Sex, Love, and Longing

I am often asked in therapy (with deep reluctance and trepidation) if it is a pre-requisite of therapy to explore childhood issues. “That depends,” I say. “I have no desire to dwell in your past but exploring your past childhood relationships might help us both understand your current relationship style… Read More

Why Does a Sex Addict Act Out?

Sexual addiction is like all addictions devastating to the addict and his or her family. It is considered an intimacy disorder because it affects the natural process that occurs when two people love each other and work on building ongoing closeness, communication, and trust. I recently received an email… Read More

REHAB Treatment for Young Adults

By Bonnie A. DenDooven, MC, LAC Ad·o·les·cence is defined as a period or stage of development, preceding maturity. But, what happens when chronologically your son or daughter becomes an adult and they’re still locked in immature, self-destructive patterns that you thought they would outgrow? For a therapist working with… Read More

Maureen Canning: Sex Addiction Can Kill

As part of its ongoing series, The Meadows, America’s premier center for the treatment of addiction and trauma, presents a video of Maureen Canning discussing sexual addiction in women. In the fourth video of her nine-part series, Ms. Canning, a leading expert in the field of sexual addiction, talks about… Read More

Shame and Sex Addiction

The Meadows is pleased to present its ongoing series of videos on addiction and trauma; the series features some of the most influential figures in the mental health field, including Maureen Canning, John Bradshaw, and Dr. Jerry Boriskin, among others. In the second video of her series, Maureen Canning, MA,… Read More

Borderline Personality Disorder and Sex Addiction: Interesting Bedfellows

The fields of psychiatry and psychotherapy are peppered with uninformed beliefs and misjudgments. For instance, individuals can be pejoratively diagnosed as borderline or, perhaps more accurately, viewed as exhibiting symptoms of complex traumatic stress. In cases of the latter, old unresolved traumas are reenacted in the here and now and,… Read More

Is Sex Addiction Real?

I have seen several articles questioning sex addiction. Is it real? Recently the media have been questioning the legitimacy of sexual addiction. Is it a real disorder – or just an excuse for “bad boys” to have sex? Having worked in the field for more than 20 years, I know… Read More

The Electricity of Carried Shame

Note: This article originally appeared in Fall 2005 of MeadowLark, the magazine for alumni of The Meadows. The Electricity of Carried ShameBy Lawrence S. Freundlich Children need and expect love and nurturing from their parents. This expectation is built into the genes of the human infant, who needs affirmation… Read More

An Excerpt from “Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets”

This article originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2009 edition of The Cutting Edge. Author’s note: Nearly a decade ago, I began to work with women confronting sexual betrayal. It was this professional experience that inspired me to write Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets, a book for female partners… Read More

Understanding Sexual Recovery

By Maureen Canning, MA, LMFT Sexuality is yoked with one’s being – the body, mind, and spirit. It is connected with one’s identity or essence. But as a culture, we have conditioned ourselves to experience and express our sexuality with a laser focus on physical gratification, the seeking of pleasure… Read More