Resources
Before I went to rehab at HopeQuest in Atlanta, GA, I had seen 3 different licensed therapists, gone to 6 different churches, and spoke to numerous pastors, elders, and small group leaders but not a single person mentioned Recovery, rehab, or a 12 step program. I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been had I known about this better way called Recovery 5 years sooner. I wonder how different it would have been for my brother if he had found it 15 years ago or for my dad almost 30 years ago. I can’t go back and change the past. I can’t change other people. But, I can share my resources and my experience with others.
That’s what the Resources section of this website is for. I’ll definitely be adding to it overtime. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list on each subject. If you want that, turn to your search engine of choice or better yet, speak with your therapist who can make specialized recommendations just for you. This is simply a few of my recommendations complied and organized into sections that I hope you will find helpful whether you are an addict, friend of an addict, or just simply looking to better understand addiction. At the very least, I do hope that this is a good place for you to start.
I would never wish Addiction on anyone. That being said, if you’re unsure where you land when it comes to Sex Addiction of all flavors, I’d encourage you to take one of these self assessments:
Good therapists are hard to find and it can be intimidating when you’re doing it for the first time. But, don’t worry! I’m going to share a couple of websites that I wish I knew about when I started my Recovery journey.
IITAP: Therapist Search – First and foremost, I would be remiss if I did not share a link to IITAP. This website can help you find a therapist that has been specially certified to assist with addiction and trauma. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Psychology Today: Therapists – Secondly, in no way except that only one can come first, is Psychology Today’s vast rolodex of therapists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc. It’s almost like a LinkedIn for therapy. You can view therapists’ certifications, their specialties, what insurance they accept, how much their sessions cost, their qualifications, and their credentials.
HopeQuest – This is the rehab that changed my life. Without the staff and their facility, I would be dead. No doubt. The love and care that the staff shows every man who decides to stay for their 12 week in-patient program is second to none. They are a faith based organization that takes science and psychology seriously and that shows in their curriculum. Click this link to learn more.
FirstLight – I wish more communities like this existed in the world. This community was the one I joined right out of rehab and they have played a quintessential role in my Recovery. They offer both men’s and women’s sexual integrity groups as well as spouse support groups and other clinical services. They are native to St. Louis, MO and also have online services year-round. Click this link to learn more.
Celebrate Recovery – CR as most people call it is a faith based 12 step program for men and women of all types of addictions as well as spouses struggling with codependency. They host in-person and online meetings across the USA year round and are perfect for addicts desiring a little more spirituality in their meetings.
Sexaholics Anonymous – This 12 step program meets both in-person and online as well as over the phone. Both SA and S-Anon meetings can be inquired about on their main website. SA meetings are geared towards addicts who have a sexual integrity issue while S-Anon meetings are for spouses of addicts meeting to support each other. They offer meetings for men, women, and mixed groups nationwide.
Sex Addicts Anonymous – SAA really stands out from most other 12 step programs because they do not have what they call “a universal definition of abstinence.” This means that they allow their members to define for themselves what they are wanting to abstain from sexually.. They offer in-person and online meetings for men, women, and mixed groups nationwide.
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous – SLAA is quite similar to SAA in that they allow their members to define their own sobriety and they differ by going a step further than just sex addiction to include issues with love and emotional attachment. They have a variety of meetings for men, women, and mixed groups in person and online nationwide.