Sex/Love Addiction Treatment

How we can help

  • Therapy for Addicts and Betrayed Partners

    At Mana, we offer a comprehensive approach to treating sex addiction. We are trained to treat sex addiction through Dr. Patrick Carnes task model programming, as well as other therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, IFS and EMDR to assist in the recovery process. We are also trained to treat betrayal trauma to help the partner of a sex addict recovery from the pain of betrayal.

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  • Disclosure

    When sex addiction impacts a romantic relationship, the betrayal felt can be catastrophic. A key element to any relationship recovery from the impact of sex addiction is a disclosure process. Research indicates that over 90% of couples that go through disclosure have rebuilt a strong bond. Click below to find out more about what the disclosure process entails.

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  • Sex Addiction Assessment

    A proper assessment is a critical precursor to any recovery process. At Mana, we are highly trained to administer and interpret the results of the Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI). Sex Addiction can present differently for each person; the SDI will help you understand your sex addiction with clarity. At Mana, we are also trained to administer and interpret other relevant assessments such as the MAWASI, PTSI-R, ECR, and SDMI.

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What is Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction refers to when an individual engages in compulsive and escalating patterns of sexual activity despite experiencing negative consequences. Sexual addiction has now been officially recognized as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization and has been included in the ICD-11.

Common features and symptoms associated with sex addiction include:

  • Loss of Control: Individuals may struggle to control their sexual impulses, continuing to engage in sexual activities even when they have a strong desire to stop.

  • Negative Consequences: Sex addiction can lead to adverse outcomes such as relationship problems, legal issues, difficulties at work, or in general daily functioning.

  • Escalation: Over time, individuals with sex addiction may find that they engage in more extreme or risky sexual behaviors to achieve the same level of satisfaction.

  • Preoccupation with Sex: Constant thoughts about sex can be all consuming, and an individual may spend a significant amount of time thinking about sex or sexual fantasies.

  • Sex to Sooth Emotions: Many sex addicts report dysfunctionally managing stress or intense emotions with sexual behaviour.

The origins of sex addiction are complex and may involve a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Underlying mental health issues (such as depression or anxiety), and early exposure to sexual content or traumatic experiences are some potential contributors.

Working with a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) is key when navigating recovery for sex addiction. Sex addiction recovery involves important tasks and steps in the therapeutic process that often get overlooked by therapists without the proper training.

LOOKING BEYOND THE BEHAVIOUR : OUR APPROACH TO ADDICTION

At Mana, our approach to treating addiction is to balance the “why” and the “how”. Our central philosophy is to inquire about the roots of addiction to gain awareness around the addictive process. In other words, it’s not about why the addiction, but why the pain. Mana therapists will also help teach our clients the tools and strategies necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety. Often, therapists can get bogged down in the trauma story and achieve little progress in present day recovery, or rigidly focus on recovery behaviors without creating awareness around the origins of addiction. At Mana, we balance these two very important approaches into a more holistic recovery process for our clients.

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