Examining the neurobiological underpinnings of sex addiction. Neuroaffective science—studying the integrated development of the body, brain, and mind—has revealed mechanisms linking psychological and biological factors of mental disorders, including addiction. Indeed, its paradigm-shifting theoretical umbrella demonstrated that substance and behavioral dependencies share identical neurobiological workings, and thus that problematic repetitive behaviors are genuine addictions—a state increasingly understood as a chronic brain disorder. Clinical experience strongly suggests that sex addiction (SA) treatment informed by affective neuroscience—the specialty of Alexandra Katehakis—proves profoundly transformative. Katehakis's relational protocol, presented here, blends neurobiology with psychology to accomplish full recovery. Her Psychobiological Approach to Sex Addiction Treatment (PASAT) joins therapist and patient through a relationally-based psychotherapy—a holistic, dyadic dance that calls on the body, brain, and mind of both. Written with clarity and compassion, this book integrates cutting-edge research, case studies, verbatim session records, and patient writings and art. Katehakis explicates neurophysiological, psychological, and cultural forces priming and maintaining SA, then details how her innovative treatment restores patients' interpersonal, sexual, and spiritual relationality.

ENJOYABLE, EXCITING SEX IS POSSIBLE AFTER SEX ADDICTION In the journey to sexual sobriety, many sex addicts find themselves wondering, 'How am I going to have a normal relationship?' or 'Will it be possible to repair my marriage now that I've confessed my destructive behavior?' and 'Will I ever have great sex again?' As a sex, marriage, and family therapist, Alexandra Katehakis introduces a successful program for sufferers and their loved ones that will help them hone their erotic intelligence by making sense of the past, creating healthy habits in the present, and looking toward a more intimate relationship that nurtures honesty and closeness. With Katehakis's help, sex addicts can get in touch with their healthy sexual side—and embrace true intimacy and acceptance in themselves and in their mates. - Features true stories of people coming to terms with their sexuality on the other side of sex addiction, as well as couples finding a new path to sexual trust and fulfillment - Helps to build the four cornerstones of intimacy that are essential for healthy relationships

Did one or both of your parents: Become emotionally distant and unloving to their spouse? Talk about sex or sexuality in an inappropriate way? Spend a lot of time away from home or form unusually close platonic relationships? Continue their destructive behavior, even when confronted by the damage it was causing? If so, you are an adult child of a sex addict. Sex addiction is not about parents who cheat on each other or have multiple partners, although it does manifest itself that way. It is about any sexual dysfunction between people in a long-term relationship: sexual withholding, emotional detachment, bullying or demeaning behavior, etc. These relationship problems form subconscious impressions on children and lead to unfulfilling relationships in later life. This book, for the first time, identifies 'sexual addiction' as a root cause of many of the dysfunctions in relationships. It helps readers analyze their parents' relationships. It then shows them the possible dysfunctions these problems caused in their own relationships, giving both general guidance and personal anecdotes from a select group of children of sex addicts. Finally, it gives readers several specific exercises to help free them from their past, heal their relationship with your parents (especially the 'victim partner'—often the wife—who is subconsciously blamed for not stopping the spouse's disruptive behavior), and repair any damage in their current relationships. This book is not just about cheating or abuse. It is about finding the way back to the loving relationships you want...and that those around you deserve.

Sex Addiction: A Guide for Couples and Those Who Help Them is a practical book that provides empathic support, guidance, information and pragmatic strategies for couples who want to survive sex and porn addiction - whether that’s together, or apart. Sex and porn addiction devastates couple relationships, and unlike the impact of infidelity, there is no ‘before’ to get back to and no ‘after’. This book adopts the metaphor of a boat, presenting addiction as the tidal wave that devastates the relation-ship, leaving both crew members fighting for survival. There’s guidance to ensure each partner makes it safely back to shore and advice on surveying the damage to your relation-ship and deciding if you want to save it and set sail again. You’ll find practical advice for both the partner and the addicted partner, including first-hand accounts of couples that have already undertaken the journey.

Clinical Management of Sex Addiction’s newest edition updates many of the original chapters from 28 leaders in the field with new findings and treatment methods in the field of sex addiction. With a growing awareness of sex addiction as a problem, plus the advent of cybersex compulsion, professional clinicians are being confronted with sexual compulsion with little clinical or academic preparation. This is the first book distilling the experience of the leaders in this emerging field. It additionally provides new chapters on emerging areas of interest, including partner counseling, trauma and sexual addiction, and adolescent sex addiction. With a focus on special populations, the book creates a current and coherent reference for the therapist who faces quickly escalating new constellations of addictive sexual behavior. Readable, concise and filled with useful interventions, it is a key text for professionals new to the field and a classic reference for all clinicians who treat sex addiction.

Winner of the 2015 Book Award from AASECT (Association of American Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists) and the 2016 Clark Vincent Award from CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.) "Mirror of Intimacy" contains a year's worth of daily essays that explore and support the range of human sexualities as a divine gift and a human right. The reflections reference a rich array of approaches: attachment theory, mind/body nexus, neurobiology, 12-step principles, meditation techniques, Eastern and Western philosophy, and ancient world myths. Unfettered by cultural, social, or religious norms, the authors examine 366 topics related to sex and sexuality that, together, might point us in the direction of what comprises healthy, great sex.

This is the first comprehensive volume of the clinical management of sex addiction. Collecting the work of 28 leaders in this emerging field, the editors provide a long-needed primary text about how to approach treatment with these challenging patients. The book serves as an excellent introduction for professionals new to the field as well as serving as a useful reference tool. The contributors are literally the pioneers of one of the last frontiers of addiction medicine and sex therapy. With a growing awareness of sex addiction as a problem, plus the advent of cybersex compulsion, professional clinicians are being confronted with sexual compulsion with little clinical or academic preparation. This is the first book distilling the experience of the leaders in this emerging field. With a focus on special populations, it also becomes a handy problem-solving tool. Readable, concise, and filled with useful interventions, it is a key text for a problem clinicians must be able to identify. It is destined to be a classic reference.