- To Change Your Mind - Details Matter
The Neuroscience of Sexual Addiction: Carnes Leads the Way
Psychiatric Diagnosis: Brain Function Changes our Perspectives
February 18, 2008Amen on PBS: The Visionary Finds His Larger Audience
March 3, 2008Patrick Carnes and Team Raise the Bar for Addiction Medicine and Recovery:
Sexual Addiction Treatment Evolves
Here this weekend in Phoenix, at this Black Canyon Conference Center, the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals [IITAP] we are witnessing a sea change in evaluation and treatment in the field of addiction medicine.
It was a privilege to present to this articulate, thoughtful group, so interested in neurophysiology. This high level of interest in brain activity simply does not often show in the therapy community.
Most interesting from my perspective: This entire group got the picture, understood the implications of brain science, brain evidence in the complexity of diagnosis before I started the Keynote. SPECT brain imaging does fit precisely with their new directions for evaluation of complex clinical presentations.
More On Carnes
Patrick Carnes has been busy training his team – these folks are on the front edge of the evolution in Addiction Medicine. He wrote Out of the Shadows in 1984!
Many here are CSAT [Certified Sexual Addiction Therapists] and have been working for years to restructure recovery processes more effectively. They understand medications, multiple levels of intervention, different treatment structures in ways many of us would never have considered. It was a treat to learn with them on this outstanding weekend.
Theme for the weekend: Neuroscience implications in recovery are significant, often overlooked, and essential to understand for the long term process of full recovery. Pat trains his teams to think of every angle in the recovery process.
Stay tuned as I introduce you in coming posts to some of his many interesting activities.
cp
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16 Comments
I appreciate that you do post my comments and bother to reply.
Just as SA’s are benefitting from research, (although it is hardly breaking news that frontal lobe lesions affect executive functioning) , so do the spouses of SA’s benefit from research into their particular and unique situation. Spouses of SA’s have been lumped into SA treatment as an accessory for far too long.
Up to now the approach to the partner has been based on assumptions. These assumptions have caused damage to the partner. This damage has been termed “therapist induced trauma.”
I would encourage anyone who is attempting to treat partners of SA’s to take an APSAT’s training course. This will introduce them to current research (not assumption) on the nature of the trauma of the spouse and how to address and deal with it.
If it is important to your profession to have research on the nature of sex addiction, then surely it is just as important work from a place of researched information to treat the spouses of sex addicts.
Sara,
Well said, appreciate, absolutely agree on the inadequacy of assumptions… we truly walk the same path on that one. Thanks for your insightful addition to these pages – your intelligent writing style is engaging. Depending on your anonymity I would appreciate your considering, even anonymously a 5-800 word piece for guest posting if you would like to send out some commentary and links.
Quite agree on the old news w executive function, PFC and deteriorated impulse control… almost missed that one!;-)
Thanks,
cp
No.
Just because a man has sex with prostitutes behind his wife’s back doesn’t make her cognitively or emotionally dependent.
That would mean she was needy and needing the validation of others to survive.
This type of prejudice does not serve the partners of sex addicts. What it does is pathologize ordinary people who are shell shocked and trying to put their lives together again.
And, dare I say, create a lucrative opportunity for those that wish to “help” them.
Sara,
Good point, generalizations are just that – reporting the overview to cover what we do see so often. There are exceptions to every rule and many other variables are at play w couples from economics to friendship. My remarks here are not to pathologize, but to offer some additional answers for those confused about what-next, and why-me?
cp
Patrick Carnes and his CSAT’s continue to marginalize and inflict trauma on the spouses of sex addicts by marginalizing them, and disregarding the very real nature of the PTSD that they suffer as a result of finding out that the person they live with has had a secret life. Somehow the spouse is seen as disordered, the relationship is seen as trauma bonded, and the spouse is labelled a co-addict.
