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What if the person who “has it all together” is carrying a secret that’s slowly dismantling their life? We sat down with Dr. Stephanie to unpack sex addiction without euphemisms or moralizing—how it hides, why it’s misdiagnosed, and what real recovery looks like when shame no longer runs the show.

We trace the path from early trauma to skewed arousal templates, showing why a “high sex drive” is not the same as compulsion. Dr. Stephanie walks through clear, addiction‑style criteria you can actually use, plus the questions most therapists avoid but must ask—frequency, rituals, search terms, and technology habits that turn secrecy into a second life. We explore non‑monogamy through the lens of consent and rule‑keeping, why pop psychology flattens people into labels, and how partners experience profound betrayal trauma long before they get language for it.

On the treatment side, we dig into modalities that move clients from performance to presence: somatic experiencing, psychodrama, inner‑child and parts‑based work, alongside structured group processes that bring shame into the light. We talk openly about chemsex and meth’s dangerous fusion with sexual behavior, the grief of letting go of the “big high,” and the daily practices that make recovery durable—aftercare, check‑ins, and living in consultation. Sexual sobriety here means integrity and safety, not celibacy, and rebuilding intimacy starts with trust the partner can feel in their body, not promises on paper.

If you’re a clinician, partner, or someone who wonders whether what you’re facing is addiction or avoidance, this conversation offers criteria, tools, and hope. Subscribe, share this episode with a colleague or friend, and leave a review to help more people find the support they need.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you don’t have to face it alone.

Valiant Living helps men and their families move from crisis to stability through clinically driven care, community, and hope.

Learn more about our programs at www.valiantliving.com
or call us confidentially at (720) 796-6885 to speak with someone who can help.