Jenner Bishop

Marriage & Family Therapist MFC 43846

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Home Love Addiction

Love Addiction

Romantic fantasies and “intriguing.”
Longing and reunions. Secrets and lies.
Unhealthy attachments yield wreckage.

Image Courtesy Amy Hawkins

Love addiction is a pattern of seeking and maintaining relationships despite negative social, financial, physical or psychological consequences.

Love addicts tend to chase the feelings of “falling in love.” Love-addicted relationships are often all-consuming, making it difficult for a love addict to concentrate on the other areas of life. Extreme jealousy and enmeshment can make love addicts’ relationships a wild ride—often punctuated by euphoric reunions after a rocky patch.

Love addiction is also referred to as “romance addiction” or “relationship addiction.” Some love addicts are serial monogamists—ending one relationship to jump into the next, frequently with some messy overlap. Other love addicts pine over their “one true love,” and neglect entering new relationships due to their preoccupation with the failed love.

When love addicts have affairs outside their primary relationship, a fantasy-based “high” propels the affair. Affair partners selectively reveal themselves to one another, offering seductive and calculated portrayals of the “true self.” Dependency upon fantasy and idealization leaves untreated love addicts incapable of sustaining romantic relationships when the excitement wanes. There’s an ongoing chase to keep the excitement going (e.g. upping the “drama” through arguments, withdrawing, spying/stalking, increased risk-taking) or a complete abandonment of the relationship in favor of a shiny new one.

Love Addiction Therapy in the East Bay

Love addiction issues can be successfully addressed in psychotherapy. It’s important to find a therapist with specialized training in this area. Effective treatment provides clients:

  • Immediate tools to handle problematic and painful behaviors.
  • Personalized understanding of how love-addicted behaviors develop and persist.
  • Awareness of specific, unique purposes these behaviors serve in one’s life.
  • Development of increased self-esteem and healthier coping mechanisms.
  • Access to more authentic emotional and romantic intimacy.

Click here to request an appointment or get more information about treatment.

ABOUT JENNER BISHOP, MFT

Hello. I've relocated to the East Bay from Los Angeles, where I studied and practiced with some of the country's leading experts in sex addiction treatment. Here you can find out more →

UPCOMING 5-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS

RESUMING SUMMER 2021 (OAKLAND)
In-Person, Maximum 4 participants

5-Day IOPs for Sex and Love Addiction

OAKLAND: Wed 08/11 – Sun 08/15
**3 spaces available**

OAKLAND: Wed 09/15 – Sun 09/19
**2 spaces available**

OAKLAND: Wed 10/06 – Sun 10/10
**4 spaces available**

OAKLAND: Wed 10/27 – Sun 10/31
**4 spaces available**

OAKLAND: Wed 11/17 – Sun 11/21
**3 spaces available**

OAKLAND: Wed 12/08 – Sun 12/12
**4 spaces available**

For more information: 510-463-4051
or info@foundryclinicalgroup.com

HELP FOR SPOUSES AND PARTNERS

SHOCK
ANGUISH
SHAME
DESPAIR
PARTNERS NEED SUPPORT for their unique issues and pain. Read more→

REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Please call (510) 463-4051 or use the online form to request an initial appointment. All Inquiries Confidential.

WHAT IS FOUNDRY CLINICAL GROUP?

Foundry Clinical Group Logo

Jenner Bishop is Foundry's Northern California Clinical Director. We are sex addiction specialists treating sex, love, and relationship problems in Oakland, Beverly Hills, and Del Mar. Read more about Foundry →

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