Is it time for an intervention?

The following is an excerpt taken from an interview conducted with John Southworth, operator of one of the largest and most extensive interventionist networks in North America. Please note that while Mr. Southworth is not an IITAP team member, he is a highly respected professional in the field of intervention. 

Q: What qualities make a good interventionist?

A: Experience, certifications and a capable staff contribute to a good intervention experience. Look for certifications with The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), American Interventionist Society (AIS), Board Registered Interventionists (BRI), and International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC), as well as Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT®) training with Dr. Patrick Carnes.  The Southworth Associates staff members hold these credentials.

Q: What intervention styles work best?

A: The only way an intervention works is through the heart and not the brain. The Identified Person (IP) should not suffer from shame or guilt during this process. It is just love, love, love. This problem is not the IP's fault. Nor is it the family's fault. It is a disease.

Q: As an interventionist, what special problems do you experience with the sex addict?

A: Shame is so great with the sex addict and family. All major life issues are affected. These include family, friends, finances, health, legal and job. The intervention process with the sex addict is very involved and takes a lot of painstaking time to sort out.  

Q: What are the rules of intervention - especially with the sex addict?

A: Gather information and rehearse. Be sure everyone involved in the intervention is on board and realizes what they are going into. Eliminating hidden agendas is key to a successful intervention. The day before the intervention, I gather the family to rehearse the issues and allow time for letters to be written to the IP.  These letters help the family and friends express feelings about the IP and the issues affecting their relationship. I also assign reading material to those involved in the intervention. I recommend readings of Dr. Patrick Carnes, Dr. Ralph Earle, and Dr. Jennifer Schneider. I also recommend Love First, written by Jeff Jay and Debra Day, for families who are preparing to write letters to the IP.    

Q: What resources should professionals read?

A: All of Dr. Carnes’ material is helpful for families involved in an intervention. Additionally, James Fearing’s article in Clinical Management of Sex Addiction covers issues related to the family and the addict, as when he states, “It is important for the clinician working with this type of patient to understand the strong connection between shame and sexually compulsive behaviors. Based on the presence of denial, shame, and isolation, the process of intervention can be very appropriate and successful in ‘helping the sex addict get help”(24). This book and others by Dr. Carnes are available at www.gentlepathpress.com.

Certified Treatment Partners

Category: Residential Treatment

Pine Grove's Gentle Path is a program for those suffering from sexual addiction, relationship addiction, and sexual anorexia. It is under the direction of Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., world-renowned speaker and author on addiction. Dr. Carnes' 30-task-model serves as the basic curriculum for treatment. The staff on-hand is multi-disciplinary and includes psychiatrists and addictionologists. The Gentle Path program consists of two components: a comprehensive diagnostic assessment (one-to-two days) and a residential treatment program.

Caron Treatment Centers in the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of the disease of addiction.  With more than 525 beds throughout Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida, Caron offers the most comprehensive continuum of evidence-based, addiction treatment programs for adolescents/teens, young adults, adults, baby boomers, seniors and their families.    Caron recognizes the value of specialized screenings, comprehensive assessments, individual and group counseling, as well as educational lectures as effective strategies when treating individuals and  their families struggling with Addiction Interaction Disorder (AID) – a process whereby multiple addictions not only coexist, but interact, reinforce and fuse together such as drugs and alcohol, gambling, sex, eating, work or the Internet.

Category: Outpatient Treatment

The Sexual Recovery Institute in Los Angeles (SRI) offers confidential, state-of-the-art, intensive relationship and sexual addiction treatment in an intimate, affordable, short-term outpatient setting. The SRI program provides a structured, focused multi-dimensional therapy process designed to disrupt and eliminate problem patterns of sexual behavior, while offering concrete direction and hope toward change to both clients and loved-ones alike.

The Center for Sexual Recovery at The Ranch (CSR) provides dedicated, residential, gender-separate, relationship and sexual addiction treatment. Our primary goal is to help clients confront and eliminate secretive, destructive patterns of sexual and romantic behavior, while simultaneously addressing past trauma, relationship and emotional stability concerns, all of which lie at the heart of most intimacy disorders. The Ranch is also strongly committed to the emotional health and healing of those spouses, partners and families whose lives are disrupted by the consequences of sex and romantic addition.

