Getting Real about Sex Addiction

This groundbreaking, engaging clinical resource for psychotherapists, sex therapists, and related clinicians is replete with rich and empathetic case material and offers a practical, powerful argument for using psychodynamic approaches when working with sex addicts and their partners to achieve long-lasting relational results.

Graeme Daniels, MFT, is a practicing psychotherapist and author. He has self-published several novels and has written articles for publications such as The Therapist, The Journal of Culture and Psychology, and online resources like PsycheCentral.com. He is currently a faculty member within the Masterson Institute, as well as an analytic training candidate within the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. In addition, he provides training at San Francisco Bay Area mental health agencies.

Joe Farley, MFT, is a marriage and family therapist in private practice. He was appointed to the faculty of the Masterson Institute for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in 2002 and has taught at the graduate psychology department at John F. Kennedy University. In addition, he has guest lectured at The Wright Institute, Alliant University, University of California, Berkeley, and Vancouver Island University.

Table of Contents Preface Joe Farley, MFT Introduction: What are we wearing? Graeme Daniels, MFT Chapter One: Trends and Norms in Sex Addiction Treatment Graeme Daniels Case Illustration: Rick and Anne Where Sex Addiction Fits in the Mental Health Industry Motivational Interviewing, 12-Step Programs, and Initial Assessment Money, Time, and Shame: Three Indices of Assessment Female Sex and Love Addiction: The Under-Researched and Under-Treated Sex Addiction, Personality and Attachment Disorder Splitting, "Excuses", and Keys to Therapy Case Illustration: Not Thinking (Mr. A) A Comment on Psychoanalytic Approaches to Treating Sex Addiction Chapter Two: Sex and Intersectionality Graeme Daniels Sex Addiction: A Cultural Controversy Sex Addiction and Social Class Sex Addiction and Gender Mythological Perspectives: The Swine, Virginity, and Scopophilia Case illustration: Voyeurism (Mr. B) Hate, Objectification, Exploitation, and Male Sacrifice Case Illustration: Jill and Ray Chapter Three: Individual Therapy with the Sex Addict Joe Farley A Psychodynamic Approach Efficacy of Psychodynamic Approaches Revisiting the Definition of Sex Addiction Patients Mandated for Treatment Legal Issues Standardized Treatment Models Discovery Developing a Therapeutic Alliance Therapeutic Neutrality States of Mind Implicit Memory Procedural Memory Case illustration: Tony Therapeutic Frame Unconscious Process Empathy and Empathic Failures Countertransference Reactions Early Attachment Issues Chapter Four: Treatment of an Impacted Partner Graeme Daniels Co-Addict, Relational Trauma, and Psychoanalytic Models of Trauma Trauma Profile and the Reconfigured Environment: Labels, Boundary Agreements, and "Full Disclosure" Alternative Profiles of Impacted Partners The Anti-honeymoon Forgiveness, Mindreading, and Rebuilding Trust Case illustration: The Return of Anne Chapter Five: Sex Addiction and Group Therapy Graeme Daniels A Problem of Thinking: Internal Process and Defenses in Group Therapy Group Needs, Community Virtues Group Therapy Versus 12-Step Participation Groups Discussing Sexual Fantasy, Sexual Abuse, and Violence A Sex Addiction Superego: Group Conscience and Purpose Case Illustration: A Women's Group Experience Groups as Microcosms of Commitment and Conflict Resolution Case Illustration: Eric, Stu, and a few supportive men Chapter Six: Collaborative approaches: working with a treatment team Joe Farley Splitting of the Treatment Team Splitting in Everyday Life Competition Among Therapists Case illustration: Kevork and Shannon The Blind Men and the Elephant Physician Heal Thyself Professional Burnout 12-Step Programs and a Higher Power Freud's Views of God and Religion Chapter Seven: Couples and Family therapy Joe Farley Providing a Non-judgmental Therapeutic Experience for Both Addict and Partner Case Illustration: Dan and Vickie Therapist Neutrality in the Face of Pressure to Take Sides Countertransference Reactions of the Couples Therapist Case Illustration: Mary and Stan, a Therapeutic Failure Case Illustration: Dan and Vickie (continued) Helping each partner understand the other by supporting the emergence of real selves in a relationship