Jenner Bishop

Marriage & Family Therapist MFC 43846

Nature, Nurture or Both?

familyhistorysexaddictIOP_225pxlsWe talk a lot in treatment about compulsive behaviors functioning as self-soothing mechanisms. In the 5-Day Intensive Outpatient Program, we often construct a genogram of each participant’s family history. Invariably, someone will say “Yeah, whatever. I don’t want to waste time blaming my parents for my being a sex addict.”

It’s always tough at this juncture. As clinicians, we want clients to accept responsibility for choices made. Yet we also want to present some explanations (not justifications and not excuses!) for how these coping mechanisms might have come into being: What emotionally dysregulating material is present, and how does sexually compulsive behavior obliterate those intolerable feelings?

Recent findings in epigenetics are fascinating to those of us working in the addiction field. [Read more…]

10 Reasons to Learn Sex Addiction-Induced Trauma Model from Dr. Minwalla

MInwalla_SAITM_Berkeley_Sept24-27_optJPEG 2I’m very excited that Dr. Omar Minwalla is coming to the Bay Area in September (9/24 – 9/27) to train sex addiction professionals how to work from the Sex Addiction-Induced Trauma Model. I believe this training will produce a shift in how I work with my clients. (Plus, I totally want to geek-out with my peers about finer points of skillful sex addiction treatment!)

My 10 Reasons to Learn the Sex Addiction-Induced (SAI) Trauma Model from Dr. Minwalla:

1. I had an extremely difficult partner case last year. My consultation with Dr. Minwalla produced a big shift in this client’s treatment and her resilience.

2. The SAI Trauma Model extends beyond “how to treat the partner.” I’d like to better understand how that all fits together clinically.

3. Dr. Minwalla’s work declared that partners’ reactions to discovery were symptoms of trauma. Why not learn directly from the man who pioneered this thinking?

4. Traditional sex-addiction treatment protocol sometimes bristles against my sensibilities and politics. I’d like to supplement my case conceptualization with other well-considered viewpoints.
[Read more…]

Speaking Engagement in San Francisco

Dear Bay Area Colleagues,

I’ll be giving a lecture at Fort Mason in San Francisco. It’s sponsored by The Meadows treatment center for addiction.

This talk is 7pm on the first Wednesday in November. That’s right—the night after the first Tuesday in November. (I’m only talking for an hour or so. You can be home in time for Daily Show and Colbert.)

Hope to see you there!

PATHOS: Six Questions to Screen for Sex Addiction

This PATHOS questionnaire is only 6 questions, but I’m finding it extremely useful as a screening tool in assessments.

Preoccupied – Do you often find yourself preoccupied with sexual thoughts?

Ashamed – Do you hide some of your sexual behavior from others?

Treatment – Have you ever sought therapy for sexual behavior you did not like?

Hurt others – Has anyone been hurt emotionally because of your sexual behavior?

Out of control – Do you feel controlled by your sexual desire?

Sad – When you have sex, do you feel depressed afterwards?

PATHOS: A Brief Screening Application for Assessing Sexual Addiction. (Carnes, et.al) 2012