Beverly Steinhauer // Professional Counseling and Mental Health, LLC

Specializes in therapy for individuals, couples and families struggling with sex addiction, CSAT

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Coping with Stress and Anxiety

June 12, 2015 by beverly steinhauer Leave a Comment

Yes, life is difficult. No matter who you are, few escape unscathed from life and it’s stress.

Not everyone handles stress well. You may think you do, when in fact, you really don’t. Many addictions are the result of one’s efforts to cope with anxiety and pain while hoping to find relief. Addictions are escalating and so is anxiety when fueled by compulsive behaviors. It becomes a continuous cycle. Consider alcohol, drugs, sex, work, food, money, exercise, gambling, and shopping addictions. Frankly, you can become addicted to just about anything in an effort to self-medicate. Not all addictions are chemical, (drug and alcohol) but can be what we call process addictions (gambling, sex, exercise, etc.) Sometimes addictions present together such as alcohol, nicotine and work, or drugs and sex, for example. We have learned that they need to be treated simultaneously, or the progress made with one addiction will be undermined by the continuance and destruction of another.

Growing up is the perfect time to learn coping skills as ideally, we have a safety net provided by out parents. They teach us and protect us. In a perfect world, they model how we are to deal with problems so that we learn to solve them wisely. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and not everyone has perfect parents. Often times, parents are doing all they can to cope and keep their heads above water. Perhaps they do not model good coping skills and we can learn their behavior, taking on their attitudes, temperament and sometimes even addictions.

Whether your timing is age appropriate or not, there is no better time than the present to learn to cope in a healthy way. If you have compulsive behaviors that are interfering with your everyday life and functioning as well as the wellbeing of yourself and those you love, you may have an addiction. If you have tried to stop and been unsuccessful, or have found yourself obsessing about the compulsive behavior, it is time to consider help.

Learning to establish healthy coping skills and boundaries can be life changing at any age as you learn to manage compulsive behaviors rather than them managing you.

As a therapist with special training in these areas (both Certified Sex Addictions Therapist and Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist) as well as other mental health concerns, I can help you learn coping skills that you can take with you into life. Treatment is confidential and individualized as we are all complex and different from each other.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: addictions, alcohol addiction, anxiety, Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist, Certified Sex Addictions Therapist, chemical addiction, CMAT, compulsive behaviors, confidential therapy, coping skills, coping skills compulsive behaviors, CSAT, drug addiction, dual diagnosed, establishing healthy boundaries, exercise addiction, food addiction money addiction, gambling addiction, learn to cope, manage compulsive behaviors, mental health concerns, obsessing, parental modeling, process addiction, self-medicating, sex addiction, shopping addiction, stress, work addiction

Seven Signs

June 2, 2015 by beverly steinhauer Leave a Comment

By Lisa Kirchner 08/03/12

From serial dating to unsafe sex to unexpected STDs, here are some must-read tips to find out if you—or your partner—are suffering from sex addiction.

Watching porn certainly does not indicate one has a problem with porn or sex addiction. An infidelity does not indicate sex addiction. How can you identify a problem or this much misunderstood addiction? This is a very direct, down to earth article about the signs and symptoms you might want to see a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) about.

http://www.thefix.com/content/7-signs-you%E2%80%99re-dating-sex-addict70002

Filed Under: addiction, betrayed spouse, self awareness, sex addiction, worry Tagged With: addiction, affairs, Ashley Madison, certified sex addiction therapist, CSAT, infidelity, sex, sex addiction, worry

In Crisis…What Now?

March 15, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

I often see the betrayed spouses of sex addicts. They make an appointment and come in in crisis having just found out about their husbands infidelity via seeing a text on their phone, walking in to find him looking at porn, or becoming aware about an affair. They are confused, angry, hurt, in shock, and have no idea what to do. This is particularly traumatic when they are truly in love and surprisingly find out that the one person they assume has their back, is lying and leading a double life.

What should I do? What do I tell the kids? Is this for real?
Please, wake me when this is over!

