Treatment for the Partner

If you are a Partner to a sex addict, then you may experience shock, intense anger, fear, and pain.  You may feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster that won’t stop!  These are the trauma experiences that partners of sex addicts often experience when learning that their loved one has betrayed them.  Sex addiction can take many forms: sexual contact with others, pornography, affairs, excessive sexual energy within the relationship, internet sexual browsing….etc! At Willow Tree Counseling, we understand that each partner’s experience is unique.  Each trauma symptom feels overwhelming.  Each new fear creates new pain.  We can help!

We at Willow Tree Counseling are committed to providing support, validation, and clinical services to help you learn about your healing and recovery. Healing starts with the recognition that lies and betrayal have occurred.  Healing continues as a partner goes through the emotional turmoil and then the detanglement that this betrayal has caused.  Recovery occurs once the trauma is recognized, the trauma triggers are manageable, and the partner has clear vision of a future.  Recovery continues as the partner creates a new life story, one that includes hope, transparency, honesty, and respect. This type of recovery can occur with or without remaining in the relationship with the sex addict.

There are many options when learning about addiction as well as reclaiming your trust and intuition.  Recovery and healing is about healing from the traumatic shift in one’s life story to a clearer more enriched sense of self.

Through our work with sex addiction, we have noticed an unfortunate lack of resources and services for the Partner.  We have addressed this need and developed a comprehensive clinical program to address the specialized needs and concerns of the Partner.  We recommend and offer individual and group therapy services.

In individual counseling, you will receive personalized individual attention that can support and accompany you through this experience.  Your therapist is available to teach, listen, explain, guide, and be a resource for you as you walk this healing path.  All of our clinicians and contracted clinicians have either specialized training working with addicts, partners, or both.

Groups

Willow Tree Counseling offers a “Healing Through Connections Phase 1” which is an educational group for partners of sex addicts.  This group is specifically geared to those who have recently discovered that sex addiction is present in their lives and relationships.  This 10-week group is highly informational as well as focused on gaining community with other partners.  Possible topics included in this group are:

What is Betrayal Trauma? What is Sex Addiction?
Treatment for both Betrayal Trauma and Sex Addiction
Healthy Boundaries
Therapeutic Disclosure
Gaslighting
Essential Types of Self Care
Sexual Impact of sex addiction
And many more…

We want to encourage folks to come to this safe non-judgmental environment where they can ask questions and share experiences. The Phase 1 group is offered four times per year.

Willow Tree Counseling also offers “Healing Through Connections Phase 2” an on-going group for partners of sex addicts.  The focus of these groups is to provide a safe fellowship where the impact of sex addiction can be fully expressed.  Informational materials are used to enhance the group experience and full discussions are encouraged.  This group runs in 10-week rotations.

All groups at Willow Tree Counseling are led by specially trained clinicians who have expertise and specific knowledge about betrayal via sex addiction.  Please contact info@willowtreesantarosa.com for more information.

Providing counseling services in the following North Bay Counties, cities and surrounding areas: Sonoma County, Marin County, Napa County, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael.