Sex addiction

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on May 6, 2010 at 6:25am

I suspect you'll benefit from looking into what positive intent the sex addiction serves and finding healthier ways to satisfy that need.

James H

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on May 6, 2010 at 6:33am

Hello James,

Besides identifying the purpose being served in any unwanted behavior, you need to have your client define a clear goal: Does he want to stop specific behavior while keeping others? Does he want to build healthy relationships? etc..

It's also necessary to have him experience belief that he can accomplish his goal. This can be attained by recalling past success, along with future success imagery.

I imagine Parts work would be a good process to use in such a case.

Best wishes,

Kelley

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Permalink Reply by James Brown on May 6, 2010 at 7:21am

Thank you both. Always good to have fresh eyes :)

Kelley Woods said:

Hello James, Besides identifying the purpose being served in any unwanted behavior, you need to have your client define a clear goal: Does he want to stop specific behavior while keeping others? Does he want to build healthy relationships? etc..

It's also necessary to have him experience belief that he can accomplish his goal. This can be attained by recalling past success, along with future success imagery.

I imagine Parts work would be a good process to use in such a case.

Best wishes,

Kelley

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on May 6, 2010 at 10:25am

A great question the hypnotherapist asks himself is "Why does my client have this issue?" By getting to the cause that drives the behavior, he can most effectively help his client. Pursue a course that unravels this mystery and amazing things typically happen.

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Permalink Reply by Charlton G. Wilson, CHt., CCHt on May 6, 2010 at 9:20pm

I have been working with sex addicts for over 20 years. i would like to ask that you approach this subject and this client very carefully. I would ask you what your training is specific to addiction? what familiarity you have with 12 step programs.

Sex addition, as with most addictions, in my professional opinion, needs significant work in the talk therapy arena/modality. One can not just make up some suggestions, bring a client into trance and expect heavy duty patterned behaviours to disappear. i am going to be quite direct and some may be offended here: thinking that some basic hypnosis and even a recording for someone with any addiction is quite immature. a well trained and seasoned therapist that also uses hypnosis in their practice is of absolute need. i can not emphasize this enough. significant parts work both in and out of trance is absolutely necessary.

there is, of course, another component for most sex addicts that i have not addressed. in my practice and training, nearly every (not all, but nearly every) sex addicted client i have ever worked with has had some sexual abuse in their past. this precipitates the set up for this type of response to the world, vis a vis: the only value the client has is as a sexual being and the only way for them to achieve love and affection (whether male or female) is through some type of sexual behaviour.

it is very important to address [with all addicts] that there are no magic pills and that hypnosis is NOT a magic wand.

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