[This article is Part 3 of a 3-part series for partners on how to practice self-care before, during, and after Formal Therapeutic Disclosure (FTD). If you haven’t read Parts 1 & 2, start here with Disclosure Self-Care for Partners [Part 1]] In Disclosure Self-Care for Partners Parts 1 & 2, we covered what you need to… Continue Reading…
Disclosure Self-Care for Partners [Part II]
[This article is Part 2 of a 3-part series for partners on how to practice self-care before, during, and after Formal Therapeutic Disclosure (FTD). If you haven’t read Part 1—Disclosure Self-Care for Partners [Part 1]—begin here.] In Disclosure Self-Care for Partners [Part 1], we covered what you need to know or do prior to the… Continue Reading…
Disclosure Self-Care for Partners [Part I]
Formal Therapeutic Disclosure (FTD) is a milestone for any couple who wants to rebuild their relationship after the devastation of chronic sexual betrayal. FTD—as experienced by partners of sex addicts—can be simultaneously terrifying, and greatly anticipated. On the one hand, partners look forward to getting information they need and deserve. On the other hand, they feel… Continue Reading…
What to Tell the Children?
Most parents—whether they’ve been impacted by addiction or not—struggle to talk to their children about sex. The infamous “birds and bees” talk is the source of endless jokes and secret discomfort for parents who fear they haven’t done enough to educate their children about their bodies or human sexuality. So when addicts and their partners want to… Continue Reading…
How Long Should it Take to Prepare a Disclosure?
Last week, one of the members of my Partner’s Healing & Empowerment Online Community Forum asked this question: How long should it take for a sex addict to prepare a disclosure to present to his partner? If you’re not familiar with the disclosure process, you can read my article about formal therapeutic disclosure (FTD) here. Briefly, FTD is… Continue Reading…
A Partner’s Bill of Rights
If you’ve been living in the fog created by addiction, you may be questioning yourself and your reality. You may have been told you’re crazy, over-reacting or that your spouse’s behavior isn’t that bad. As the advertising industry and politicians know all too well—if you hear a message repeatedly you will begin to believe it…. Continue Reading…
The Sex Addiction “Excuse”
Betrayed partners who’ve recently made the devastating discovery that their spouse has been having affairs, hiring prostitutes or spending hours looking at pornography and masturbating sometimes come into my office saying: He says he’s a sex addict, but I think it’s an excuse. He’s just trying to get away with what he did by claiming it’s… Continue Reading…