Outpatient Treatment
What is Compulsive Sexual Behavior?
In sexual compulsions, sex is a priority more important than family, work and values. Sex becomes the source of nurturing and trust-the organizing principle in that individual's life. The individual then sacrifices what he/she cherishes most in order to preserve the unhealthy sexual behavior. Such behavior causes severe stress to both the individual and his/her family, although this may not be immediately apparent.
Compulsive sexual behavior can include the following behaviors when the obsession with them and the time and energy spent acting on them become unmanageable:
- Compulsive masturbation
- Compulsive heterosexual or homosexual relationships
- Pornography obsessions and compulsions
- Visits to prostitutes
- Exhibitionism/voyeurism
- Indecent phone calling
- Child molesting or incest
Obviously some compulsive sexual behavior is illegal. All compulsive sexual behavior is damaging-to the individual and to involved others. Help is available. The staff at Pathways Counseling Center recommends taking action now to change these destructive patterns.
Don't wait till things get worse!
Appropriate for evaluation would be patients who experience any of the following symptoms:
- Repetitive sexual behavior that is problematic
- Inability to keep sexual behavior within legal, moral or self-imposed limits
- Mood changes related to sexual activity or the loss of sexual activity
- Sexual obsession or fantasy as a primary coping strategy
- Inordinate amounts of time spent obtaining sex, being sexual, recovering from, or covering up sexual experiences
- Neglect of or interference with social, occupational or recreational activities
- Sexualizing a helping relationship or other non-sexual relations
- Damage to family relationships
- Inordinate amounts of money spent buying sex or pornography
- Change in or loss of career due to sexual behavior
- Repetitive acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases
The qualified, diversified staff at Pathways Counseling Center offers a full range of treatment for persons struggling with compulsive sexual behavior. This treatment team has participated in specialized training at the Golden Valley Health Center Institute for Behavioral Medicine and The Wisconsin Sex Offender Treatment Network. Clients will benefit from team treatment and staffing, availability of psychiatric evaluation and psychological testing, and inter-agency collaboration.
Components of the treatment program include:
- Evaluation and assessment to determine the extent of the problem and to tailor an appropriate, effective treatment plan for individuals and family members. The primary treatment program includes individual, group and family therapy (6 months minimum).
Treatment Issues Addressed in Group Therapy Include:
- Sexual assault dynamics
- Cognitive distortions
- Victim empathy
- Personal victimization
- Family of origin issues
- Emotional recognition
- Deviant arousal
- Sex education
- Anger Management
- Communication skills
- Relapse prevention training
- Problem solving
- Relationship issues
Treatment Issues Addressed in Individual and Family Therapy include:
- Personality issues
- Family of origin problems
- Personal victimization resolution
- Individual concerns
- Family enabling
The treatment program also includes:
- Family intervention to address needs of family/significant others affected by compulsive behavior of a loved one
- Assessment and treatment of any related addictions
- One year follow-up after-care treatment
- Coordination of treatment with 12-Step programs
- Adjunct therapy which includes marital and family therapy
- Sexual therapy for couples
- ACOA/co-dependency treatment
- Individual and group therapy for effected spouses and family members