Sex Addiction, 
Partners & Families

Sex
Addiction

Sexual addiction ruins relationships, destroys self esteem, and can result in job loss, arrests, and lost time and productivity. Often those struggling with sex addiction have tremendous shame about their behaviors so do not come forward for help.  

Others may justify and rationalize their behavior by telling themselves “no one will know”, “I deserve this”, or “I have natural urges and needs just like everyone else”. However, as the consequences of our behavior inevitably begin to accumulate, our justifications and rationalizations, along with our carefully constructed public persona comes crashing down around us with soul crushing repercussions. 

Recovery is possible, however. At Highland Village Counseling we understand the shame and pain you are feeling. We have also seen many individuals, couples, and families recover from this addiction and thrive. Please call for a free consultation with one of our Certified Sex Addiction Therapists to determine if any of our services may be right for you.  

If any of the following behaviors are negatively impacting your life please do not wait any longer to seek help:
  • Compulsive Masturbation
  • Extensive Pornography Use
  • Prostitution
  • Exhibitionism
  • Voyeurism
  • Multiple Affairs
  • Unsafe Sex
  • Sexual Anorexia
  • Multiple or Anonymous Partners
  • Phone or Internet Sex 
  • Sexual massage, escorts
  • Prostitution of self
We offer individual sessions, groups, and couples work to address the pain, shame, and destruction resulting from sex addiction.

Partner
betrayal

When someone discovers their partner, the person they trusted the most, has betrayed them, it can be devastating. Research has shown that many partners of sex addicted individuals and those who have experienced infidelity in their partnership develop significant PTSD symptoms and require may trauma treatments such as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in addition to working to repair their self-esteem, sense of identity, and process the pain of betrayal. Partners must work through the grief of losing the relationship they believed they had. What you thought you knew, who you thought you could trust, your view of yourself, and confidence in where your life was going can evaporate in an instant when infidelity is discovered.   

Learning how to cope with infidelity or a partner’s sex addiction can be a lonely process. Because of the secretive nature of sex addiction and the stigma associated with it in some circles, a physical and emotional sense of isolation can envelope the partner. We’ve found that partner support groups are extremely helpful in preventing the isolation that often comes with discovery. At Highland Village Counseling we offer individual, group, and couple support for partners and couples trying to navigate the aftermath of discovery.

impact on the
Children

Children, no matter their age, suffer the consequences of a parent’s sexual or pornography addiction. Adverse effects on children include exposure to cyberporn and objectification, involvement in parental conflicts, lack of attention due to one parent’s involvement with their sex or cybersex addiction, and the other parent’s preoccupation with the sex addict’s behavior, and the possible breakup of the family.

In the highly charged emotional home environment of a sexual addict and his or her partner, the ultimate focus of the parents is often shifted from the child to each other and the addiction. This leads the child to feel neglected, unsafe, and confused. Children often need some age appropriate explanation of what is going on in the household and the ability to express their feelings about what is happening for them as a result. 

At Highland Village Counseling we work with families to facilitate those difficult discussions and allow parents to communicate reassurance and love with the children to ease the negative repercussions and allow for an environment of healing. We also work individually with younger children, utilizing Play Therapy to help them express themselves in their own language, and with adolescents who may be struggling with fear, confusion, anger, and acting out behaviors due to the change in family dynamic. 
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