Spouses & Partners Treatment
Sex addiction and intimacy disorders treatment is a journey toward recovery for both the client and their spouse or partner. Our spouse and partner treatment options help you tend to the painful emotional wounds from your partner’s problematic sexual behavior or intimacy challenges. In a safe, confidential, nurturing environment, you can freely discuss the deeply personal situations and painful feelings you’re experiencing, and begin to heal yourself and your relationship.
What’s Involved in Spouse and Partner Treatment?
Process groups – Therapist-facilitated process groups provide support from others who share similar challenges with their spouse or partner. Sharing your story with others who understand, and receiving their support and validation is an important step in developing shame resiliency and healing from your partner’s actions.
Boundary setting – An important part of partner treatment is helping you set boundaries that support trusting relationships. These boundaries can help you re-establish a sense of safety and clarity for yourself in your life outside treatment. We will teach you skills to set appropriate boundaries without “shutting yourself off” from intimacy due to fear of being hurt again.
Education – You’ll learn about underlying issues like trauma, neglect and abuse that contribute to intimacy disorders and sexual addiction. You’ll also discover the best ways to communicate with and support your partner in their recovery, while also taking care of yourself and your needs.
Individual therapy – Individual therapy provides the opportunity for you to dig deeper into difficult, confusing and conflicting feelings that often result from a partner’s sexual problems or intimacy issues. In a safe, accepting environment, a licensed professional can help you recover as your partner recovers.
Trauma-informed care – Infidelity and/or emotional neglect are traumatic experiences that require focused care. Partner treatment is carefully designed to address PTSD-like symptoms, helping you re-regulate your nervous system and redirect unhelpful thought patterns.
Shame resilience – Our programs integrate Dr. Brené Brown’s The Daring Way™ shame-resilience curriculum into treatment. You’ll process grief and loss, and learn to manage feelings of shame and isolation that are often experienced by the wounded partner.
Self-help support – Participation in 12-step groups such as S-Anon and COSA is also highly recommended. In general, 12-step groups are a good way to process your grief and empower yourself to take responsibility for your own behavior.
Begin Healing Today
The difficult feelings you’re experiencing are normal, but you don’t have to stay stuck there. Our treatment programs can help you take life-affirming steps toward your own recovery. We’ll help empower you and set you on a path to feeling whole again. To find out more about partner treatment, call us today at 855-900-7357