Category or Type of Treatment or Services

¶ … category or type of treatment or services does your program or facility provide?

The program was one for Sex and Love Addiction (SLAA). It uses the 12-step format to address the addiction

Is there a well-defined structure used for the type(s) of treatment provided?

Two qualified facilitators lead the group. They use the manual of the 12 steps for general addiction and apply it to the group. Approximately 12-15 people attend. The group starts off by facilitators welcoming the members and describing the objectives of the group as well as asking new members if they wish to introduce themselves. They pass around a paper that briefly describes their group. They then say what they hope to achieve in this session and ask members whether anyone has any success that they wish to report about related to the last. Each member then takes a turn in reading an excerpt of the current step. Members are then asked to briefly describe their thoughts on this step and how they can apply in real life. Each member is thanked by name after speaking, and each is given a chance to participate by facilitators moving in round-robin style around circle. Facilitators then tell members what they intend to do in coming session. A candle on a plate is passed around. Each member holds it and, closing eyes, addresses something to candle. They then stand up, huddle, say the AA affirmation which consists of the 12 steps [the facilitator went through them all]. We often end up with: "Have a good day, unless of course you have made other plans."

We embrace each other and the session disburses.

• How does your facility attempt to maintain the motivation to abstain?

Through social support. The facilitators attempt to welcome each member and to be in touch with each member. They attempt to create a spirit of fraternity and support in the group where each supports and encourages the other and where non-judgmentalness is practiced. If members too wish it, they may pair up with 'mentors', i.e. another member who agrees to support and encourage the other to maintain the fight against his or her addiction.

• How does your facility address coping with urges?

We tell members that this is normal; praise them for attending -- tell them how hard it must be to do so. Encourage them to continue the fight. We show that all of us have this problem; that it is normal; that they are not alone.

• What problem-solving techniques are discussed for managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?

We say that 'I am responsible for this." Members introduce themselves as "I am a Love and Sex addict." As soon as a participant falls into blaming it on external situations, we pull them up short bringing them back to themselves. At one time, for instance, one member sought to evade asking forgiveness from others by saying that the world harmed her and she had to ask forgiveness form herself. This was also a matter of evasion. We pull them up short whenever evasion or self-deception seems to be occurring and tell them "this is how it is. Now what can we do about it?"

The session is short, therefore not too much time can be given to each individual, but we try to practice emphatic and active listening as well as common counseling skills such as paraphrasing and ' you feel like this' in order to get the member to explore his or her feelings and to better elaborate.

• What are some of the most common symptoms or behaviors associated with the individuals that come to your facility or treatment center?

Sometimes they have been to several others and have been dissatisfied. Many of these are professionals and you would never guess form their polished and suave manner that they are sex addicts. Some of them are simply bored with life. Others have had a collapse from a long-term relationship and are seeking to fill the void. Strangely enough, they are mainly White people, usually of all ages.

The younger people seem to seek treatment more readily than older ones do. Mean age here: mid-20-30s.

These are sensitive, sometimes cultured people who seem to genuinely want to stop their actions; sometimes they're caught in a spiral of low-self-esteem. Often, they lacked parental love when glowing up and seek to fill a certain void.

• Would you say that you have seen a connection between crime and drug or alcohol abuse with the individuals that attend or participate in the treatment or services that your facility provides? Is this connection addressed or discussed explicitly?