Are you seeking treatment for sexual addiction? Have you considered group therapy? Group therapy is a common treatment tool for many kinds of addiction and it can help you and your partner with the healing and recovery process.
Reason #1: Education
Participating in group therapy is a great way to learn more about coping with sexual addiction. Group members have the opportunity to learn strategies and get ideas from the therapist facilitating the group. You also learn communication tools that you and your partner can use at home. Because it’s a group experience, you have the chance to hear from other participants and learn from their insights as well.
Reason #2: Acceptance
Another benefit of group therapy is acceptance. Many people who struggle with a sexual addiction are burdened by many negative emotions. Including...
Shame
Guilt
Embarrassment
Sadness and regret
Unfortunately, in society at large, within close-knit communities, and even among families, there is a stigma that comes with treatment for sexual addiction. Group therapy is a place where you can feel accepted. You are encouraged to speak openly with the other participants. This unconditional acceptance has a powerful effect on those who have felt marginalized their entire lives.
Reason #3: Confidentiality
An important aspect of group therapy for the treatment for sexual addiction is that the meetings are strictly confidential so that the learning and acceptance that occurs in these groups is genuine and emotionally safe for everyone involved. Your therapist or group facilitator can explain this in more detail.
Reason #4: Creating Healthy Relationships
People who struggle with sexual addiction have problems forming healthy relationships. Especially relationships that are not based on sex. Group therapy provides a chance for you to learn how to have healthy relationships with people who are emotionally supportive. These groups may be single-gendered or coed, depending on the focus of the group. You can use what you learn in group therapy in your everyday life to either create new healthy relationships or strengthen already existing relationships.
Reason #5: Clinical Support
Therapeutic groups are often run by therapists as part of their practice. Usually, the participants are already clients that the therapist sees individually, and have decided that a group therapy experience would be helpful for their treatment for sexual addiction. The therapist screens potential participants before a group is formed to make sure that the dynamics of the group are well balanced and that it is appropriate for a client’s individual needs.
How Can Group Therapy Help Partners?
Group therapy isn’t just for those with addiction issues. There are several reasons why group therapy can also help you, their partner. For example:
Get support for yourself. A partner’s addiction can seem to override everything else in your family, but you need support too.
Express yourself. Group therapy gives you the ability to talk openly about how your partner’s actions have affected you.
Learn communication tools. You, too, can learn skills that will help you better communicate with your partner.
Address your emotions. You may have feelings of anger and betrayal because of what your partner did and group therapy is an accepting place for you to talk about these feelings.
While partners are focused on making sure their loved ones get help, it’s important that they too receive the support that they need.
Treatment for sexual addiction involves a lot of emotional hard work. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you are an addict or the partner of an addict, group therapy is a powerful experience. Both of you will learn, grow, and be accepted as you participate in your recovery. Interested in learning more? Click to learn more about Sex Addiction Group Therapy and Upcoming Groups with Naomi Casement, LMSW.
