Addiction can manifest itself in individuals through both behaviors and substance/alcohol use. Some of these behaviors are well accepted in society and can be considered healthy behaviors, such as drinking a glass of wine with dinner for heart health or taking medication prescribed by your...
"If I told somebody I was a recovering alcoholic, people would applaud and celebrate," complains my client. "But I’d get stares and judgment if they knew I am a recovering sex addict!" Many individual and group clients have either verbally or silently grumbled something to that effect...
Less than one percent of the population has run a full 26.2-mile marathon. I used to think that those who do so were crazy. Recently, I signed up to run a half-marathon. I guess that makes me half crazy. :)Curiously, though, I had a blast running 13.1 miles! As I was rounding the bend on...
Whaaaaat!? Jennifer Lawrence. Pole dancing. While drunk. I recently read an article about a video that has gone viral depicting actress Jennifer Lawrence pole dancing at a club. She appears intoxicated while celebrating a friend’s birthday. It is a brilliant public relations move on...
A few years ago, my grandfather suffered a massive heart attack that would eventually take his life. Standing by his hospital bed, my family and I felt powerless and fearful. When the heart rate monitor finally registered a flat line, a pang of sadness devastated us. Through the...
I appreciate the practicality of the tools used by 12 step-groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Sex Addicts Anonymous. The tools help in establishing consistent sobriety, which is the basic foundation upon which all subsequent growth depends. How important are these simple tools...
I remember the day that my mother-in-law instructed me how to best connect to my sister-in-laws, who are substantially younger than me. My mother-in-law stated that it is best to meet them on their own turf, reaching out to them via text, rather than any other archaic way such as having a...
So, I like to look at how addiction can manifest in our lives, kind of like a pet, a cuddly, furry, loving, adoring little pet. A pet that likes to snuggle your neck, comfort you and keep you company. This pet of ours, our addictive traits, comes into our lives as soothing...
We are delighted to announce we have partnered with CPC to bring Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner to the Bay Area for two upcoming events. Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner are internationally recognized sex therapists, educators and authors. They work together as a team counseling with...
It has been said that all addictions are intimacy disorders. Addicts want intimacy in relationships, but they are driven by and settle for intensity. Many of my clients who identify as sex addicts grew up in households in which they did not receive comfort or connection as a child. As...