LHC special expertise is in treating the individual with complex, interrelated problems, including emotional trauma, drug/alcohol dependence, mood & anxiety disorders, related behaviors such as compulsive sexual, eating, gambling, spending, or self-harm. Many of our clients have a history of unsuccessful previous treatment, & where that is the case, they seek to break the cycle of relapse. By focusing on the whole person rather than 1 or 2 disorders, the clinicians can think outside the box to develop an integrated treatment plan that best meets the needs of each client.

Category: Residential Treatment

Prescott House is an extended care treatment facility in Arizona for men who need further treatment beyond primary inpatient treatment for a wide range of personal issues. We offer a supportive environment that embraces the principles of 12-Step programs to treat alcoholism and other drug addictions, PTSD, codependency, sexual recovery, adult children of alcoholics, self esteem issues, severe entitlement, relapse prevention, depression, gambling issues and dual diagnosis including: depression ADD, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder and Anxiety.

Category: Residential Treatment

Capstone is a licensed residential treatment program serving troubled young men (14-24) who struggle with chemical dependency, substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, family conflict, and personal problems including loss, hurt, anger, abuse, depression, low self-esteem, defiance and a rebellious attitude.

Category: Residential Treatment

The Refuge - A Healing Place is an adult residential extended care rehab facility located in Marion County, Florida, specializing in addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder resolution that's based on the premise of healing with care, spirituality, and gentleness. The addiction rehab services at The Refuge are designed for those whose unresolved trauma leads them to relapse; The Refuge is for those whose pain feels insurmountable; The Refuge was founded on being able to provide our clients with the restoration of Hope, Recovery, and Healing.

Category: Outpatient Treatment

Psychological Counseling Services, Ltd. (PCS) is a group practice specializing in intensive outpatient therapy. We are experts in relationship problems, marriage and family issues, compulsivity, depression, codependence, anxiety, eating disorders, and trauma resolution. In addition, we specialize in providing help for sex therapy and sexual addiction; issues often rooted in childhood trauma stemming from deprivation or abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual). Consequently, all of our therapists are trained to deal with family of origin issues. In addition to the intensive outpatient program, Intensive Steps to Health and Wholeness, PCS provides regular outpatient psychotherapy services for most mental health concerns.

Category: Residential Treatment

The Meadows' legacy extends over 35 years with more than 20,000 clients and another 25,000 workshop attendees who have chosen us to support their hopes and dreams for a sober and fulfilling life.Whether you're entering treatment for the first time or find yourself in relapse, The Meadows' treatment model is unparalleled in producing successful outcomes for recovery, as well as a renown, time tested, holistic practices designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit.

The Institute for Sexual Health (ISH), located in Los Angeles, California, offers comprehensive sex addiction treatment for sex addicts, partners and couples. ISH utilizes a progressive sexual health model that integrates state-of-the-art sex addiction treatment with additional specializations in human sexuality alongside our pioneering work in sex addiction-induced trauma. The ISH 14-Day Sex Addiction Intensive Outpatient Program offers a rigorous treatment curriculum designed to address the spectrum of problematic sexual patterns that have become destructive to self and others. ISH also offers our innovative Six-Day Intensive for Partners, which provides vital information and clinical support for the traumatic impact sex addiction has on partners and spouses. ISH is the first and only facility that does not endorse or use a "co-addiction model" to treat partners or relationships impacted by sex addiction. For couples seeking highly customized intensive treatment based on their specific individual needs, we offer personalized programs for couples on a case-by-case basis. Our mission is to help people move towards integrity, intimacy and integration.

Category: Outpatient Treatment

Effective, results-based therapy treatment for people living with sex addiction in the New York area.

Center For Healthy Sex is a sex addiction treatment and sex therapy team in Los Angeles California. We've helped people from all walks of life with sex addiction in L.A. County. Face and conquer your sexual addictions or dysfunctions today.
 Category: Residential and Outpatient Treatment 

Bellwood Health Services has provided comprehensive residential treatment for Canadians struggling with sex addiction since 2001. As the first treatment and education centre in Canada to offer a residential program for sex addiction, Bellwood's program is delivered by a skilled team that includes Certified Sex Addiction Specialists (CSAT) and uses the highly effective task-centered model of treatment developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes. Bellwood also offers comprehensive treatment for individuals struggling with a co-occurring substance abuse issue.

