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What is sex addiction?
Sex addiction is an addictive disorder that involves a loss of control around sexual acting out. The disorder often becomes completely unmanageable and leads to the loss of friends, family, relationships, work, as well as putting the sufferer in great physical risk. What makes the sex addict suffer so greatly is the secrecy and shame involved in their behaviors which often lead to intense self-loathing and feelings of low self-worth.
Sex addiction can come in many different forms and usually involves one of or a combination of all of these behaviors:
- compulsive masturbation
- online pornography
- exhibitionism
- unsafe sex
- phone or computer sex
- prostitution
- compulsive heterosexual and homosexual relationships
- voyeurism
Tabankulu Treatment for Sex Addiction:
The programme for sex addiction and trauma treatment at Tabankulu provides integrated treatment for individuals suffering from sexual addiction/compulsivity (including Internet addiction) These individuals may also be chemically dependent and/or have coexisting psychiatric diagnoses. If compulsive behaviors and unresolved sexual trauma are not treated in the residential setting, they can often be the cause of relapse once an individual leaves treatment.
The main components in our programme are:
Medical Intervention:
- Confronting the physical consequences of sex addiction and getting medical treatment and support where necessary
Shame Reduction:
- The shame involved in sexual addiction is often so great that individuals suffer in silence. The goal of our programme is to break this silence and confront the shame. Only then can true healing begin.
Trauma work:
- Tabankulu provides a safe haven to explore sexual trauma. Our counsellors are trained and experienced to guide our clients through this difficult work.
Meaningful Therapeutic Experience:
- The main component of Tabankulu treatment is daily group therapy. Group therapy is a powerful tool to help clients break free from their denial and shame and begin to make connections and relationships that challenge their distorted thinking and destructive behavior in a safe and supporting way.
- A Primary Counsellor specializing in sex addiction and trauma is assigned to each client, and will work on an individual basis with him or her throughout the course of his or her treatment. Many of our counselors have a personal experience of addiction themselves and are in recovery.
- Our approach draws upon different psychotherapeutic techniques. Our dedicated staff come from a range of different trainings. Along with a psychodynamic approach we also draw upon cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).
Relapse Prevention:
- Learning about relapse and how to identify triggers and find other coping strategies.
- Workshops and Lectures about how to prevent relapse
Education:
- Activities and exercises that stimulate understanding and learning about sex addiction and it’s consequences.
- Educational groups to think about new skills and the development of emotion tolerance
Partner Involvement:
- Support around communication and expression that will begin to heal broken relationships
- Family con-joints with an experienced family therapist
12 Step Foundation:
- The foundation of our programme is based upon the Twelve-Step philosophy, which is a peer led free worldwide support system. By linking our clients into this support group we ensure that they have access to an outside support system and a spiritual foundation for long-term recovery.
Healthy Lifestyle:
- Integrative therapies and activities that include art therapy, organic gardening, mindfulness meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, surfing, and caring for the horses on the property. Clients have a chance to start truly living and enjoying life again within the beautiful and spiritual surroundings of the Cape Peninsula.
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