-therapy. The only time there could be some touching is, after mutual agreement, a therapist puts a hand on a client’s knee, arm or shoulder as a gesture of support. If done, it is infrequent, and non-sexual in nature and intent. Of course, clients are always advised to request a no-touch policy (even supportive, non-sexual touch) if they feel more comfortable. Many therapists have a section in their intake forms which asks about non-sexual touch preferences.
However, should a therapist or professional counselor touch a client sexually, this can and should be reported to their licensing board immediately.
4) How long are therapy sessions?
Generally, psychotherapy sessions are 50 minutes – often called “a fifty minute hour”. Sometimes, you and your therapist may choose to extend a session or to schedule a longer session. Additionally, some therapists will do shorter ‘check in’ type sessions, generally 10-20 min. You should ask you therapist about their scheduling and fee policy so that you both know what to expect.
5) What is “RIGHTNESS OF FIT” with my therapist?
The rightness of fit refers to the intangible connection you and your therapist develop in the context of your professional relationship. It is often experienced as a cognitive emotional “feeling” of synchronicity in the therapeutic relationship. It is widely believed that a good working relationship between therapist and client can significantly increase good treatment outcomes. Therefore, if a client does not feel the “rightness of fit” with their therapist, it may be a good idea to discuss this with their therapist, and, possibly, consider finding a different one they do “feel” it with.
6) What is enhanced privacy?
AS you may have already noticed, you do not see the name of a clinic on this site, nor do you see a “meet our staff” section. You also will not find an address listed. Though we do have an office in Denton County, Texas, and there are real live professionals serving clients in it. We believe that, although sex addiction, sexual dysfunction, and the other very personal issues we help our clients with are nothing to be ashamed of, we do believe that offering a high level of privacy to our clients is also very important and helpful to them…. And, it saves us from having to pay for a big flashy sign to put on our offices….
7) Can humor be a helpful part of therapy?
Definitely. There have been numerous professional and published studies that have shown the benefits of moderated uses of humor therapy. Of course, it should not be demeaning or personally harmful. We believe a little humor can be empowering to the client and can be used therapeutically to advance the treatment goals.
8) What is love addiction and codependency?
Love Addiction is a mix of chaos and desperation for the intense feeling of “falling in love”. Often the addict may seem to have a greater attraction to the experience of “falling in love” than they are to the intimacy and contentment of healthy relationships.
Indicators of a Love Addiction can include:
Valuing the other over one’s self.
Repeatedly “falling in love” with toxic, unavailable or abusive partners
Choosing partners who are emotionally abusive and/or unavailable, and/or who demand an inordinate about of time and attention from you, while not making you a similar priority.
Engaging in activities that are against your values, just so you can satisfy your partner and stay in the “falling in love” phase longer.
Using sex, romantic interest, manipulation (guilt/shame) to maintain a relationship that would otherwise end.
The experience of being alone is unbearable
Do you frequently initiate sex in new relationships sooner than you would like to in order to “hook” your partner into a “love” relationship?
9) Do you work with teens?
Yes, since some studies have shown both boys and girls are now beginning exposed to porn as early as 8 years old, we do. Often many parents find it difficult to imagine their young child looking at porn, however, in our society, this is becoming more and more common at younger and younger ages.
10) What is betrayal trauma?
Simply put, Betrayal Trauma is the specific form of Trauma that can result from the betrayal, (usually infidelity) by someone you are in a trusting intimate relationship with.
11) Can I get an evening or weekend appointment?
Some therapists do offer evening and weekend appointments. Please check with your therapist for his /her availability.
12) What are some other resources for help?
Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health: SASH.net
International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals: IITAP.com
EMDR International Association: EMDRIA.org
13) What is problematic sexual behavior?
Current nomenclature may confound and confuse the terms and use them interchangeably. For example, Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) is generally used to describe elements of sex addiction, porn addiction, sexual compulsivity or unspecified sexual impulse control disorder.
Struggling with PSB does not necessarily and / or conclusively indicate one of these, or any other diagnosis. However, if you struggle with PSB (sexual behaviors you want to stop, but don’t seem to be able to), you should consult a trained professional.
14) What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapeutic process that calls on (and in many cases awakens) the bodies internal healing abilities to reprocess difficult and disturbing memories from ones past using emotional memory paths. This is different from some more traditional talk therapies in that they mainly rely on logic and reasoning neural networks.
15) Can I get an evening or weekend appointment?
Some therapists do offer evening and weekend appointments. Please check with your therapist for his /her availability.