For Professionals
Bethesda Workshops
Resources For Profesionals
As our sexually saturated culture brings into the public eye the problem of pornography and other forms of sexual acting out, more people and their partners are seeking help for sex addiction. As a clinician, pastor, physician or support group leader, you are uniquely positioned to guide or assist the healing process. Are you equipped?
Today, the sex addiction field has evolved enough that excellent training is available. The CSAT program (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist), developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes and offered through the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), is considered the gold standard in the field. Clinicians who want to specialize in this area are highly encouraged to obtain this kind of specific, rigorous training.
IITAP has also developed a training for clergy called the Pastoral Sex Addiction Professional. This two-part training equips clergy to respond appropriately to the needs of Christians who seek their advice for issues related to sexual addiction. Visit www.iitap.com for information about either the CSAT or PSAP program.
Bethesda Workshops provides training for clinicians, pastors and lay helpers. We also offer teaching conferences, CEU events, and church seminars.
Unfortunately, many Christian helpers are ill-equipped to address sexual addiction or to help partners of sex addicts. Standard approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy and using scripture alone are rarely effective. In fact, uninformed Christian counseling often adds to the sufferer’s shame and makes the problem worse. Appropriate training is vital.
Most often – and most damaging – is the error of addressing only the sin component of sexual addiction. Sex addicts already know their behavior is wrong, and they’ve already prayed to be free. Motivating addicts through guilt never works long-term. Exhortations to “Just stop!” or “pray more” only add to the person’s shame. Shame, in turn, further fuels the addiction.
Helpful professionals understand that sexual addiction is a complicated issue. It is multi-faceted problem requiring a multi-faceted approach that covers all the components of this disease: physical, mental, emotional, and relational, as well as spiritual.
Next, untrained helpers often only focus on the specific acting out behavior(s) and ignore the deeper issues. Arresting behavior is the first treatment task, but it’s only the beginning. The sex or relationship addict must uncover, understand, and heal from the underlying issues that drive the behavior. A trauma-based approach (one that examines woundedness and false core beliefs) is essential.
Online Training For Therapists
The Body’s Role in Trauma Recovery: Techniques for Therapists
Learn the necessity of the body in trauma work, practical techniques to reduce client overwhelm and therapist burnout, and somatic practices to regulate the nervous system. This course is led by Dr. Christine Baker, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). She includes a Christian faith-based perspective on this growing field of work.
Presenter: Christine Baker, Ph.D., LPC, CSAT, SEP
For counselors and therapists
Cost: $149 for entire series; individual segments also available for purchase.
Questions,
Call: 615-467-5610
Sexual Addiction Online Training
Breaking The Bonds Training NOW FULLY ONLINE
- Sex Addiction 101
- Roots of Addiction
- Partners of Addicts 101
- Recovery 101
- Couples Recovery 101
- Adolescents, Culture & Pornography
- Healthy Helpers
Presenter: Marnie C. Ferree, M.A., LMFT and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist
For counselors, pastors, church leaders, life coaches, and support group leaders
Cost: $159 for entire series; individual segments also available for purchase.
Questions,
Call: 615-467-5610
Guiding Principles
These position papers from Bethesda Workshops help professionals by offering clinical insights, treatment approaches, and best practices for addressing sexual addiction and trauma. They serve as a reliable resource for education, guidance, and deeper understanding of complex client issues from a faith-based, therapeutic perspective.
Length of Treatment
Recovery from sexual addiction is a lengthy process. Short-term therapy is insufficient, for sure. Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., asserts it takes three to five years to fully recover. At Bethesda Workshops, we’ve found that those who come through our whole program – an individual workshop for each spouse plus the couples’ workshop – cut that time in at least half.
We often tell couples, “You can do this the hard way or the harder way – there’s not an easy way.” The Bethesda Workshops program greatly accelerates the recovery process, and most people find significant improvement, both personally and within their coupleship, within six to twelve months if they’re willing to do the work.
Life-Long Recovery Plan
Recovery is a forever process, ongoing and unending. It’s like our spiritual journey of transformation, which certainly doesn’t stop when we accept Christ as our personal savior. Recovery becomes a way of life, which again, is like our spiritual walk.
Many people find benefit from life-long attendance at recovery groups, at least occasionally. It’s like church attendance, where someone goes for fellowship with other Christians as well as worship. Going to a Twelve Step or faith-based recovery group becomes a tool for healthy living instead of a safeguard against acting out or dealing with someone who is.
Giving back is an important activity for someone in recovery. Offering help and hope to someone new on the journey is an act of gratitude and redeems the pain of sexual addiction for both addicts and partners.