The betrayed spouse may well be dealing with a sex addiction or a form of infidelity. With the marriage being threatened, the troubled spouse may comply and come in for help. There is much that can be done to help with porn addiction, cyber sex addiction, multiple lifetime affairs etc. Thanks to the renowned Patrick Carnes, Ph.D. and his work in the area of sex addiction since the 1980’s, we now know what it is and how to treat it. He has developed a task-based model. CSATs (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) have studied his model and become competent with this standard of care. We know it has worked extremely well for people struggling in these areas. Also, we know, the traumatized partner deserves a chance to heal from all she has been through with her mate. CSATs are trained to work with the partner as well. Whether she stays or goes, she needs a chance to process what she has experienced so that she may understand and move forward with a healthier insight of herself and the spouse in the future.

I have had patients in recovery refer to the worst thing in their life, turning out to be the best thing in their life. Basically saying, had they not gone into therapy with the crisis, they would not have had the chance to enter recovery and learn so much about themselves. This new found insight turns out to be conducive to a happier, healthier lifetime. Many couples do make it through the storm, stronger and closer. Do not suffer in silence. There is help for you.

Filed Under: addiction, betrayed spouse, gratitude, sex addiction Tagged With: addicts, betrayed, betrayed spouse, certified sex addiction therapist, CSAT, recovery, sex addiction, sex addicts

Why should I choose a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT)?

July 2, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

As a problem becomes more complex, it requires more specialized treatment. Often sex addiction has underpinnings of trauma and abuse. CSATs are trained to pick up on things that another counselor would perhaps not see.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, one of my sub-specialties is Sex Addiction Therapy. This means that I have spent additional time with extensive training to meet the strict criteria set forth by Patrick Carnes, PhD. and the International Institute of Trauma Addiction Professionals for Certification. I am familiar with and utilize his model. The training is intensive, requiring a lot of preparation, testing, supervision, travel, and monetary investment. It consists of four, full week training modules, spanning over a period of approximately one year. Sex Addiction often presents with other addictions, and as a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT), I would be knowledgeable of the process.

Filed Under: addiction, sex addiction Tagged With: addiction, certified sex addiction therapist, CSAT, sex addicts, sexual addiction

Life is a journey that sometimes requires assistance whether you are struggling with everyday problems or more complex issues. Your choice of Counselors is important. With over thirty years of experience in nursing and counseling, my approach is holistic, working with each client to give them hope, while bolstering their self-esteem and strengthening their ties with a supportive network. This is accomplished in a safe, confidential atmosphere of mutual respect, fostering sensitivity and understanding. My interest and training are diverse with advanced, specialized training in several areas. These sub-specialties broaden my scope of practice and capabilities to meet the individual needs of my clients.

Some areas of Interest and Experience include but are not limited to:
Sexual Addiction
Partners of Sex Addicts
Intimacy disorders
Relationship problems
Mood Disorders including Depression and Bipolar
Anxiety Disorders
Chronic Pain
Trauma Resolution
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Sexual Abuse
Incest
Adult ADHD
Teens and Online Addictions (i.e., Pornography and Gaming)

ARCHIVE

Aren’t we all addicted to sex?

I recently heard this remark. Not sure if they were joking or serious. I think the best way to approach this question is to ask what constitutes an addiction. Merriam Webster defines addiction as: The compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. With regard to sexual addiction, I have heard several definitions, but I deferred to Patrick Carnes and his explanation. “Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, … Read More >>>

Why should I choose a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT)?

As a problem becomes more complex, it requires more specialized treatment. Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSATs) are recognized as experts in sex addiction treatment. Often sex addiction has underpinnings of trauma and abuse. CSATs are trained to pick up on things that another counselor would perhaps not see.

Take a Screening Test

The Sex Addiction Screening Test (SAST) is designed to assist in the assessment of sexually compulsive behavior that may … Read More >>>

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

There are many signs that point to sex addiction, below is a list of some symptoms and signs to watch out for: Loss … Read More >>>

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WE ACCEPT: Blue Cross and Blue Shield

    

© 2014–2025 Beverly B. Steinhauer
Professional Counseling and Mental Health, LLC
Beverly B. Steinhauer
MS, RN, LPC, CSAT, CMAT
bbs.pca@gmail.com
tel: 251-634-1990
Mobile, Alabama
Serving Mobile and Baldwin Counties in Alabama

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