In this interview with Dr. Douglas Weiss, Ph.D., we discuss the impact that using technology has had on clients, the importance of being appropriately trained when providing treatment for sex addiction, and the way his specialty practice works in conjunction with other counselors who provide care for other conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Dr. Douglas Weiss, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, instructor, and world-renowned expert on the treatment of and recovery from sex addiction. He founded the phrase "intimacy anorexia" to indicate phases in a relationship where physical, spiritual, and emotional intimacy are withheld. Dr. Weiss is the Executive Director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, CO, and he is the President of the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy.
Many counselors "check the box" that they provide services to treat sex addiction, but in reality, there are very few caregivers who are fully trained in providing sex addiction treatment. Finding a local clinician who specializes in this niche field is a challenge, so people from all over the world work with counselors at Heart to Heart using teletherapy (primarily by phone sessions) and follow up with "homework" as a part of the program.
Dr. Weiss states that trained experts can identify sex addiction issues within 30 minutes by asking the right questions and then knowing exactly how to proceed with treatment. Another clinician may take hours upon hours in session to arrive at a similar conclusion, often with inadvertent damage occurring in the process.
A teleconference session where the client is at home (or in a suitably comfortable location) means no commute, less lost time, and a greater chance to reflect post-session about what one has just learned. A study showed that people who receive phone therapy stay in treatment for longer periods of time than those who receive same-location therapy. Mohr, D. et al. (2005) Archives of General Psychiatry (2005;62:1007-1014)
You may read more about Dr. Doug Weiss here.
and about the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy here.
The course was so informative and I was glued to my screen for the entire duration. I received so much knowledge concerning ethics in telehealth and I am greatly encouraged to read about all the standards and policies that pertain to my practice. Thank you!.