Fortunately Barbara Steffens, and Omar Minwalla, along with the board of APSAT’s, are working to change this malignant and predatory model of “care” Finally spouses of sex addicts will have a place to have therapy that is respectful of their process and will facilitate recovery.
Sara,
As much as I admire Carnes, have worked w him and his team, and appreciate all he has done to move forward the understanding and treatment of sexual addiction… I do agree on the co-addict term, have disagreed with that understanding, recorded carefully in my first book in 1992, Deep Recovery. – disagreed with it all these many years.
It “looks like” coaddiction, but is straight up insecurity and low self esteem with emotional and cognitive dependency thrown in.
Edit 8-2013: Agree with Sara that every spouse is not a co-addict, and every spouse should not experience reductionistic treatment on the assumption that she/he is damaged in some way.
cp
Many thanks Eva, Carnes and his team do a great job of putting the pieces together.
cp
nice blog with sense… very truthful about the real situation.
There are several types of alcohol rehab centers. Some of them offer a more complete and effective program. In drug rehab centers, people are helped to find the one that will work for them. But before choosing any alcohol rehab centers they should have much information about that.
http://www.addiction-treatments.com/
simple and best
………….
cameroon
Addiction treatment and recovery resources for the addict and their families. http://www.addictiontreatment.net
Nina,
Yes I do take email questions – but let’s take a moment to chat about the implications of opening that gate with the very large and interesting site you have.
You have my email, so please drop me a note with how we can discuss the implications of your request.
Tnx
cp
Hi
Interesting article. DO you take queries or questions through email regarding sexual addiction?
——————————–
Nina
Comprehensive resources for those looking for recovery from addiction. http://www.addictionrecovery.net
Mavis,
Many thanks for your kind comments and interesting link to the Spitzer remarks in Forbes.
I share your interest in Sarah Ullman’s work, she is so interesting, and brings much new information to that evolving table of neurophysiology and precise measurement in addictive disorders.
Your IITAP Group does set a high bar for all of us who share an interest in comprehensive recovery initiatives. The scientific interest and evidence content of your programs is exemplary, – and your group sets another example: good old-fashioned hospitality for new comers.
Thanks for all of it!
Chuck
Several of my colleagues and I attended all 3 of your presentations in Phoenix. Thank you for your easy-to-absorb and detailed update of recent findings, which spell hope for many symptom clusters which till now have had to be tolerated.
Add to that the soon to be released, startling results of Dr. Sarah Ullman’s brain studies of sex addicts, which were also presented there, and the concurrent, collateral work in other disciplines, and we are coming into a completely new era in treatment options.
The treatment I provide to addicts and their families is in large part the process of reprogramming the brain pathways and rewards systems, addressing impaired judgment, impaired belief systems, impaired insight, impaired neural cascades, and conditioning, which, while it is not the same thing as addiction, impacts the outcome of addiction treatment.
As an addictions specialist for over 20 years, I recall when we used to joke about the sci-fi future of “flap” surgery, whereby clinicians will install hinges and a little door at the top of the skull, to see inside people’s heads. SPECT imaging is becoming that door. Thank you.
Dr. Patrick Bordeaux, a member of ASAM and AAP, writes about the neuroscience of addiction in comments on Spitzer’s behaviors. See the link to Forbes Magazine:
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/03/12/spitzer-addictive-behavior-oped-cx_dpb_0312addictive.html
Best regards,
Mavis Humes Baird, CSAT, CSAT-S
NYC
Alexandra-
Thanks for your comments, it was a real pleasure meeting you out there, and finding such an excellent resource in the LA area.
Strongly recommend readers interested in recovery from sexual addiction take a look at Alexandra’s blog:
http://www.centerforhealthysex2.com/
It will be listed in Blogs on Message here at CorePsych.
I agree, the IITAP Symposium was innovative and exciting because it incorporated brain science and sexual addiction treatment knowledge.
For resources on getting help/recovery from sexual addiction you can visit my blog site at http://www.centerforhealthysex2.com