Group therapy is a critical part of treatment planning.

At least that's what people in 3-5 years of recovery report. For addicts and partners alike, the group experience is therapeutic and healing, in and of itself. You might think the last thing you want to do is talk about your addiction or your struggles with your partner's addiction in a group setting, but that is often the most helpful and important part of your road to recovery.

A critical component of overcoming sex addiction is to work through your addiction with others battling the same or similar things. In this 20-week group you’ll work on the first 7 tasks of recovery including: breaking through denial, understanding addiction, learning a process, limiting the pain to others, establishing sobriety, ensuring your physical integrity, and participating in a culture of support.

If you feel shame about your addiction, your actions, or towards yourself, a group experience is a critical part of reducing shame and moving forward in your recovery. It is paradoxical – when you talk about the thing that brings you shame in a safe and supported environment, the shame begins to fade.

Ask individuals who have been in successful recovery for more than a year, and they will likely tell you that one of the most important things they learned was that developing a community of support has been vital in successfully maintaining sobriety. And not just any support, but the kind of support that involves accountability and challenging, without shame and judgement.

You may have had times when you tried to stop your behaviors on your own, only to return to them despite the pain and consequences. Addiction and the shame that comes with it thrives in isolation. Having trusted people who you can honestly tell your story to is the antidote.

Addiction support groups at Counseling & Recovery Partners are lead by a therapist and typically consist of 6-8 same gender individuals who are experiencing problems with compulsive sexual behaviors. Weekly group meetings consist of group members reporting on their sobriety; triggers and challenges; and most importantly, their successes. In addition, information is presented on a number of topics including addiction, communication, developing intimacy and empathy in relationships, and being responsible for living a balanced life with healthy coping behaviors.