Sexual Addiction Treatment Center: Sexual Compulsivity Programs

The Program for Sexual and Trauma Recovery (PSTR) provides integrated treatment for individuals suffering from sexual addiction/compulsivity (including Internet addiction), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or the effects of abuse and trauma. These individuals may also be chemically dependent and/or have coexisting psychiatric diagnoses. Compulsive behaviors, post-traumatic symptoms, or unresolved sexual trauma are often the cause of relapse in individuals who have completed traditional treatment programs. The PSTR staff have many years of experience and in-depth training in the assessment, treatment planning, and facilitation of interventions specific to the needs of this population.

Philosophy
Consistent with other programs at Sierra Tucson, PSTR uses a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to address the symptoms of compulsive behaviors, PTSD, and childhood and adult sexual and/or non-sexual abuse. Therapeutic approaches include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), experiential therapies, psycho-educational presentations, psychopharmacological interventions, family systems theory, and integrative therapies. Equine-Assisted Therapy, Adventure Therapy, and Psychodrama are used as therapeutic tools to help patients discover personal emotional truths concerning fear, trust, honesty, and dependency. Flexible lengths of stay based on the individual’s clinical need can be scheduled, with assessment services, relapse prevention, and continuing care planning integrated into the treatment process.

All PSTR groups focus on assisting patients in separating their identities from their symptoms. Assignments and readings are individualized. Patients are encouraged to be supportive of one another in constructive ways. The attitude of the PSTR team is compassionate, and attention is given to assisting patients in developing compassion for themselves and others.

The strong emphasis on community in PSTR focuses on acceptance and belonging, in an attempt to break the isolation that is common to patients struggling with these issues. PSTR patient community meetings are held in addition to the general patient community meetings. The PSTR is constructed to promote each patient's self-esteem and sense of self-worth; to assist patients in learning to participate in creating their physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and spiritual safety and growth; and to assist patients in the development of functional thinking processes and coping mechanisms.

PSTR has two tracks within its program structure: Sexual Compulsivity and Trauma/Abuse. Patients are assigned to one of these based on clinical need; both offer psycho-educational and therapeutic groups specific to the track. Each group provides a safe, therapeutic environment that allows the individual to experience reduction of pain and shame while exploring memories and perceptions associated with sexual or trauma issues.

The Sexual Compulsivity Group is designed to provide therapy for individuals with issues of sexual addiction/compulsivity and sex and love addiction. Patients in the Sexual Compulsivity Group participate in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing®, and Psychodrama. Grief sessions also help patients address the traumas that are usually part of their history.

The Trauma/Abuse Group is designed to provide patients an environment in which to process symptoms of PTSD, process their experiences of either childhood or adult sexual and/or non-sexual abuse, and participate in experiential process work. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing®, and Grief sessions are scheduled according to individual need.

The patient invites family members and/or significant others to Sierra Tucson's Family Program to work with them in addressing relationship issues. This intensive four-day program begins on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and ends on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. The Family Program allows patients and family members to identify problems that have had significant impact on the family system; to change attitudes and, ultimately, behaviors between family members and patients; and to clarify the family’s role of healthy support. A Couple's Workshop provides the opportunity for couples to begin the healing process and to receive educational and therapeutic support for recovery. Our Youth Program gives young family members 11 - 17 years of age an important opportunity to learn essential life skills in age-appropriate ways.

Program Components of PSTR include but are not limited to:

1. A weekly Therapeutic Group, which is facilitated with Equine-Assisted Therapy, Climbing Wall, or Challenge Course.
2. A weekly Grief Group.
3. A weekly Expressive Arts Group.
4. A weekly Experiential Therapy Workshop, which is attended by all patients in PSTR.
5. Educational components that include abuse/neglect, boundary formation, trauma/PTSD, domestic violence/cycle of violence, healthy sexuality, sexual addiction and compulsivity, dysfunctional sexual and relationship behaviors, and relapse prevention.
6. An Inventory Check-In Group meets five evenings a week for patients who are completing daily sexual abstinence and co-sexual abstinence inventories. This group provides a forum for patients to process their successes or challenges of sexual sobriety and to give and receive feedback from peers and staff.
7. Twelve-Step meetings held on campus.
8. Individualized nutrition and exercise plans.
9. Healthy recreational time.