Is therapy right for me?

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce or work transition.  Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change in their lives.

Is there help for Partners of Sex Addicts?

There are many resources available for partners to learn about sex addiction and manage your own pain and hurt and trauma from discovering the behaviors of your partner. There are no abnormal reactions to this trauma. You will have many emotions and some may be in conflict with others. It is a confusing and painful time. There are partner support groups offered by Certified Sex Addiction Therpist in the area. You may seek out a group or individual treatment. A Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) in highly recommended. There are also 12 step programs such as S-ANON that can be very helpful. You can find resources at SEXHELP.COM including a list of CSAT's in your area. 

Apogee Counseling also offers a support group for Partners of Sex Addicts. Currently this group meets on Wednesdays at 7pm.

What can I expect in a therapy session?
 

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual (s) and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly or biweekly sessions, where each session lasts 50 minutes. Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per week. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. Therapy will help you be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. As you become more active your need for therapy will decrease. You and your therapist will agree on the time to terminate treatment. 
 

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a therapist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
• Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
• Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
• Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
• Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
• Discovering new ways to solve problems
• Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
• Improving listening and communication skills
• Enhancing the overall quality of life

Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:

• Do I have mental health benefits?
• What is my deductible and has it been met?
• How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
• How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

What is sexual addiction and how is it treated?

Sexual addiction is an uncontrolled behavior related to sexual gratification. It involves secretive behavior that one is usually ashamed of. Efforts to halt the behavior have repeatedly failed.  Promises to significant others or to self or even to God have been broken repeatedly. It spite of consequences, the behaviour continutes.  There are feelings of loneliness and hurt. Often there is a sensitivity or fear of criticism or judgment. There are rationalizations and excuses for the behavior and even denial that there is a problem. 

Treatment involves group therapy, individual therapy and couples therapy with group therapy being the most important component. Group is a casual and friendly environment with open discussions of individual experiences in the recovery journey. Strategies and interventions for individual behaviors are shared and discussed. Often recovery involves evaluating relationships with significant others and even examining your relationship with God. 

For more information and a consultation, contact Dr. Moore at (858) 433-8751
 

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.