Sex Addiction & Porn-Use
Based in Tampa Bay, Available to all in FL & WI
Any unwanted behavior that takes control of your life can be considered an addiction, but sexual addictions are especially harmful as it involves the sex life; an area so private and sensitive it tends to invoke deep shame. With the shame and pain of sex addiction, mostly hidden from the outside world, many of Kimberly’s clients, both men and women, are looking for someone to understand, to protect privacy and the offer a “quick fix” as the consequences can be severe – involving legal and even criminal consequences. With this in mind, Kimberly uses a tender teacher approach to help clients understand, control and heal from the pain behind sexual addiction.
common questions about Sex/Porn Addiction Therapy
A Sex Addiction Therapist should have specific training and education to understand and alleviate the addiction. A Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) will have specific training, supervision and experience necessary to use the Carnes-model of Sex Addition therapy; a highly specific behavioral/trauma-based approach to treatment which fits well with the 12 Step Model of addiction recovery. The therapy will involve a referral to group therapy, in addition to individual and marital therapy if spouses are involved. Depending upon the degree to which pornography has affected the individual, a full or partial use of the program can be administered.
Kimberly uses both the Certified Sex Addiction Therapy (CSAT) approach to educating and working through the addiction cycle, but also adds the experiential approach of Internal Family Systems to identify and heal the underlying trauma that keeps the sex addiction cycle fueled. While a sexual history is taken, it is expected that trust building will be Kimberly’s first approach as she gets to know her clients and help them work with what has kept them resistant to change. Kimberly also follows the CSAT disclosure process and believes in the importance of collaborating with other licensed therapists and that each partner and the marriage have their own therapist to have the best outcomes.
As both a Certified Sex Therapist and a Marriage and Family Therapist, Kimberly can address the various issues that arise with porn-use and sex addiction in marriages.
- Unwanted and uncontrolled sexual behaviors – porn, chat lines, prostitutes, fetishes etc.
- Effects on spouse – self esteem and trust building
- Effects on marriage – rebuilding diminished sexual and emotional intimacy
- Affair recovery
- Graduate coursework in Sex Addiction – the Institute of Sexual Wholeness and Dr. Mark Laaser
- Modules 1 and 2 of the Certified Sex Addiction Therapy (CSAT) program completed – International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Therapists – not a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist.
- Certified IFS therapist
- Training on IFS and Sex Addiction
