The Beginning of Something Else

On June 1, 2007 I found out my husband and partner of almost two decades had been unfaithful to me since before our marriage, and had been having intercourse with prostitutes for 3 1/2 years. This is what happened next.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Group therapy

Prior to my adventures as the partner of a sex addict, I'd never been to any kind of therapy. I thought it was something that everybody should have the opportunity to try, but I'd just never gotten around to it.

Now, life is a therapy buffet. The latest dish I'm sampling is a therapy group for partners of sex addicts. It differs from S-Anon meetings in that it's moderated by a therapist who specializes in sex addiction, and discussion and response (although not advice-giving) are encouraged.

It's a small group of women, culturally, racially, economically similar, but different in our individual stories. It feels like going at it from this different angle may allow me to access some things I've been trying to get to.

We'll be studying the book Mending the Shattered Heart, which I haven't yet read.

5 comments:

Rae said...

Congratulations on the opportunity for group therapy. I look forward to hearing more about how effective it is. I've never done it, but thought it would be helpful, just as now and then I think a lot of things would be helpful, but it takes me a while to get to them. God's time I suppose.

I noticed that the book you are working with is edited by Stephanie Carnes. I have to assume that is Pat Carnes' wife? I didn't realize that she was also in the field of sex addiction and runs some of the programs at Pine Grove.

Thanks for opening the door for more study.

MargauxMeade said...

I recently read this book--it was good, though the second half of the book dealt with things that don't relate to my situation (men who act out with other men, pedophilia, etc.).

However, I'm now reading "Escape From Intimacy: Untangling the 'Love' Addictions: Sex, Romance, Relationships" by Anne Wilson Schaef and it's the best sex-addiction book I've read so far.

It sounds like your new group could be helpful.

Wait. What? said...

I wish you the best on this new opportunity!

Mary P Jones (MPJ) said...

I'd love to go to a group like that, but couldn't find any in my area the last time I looked. I find 12 Step meetings too triggering lately -- I want to fix all those codies who are doing it wrong! ;) I think a therapist moderator would work. Maybe it's time to look again!

Kellee said...

I too would love to find a group. One of my good program buddies does group therapy & loves it. Maybe I'll look into it at some point.

I am getting ready to take another divorce recovery class that is moderated by a family therapist. It was great the first time thru so I'm really looking forward to taking it again.