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Physicians Intensive Outpatient Program in Los Angeles

Physicians and healthcare professionals are often called on to place the care of others before their own needs. While this dedication can be satisfying and rewarding, it can also be an overwhelming responsibility and expectation. It is difficult to continually face daily suffering and remain centered.

Unfortunately some healers discover that things that start as harmless stress relief (substance use, computer gaming, sexual activity) can turn into destructive behavior. When the “harmless stress relieving behavior” involves sex, the professional may endanger him or herself, not just personally or socially, but occupationally. Having a secret sexual life may be incompatible with the role of healthcare provider. The Center for Healthy Sex offers a specialized Physician’s Intensive for Sexual Integrity, to help medical professionals who struggle with these concerns.

The sexual therapy experts of CHS provide confidential treatment to physicians and other healthcare providers seeking help, and collaborate with various types of referring entities (Professional Assistance Programs, State Boards, Hospital Well-Being Committees, etc.) as requested. Our goal is to help doctors return to their professions free of the burden of painful, harmful, or shameful sexual behaviors and in a state of renewed wholeness. Common problems we help include sexual relations involving boundary violations, internet pornography, prostitution, and extramarital affairs.

When sexual behaviors become unstoppable compulsions, professional help is needed. The Physician’s Intensive at CHS involves an extensive sexual history and psychological testing, followed by 11 full days of cognitive-behavioral task work, trauma therapy, and engagement with 12-step modalities to reverse a problem that has spiraled out of control. All clients return home with clear Behavioral Contracts delineating specific post-intensive actions to ensure lasting change. Outside entities may require ongoing monitoring, participation in Physician Health Programs, individual therapy for sexual addiction, professional support groups, etc. CHS works to help participants and referring agencies feel secure that patient-safety issues are being addressed and that each healthcare professional leaving the Intensive has a seamless transition to appropriate aftercare.

The Physician’s Intensive is available for 1-6 participants of any age. This program is available for physicians currently in treatment by professional referral and requires a complete assessment to ensure patient appropriateness and post-treatment success. For more information or to speak to an intake professional, please call 310-843-9902.

CHS collaborates with Pacific Assistance Group for all physicians and other healthcare providers. For further information about PAG visit them at www.pacificassistancegroup.net or contact Dr. Tracy R. Zemansky by telephone at (310) 664-0454 or by email at drzemansky@gmail.com.

Sexual Sobriety Plan

Every individual has the dignity to choose his or her own concept of healthy
sexuality. It is not the sex in and of itself that is the issue, rather
it is the different ways that sex is used that causes the problems. Or
put another way, sex is a problem if it causes problems; if one feels out
of control and is powerless over their behavior and if the sex leads to
feelings of demoralization. Recovery from sexual addiction, similar to
other behavioral addictions, is different from recovery from substance
addictions like alcoholism and drug addiction, in that sexual addicts do
not need to become completely celibate from all sexual behavior to recovery
from their sexual addiction. It is this reason that a sexual sobriety plan
is employed for recovery from sex addiction.

In recovery, sexual addicts develop a three-part sexual sobriety plan
that is used as a guide through recovery and helps with gaining clarity.
Each addict identifies which sexual behaviors they are powerless over and
lead to feelings of demoralization. These are called “bottom-line behaviors”
and are the compulsions and addictive behaviors that are abstained from.
As part of each addict’s addictive cycle, there are specific sets of compulsions
that lead to the bottom-line behaviors. These are referred to as “triggers”
and are abstained from as well. However, there are also sexual behaviors
that are acceptable or even experienced with a sense of gratitude and enjoyment.
These are sexual behaviors that lead to happiness, well-being and health.

By separating sexual behaviors into three categories, addicts are able
to more readily distinguish between behaviors that are compulsive and destructive,
behaviors that are “triggers” to those compulsive, and behaviors that are
positive and foster healthy sex. Because sex addiction has many different
manifestations, sexual sobriety plans are a reflection of this variety
and therefore are unique to each recovering sex addict.

Sexual addicts in recovery reach out to other sexual addicts and share
their program with one another as part of a balanced recovery program.
Without clarity, an addict can continue to act out sexually, because it
is easy to become confused about what sobriety is. Obtaining and maintaining
abstinence from one’s bottom-line compulsions is a foundation for personal
growth in recovery.

Individual Therapy

CHS Tour

Alexandra Katehakis, sex addiction expert from Center for Healthy Sex, takes you on a guided tour of the Center for Healthy Sex and explains how the center operates. watch video

Sexual History

Alexandra Katehakis, sex addiction expert from Center for Healthy Sex, discusses the role of sexual history in treatment for sex addiction. watch video

Looking for Help?

Help for Sexual Issues, Center for Healthy Sex, Los Angeles

For more information about sex addiction therapy or to schedule an initial assessment, click here or call 310.843.9902

Looking for Help?

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