Addictions Services

Since human sexuality is a natural part of development, the idea of sex addiction can be confusing. We support the idea that human sexuality is a natural and wonderful part of the human experience. However, there are times when exposure to sex at a young age, or prolonged use of sexually explicit material confuses our brains as to what is considered our own healthy sexual behaviors. The confusion in the brain causes humans to start acting outside of their personal boundaries, participating in sex acts that result in guilt, shame and even more confusion and chaos. If you have ever experienced the feelings of guilt and shame after participating in sex acts, and if this experience has happened more then once, you might be in some stage of a sex addiction.

Sex addiction can start at any age. Since the emergence of the internet, many of our clients have had their first exposure to some type of pornography by the age of nine. Brains at a early age cannot adequately process what they are seeing, so the brain can start to change as a result. If you experienced pornographic material before your brain was prepared to make sense of the imagery, and as a result, sought out more imagery out of natural curiosity, you might have had a change to your arousal template. Arousal templates are comprised of the thoughts, images, behaviors, sounds, smells and sights, fantasies and objects that arouse us sexually. Arousal templates start to take shape in early childhood and can be influenced by the experiences, planned or imposed, of the child. As that child grows into puberty and adulthood, those arousal templates are the foundation for which that adult cements some of their sexual preferences, and sought after sexual experiences.

 

If you feel that some of your sexual behaviors are inconsistent with your cited sexual preferences or emotional well-being (as indicated by the guilt and shame post sexual encounter), then you could be in some stage of a sexual addiction. Here, we use a variety of sources to determine the stage of sexual addiction you or a loved one might be facing. You can expect to be greeted by our therapists in a non judgmental space, lacking expectations of what is “normal” sexual behaviors. Instead, our help comes in the form of you dictating what is your ideals of sexual health. Our job is to help you sort through all your previous misinformation, or exposure in order for you to clear your slate, and develop a sex plan that is aligned with your cited values, preferences and optimal health.

See Clinician Bio: Julie McDevitt, Hillary Hause, Pat Martin, Siomy Nambo & Kimberly Schmurr

In Alcoholic’s Anonymous the famous saying is, “That every alcoholic is waiting for the day when they can finally control and enjoy their drinking.” While knowing behind all the denial, minimizualization and excuses, the alcoholic has crossed an invisible line that they can never recover from, and drink again like a normal person. Just the fact they are attempting to control their drinking in countless ways: only drinking on weekends, drinking beer only, limiting themselves to 3 drinks, inevitably they find the inability to stick to their plan. Alcoholics are not immoral, bad or purposefully failing to drink like a normal drinker.

Their bodies metabolize alcohol differently then the normal drinker, and after time, their bodies become so sensitive to alcohol that no amount, time of day, type of alcohol, or combination works over time to create successful drinking outcomes. Often leaving family, friends and loved ones feeling dismayed, frustrated and sad. The only effective treatment over time is abstinence. Usually that is a process that involves change- and that change is difficult, if not impossible, on their own.

 

Drugs and Alcohol have long threatened the well-being of individuals and families.  We offer outpatient mental health services and group services to help those struggling with sobriety and how to “stay stopped.”  Our therapist follow the task model, through the 12 steps of AA and/or 8 tasks of Refuge Recovery, depending on which philosophy is most aligned with the individual client.

See Clinician Bio: Julie McDevitt, Hillary Hause, Pat Martin, Siomy Nambo & Kimberly Schmurr

Video game disorder became recognized by the World Health Organization on May 25 2018.  The World Health Organization defined gaming disorder as “characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.  The inclusion into the WHO allowed for a diagnosis to be added to the ICD-11, meaning it is a recognized diagnosis for health care professionals when the individual meets certain criteria.

 

Like other process addictions, clinicians can use the diagnosis when the gaming interfere with the functioning of daily living.  According to WHO, there has to be a consistent pattern of persistent  gaming behavior in which people replace other activities with more time gaming.  Then, the amount of gaming, over other interests and activities begins to disrupt their relationships with other people, family members, or their ability to be successful in other areas of daily living.

 

The person who need to be symptomatic for one year to be recognized by the WHO.  However, waiting to intervene increases the likelihood of compulsive behavior and harder for the brain to tolerate withdrawal of the behavior.

 

Gaming disorder is a process disorder.  Process disorders involve participating in an activity with the following characteristics:

• lacking control over their gaming habits
• prioritizing gaming over other interests and activities
• continuing gaming despite its negative consequences

The amount of gaming must also interfere with one of the following:

• family life
• social life
• personal life
• education
• work

Therapy involves individual and family work.  Our clinicians are trained to deliver task model with the following outcomes in mind:

* Set the standard for recovery from addiction in a way that is non-judgmental, compassionate and empowering.
* Reclaim your freedom from acting compulsively.
​* Avoid Relapse
* Access resources and support

See Clinician Bio: Julie McDevitt, Hillary Hause, Pat Martin, Siomy Nambo & Kimberly Schmurr