 

Category: Residential Treatment

Decision Point Center is a long term addiction treatment center. Our long term drug rehab addiction treatment center is designed to meet the needs of those who continually struggle with Chronic Relapse Behaviors, Substance Abuse Disorders, Process Addictions, Compulsive Behaviors, Mental Health Issues, Co-Dependency, and Trauma Related Issues. Our addiction treatment program is also designed for those who need a continuum of care beyond the traditional 30 day drug rehab addiction treatment center.

Category: Residential Treatment

The Keystone Center Extended Care Unit was established in 1994 by Patrick Carnes PhD, the leading expert in sex addiction treatment. Since that time our treatment team has adapted Carnes' wisdom to address the emotional, intellectual, and relational needs of the people who pass through our doors. It has become known to many as 'the house of pain" in reference to all of the painful yet healing work that goes on here.

Category: Outpatient Treatment

Millennium offers state-of-the-art recovery opportunities for persons struggling with sexual addiction and compulsivity. This cutting-edge program bridges the gap between inpatient treatment and weekly therapy and is a valuable tool for addicts of all kinds and their families. We offer the Recovery Start Intensive (RSI), an intensive outpatient program offered within schedule options that keep the constraints of the professional in mind. Our Recovery Start Groups (RSG) are cohort groups that require a six-month commitment.

Mt Pleasant Academy is designed to treat adolescent males from the ages 12 to 18 with sexual compulsive behaviors, sexual reactive behaviors, and sexual addictive behaviors. Our Mt Pleasant team of professionals will provide a thorough assessment on each individual and measure their level of risk and implement a treatment plan to intervene at the level of need or risk. Our team consists of master level therapists who are CSAT Certified as well as substance abuse counselors. Areas of focus will be the following;

  • Understanding personal responsibility, choice and accountability
  • Behavioral self-control (interruption of patterns of dysfunctional behavior
  • Learn and understand pro-social behavior
  • Learn, understand and identify healthy and appropriate self-expression
  • Develop healthy and appropriate relationships with children, peers and adults
  • Build self-esteem/worth and personal identity
  • Interrupt and control identified thinking errors and minimization
  • Learn to live an addiction free lifestyle
  • Improved mental health and intellectual skills and coping skills
  • Improve family functioning behaviors
  • Develop empathy of victims and others and resolve victim and community restitution
  • Improve healthy interventions, competency, and resiliency

Category: Residential Treatment

Santé Center for Healing offers hope and treatment to those suffering from alcohol addiction, drug addiction and other behavioral health issues. Patients at Santé receive a spectrum of therapeutic addiction treatment addressing the whole person; mind, body and emotions.

An adult, dual diagnosis, residential treatment center, Santé specializes in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders, Process/Behavioral Addictions, Compulsive Behaviors, Trauma Related Issues, Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders, Professional and Safety Sensitive Issues, Medical Detoxification and Chronic Relapse. Treatment at Santé is an integrated approach (a multi-disciplinary team utilizing behavioral, cognitive, and interpersonal therapy) that is solution focused rather than problem focused. Santé offers Individual, group, family counseling and small sized process groups in Primary and Secondary Residential Care Treatment settings. Santé also offers Mirror Imaging, Transitional Living, Aftercare and an Intensive Outpatient Program.

Santé is located on a serene hillside, in North Texas, just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The 14 acre property offers a tranquil environment for individuals suffering from the disease of addiction. Santé is a place where one can turn their life around. A place to learn how to live life on life's terms. A place to examine one's life, stop unproductive behavior patterns and cultivate inner resources.

The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health (CRSH) in Royal Oak, Michigan is an outpatient mental health clinic for individuals, couples and groups focused on helping clients develop healthy sexuality and relationships. Therapists are trained in sexual addiction treatment which focuses on tools for compulsive sexual recovery, clinical sex therapy which focuses on healthy sexual functioning and desire and IMAGO Relationship Therapy offering several communication techniques helping clients and partners develop stronger relationships. Sexual Orientation issues are also addressed helping those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning.

Category: Education

Hope & Freedom U (www.hopeandfreedomu.com) is an educational website that provides sex addiction recovery resources. Their first course, I Can STOP is a 30 day streaming video course that parallels the workbook Thirty Days to Hope & Freedom From Sexual Addiction, by Gentle Path Press. This course is a good way of getting started in recovery and also a way to supplement the ongoing work a client does with a CSAT therapist.