A STRUGGLE WITH SHAME
You say you’ll stop, and you don’t. You say this is the last time, but it’s not. Sex addiction robs you of joy, relationships, and life’s best moments. It follows you to places you don’t want it to go. The shame keeps you from reaching out, being known. And then the shame fuels the behavior once more, and the cycle starts over again. If you could turn it off—just flip it like a light switch—you would. But it’s not that simple. We at Daring Ventures know this struggle, and we are here to give you hope and help through specialized sex addiction treatment.
IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT SEX
Despite what most people think, sex addiction really isn’t about sex at all. Sex addiction—like most all addiction—is about finding something on the outside to change the way we feel on the inside. Sex addicts turn to these compulsive behaviors not because they find them so pleasurable and fulfilling, but because they provide a momentary relief from the pain, depression, or anxiety that constantly plagues their inner lives. In fact, most sex addicts report intense shame and despair after acting out sexually.
Am I a Sex Addict?
If you are unsure whether or not you may be a sex addict, you can take a free, anonymous assessment online. The Sexual Addiction Screening Test, Revised (SAST–R) is a simple way to get a better idea of whether or not you may benefit from further assessment for sexual addiction. You can take the SAST–R by clicking on the button below.
WHERE DOES SEX ADDICTION COME FROM?
Though every journey and every person is unique, many individuals who struggle with compulsive sexual behaviors can find elements of their own histories in the stories of others. (Based on the research of Patrick Carnes, PhD, 2004).
Family of Origin
Early Trauma and Abuse
Sexual Addiction Symptoms
NO TWO PEOPLE ARE ALIKE. SO WHY SHOULD ALL SEX ADDICTION TREATMENT BE EXACTLY THE SAME?
We believe that since no two people are the same, no two treatments should be the same either. Carefully celected evidence-based treatment methods must be utilized in order to utilize what works in the treatment of addiction issues.
Our clinicians and coaches are committed to co-create with our clients a plan for change, a plan that meets the client where they are and consider the client’s own goals. Together, staff and clients can forge treatments that apply the best practices in addiction recovery to an individual’s strengths, personality, and needs.
OUR TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
Understanding Addiction
We are committed to continuing education, understanding the latest findings on the development, process, and treatment of addictions. Though we do see clients with chemical addiction issues, our primary focus is on process addictions: sex addiction, love or relationship addiction, food addiction, and problematic issues about money or work. Our treatment approach draws from attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and other recent findings in the addictions field.
Understanding Trauma
Many of our clients require treatment for relational or developmental trauma. One of the more recent discoveries about the origins of addiction is the understanding of addiction as an attachment disorder. We learn to regulate our emotions through healthy attachments. When unhealthy attachments are experienced, individuals may not develop the necessary skills to regulate their emotions. Addiction is about using something on the outside to change the way we feel on the inside. This pattern is prevalent among those who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or other unhealthy attachments in their development.
Understanding the Individual
No two people are alike. For this reason, we believe there is no such thing as “one right way” to recovery from addiction. At Daring Ventures, we treat each person as an individual, developing a treatment plan specific to his or her needs. This is accomplished through a thorough assessment process, which can take several sessions in some cases. We also utilize a number of instruments in the assessment process. The Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI) 4.0 is a thorough assessment of an individual’s compulsive sexual behavior, history of trauma, diagnostic criteria, and attachment style. The Post-Traumatic Stress Index, Revised (PTSI-R) assesses for traumatic reactions. The Money and Work Adaptive Styles Index (MAWASI) examines problems around money and work. Other assessment instruments are utilized as required.