Loneliness is everywhere. It’s a form of invisible suffering that is a universal part of being human. It’s also a trigger toward compulsive sex and possibly the fantasy to be rescued. We’re all lonely at one time or another, but how we respond to the loneliness is the key. Responding with acceptance, understanding and compassion will ease the pain inside. Cultivate emotionally-dependable connections and you will feel more soothing whenever you can use a shoulder to lean on.  Kk5lbivCTFFmnCwD3BVw

It's Not About the Sex

Lonely for the Holidays - Susskind and Merlino

Today, Duane talks with Andrew Susskind about his book, It's Not About the Sex: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Addiction. They go into depth about attachment, emotional regulation, the need for reliable people to heal your traumatic wounds, and how we can do that when we're in recovery and still struggling with internal chaos.

Guest Podcast: Healing Early Trauma Through Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting with Andrew Susskind

Scratch the surface of compulsive sexual behavior and you’ll find intimacy avoidance. Andrew and Sue take a closer look at what is often referred to as love avoidance (aka avoidant attachment pattern) which acts as a survival strategy but eventually outlasts its purpose. Tune in to discover how this attachment style may apply to you.

Intimacy Avoidance - Susskind and Merlino

Porn Brain Reboot podcast: Andrew is a featured guest as Dr. Trish Leigh focuses this interview on his book It’s Not About the Sex with a special emphasis on the chapters related to shame, grief, narcissism and codependency.

Porn Brain Rewire - Dr. Trish Leigh and Andrew Susskind

In this podcast we welcome Cynthia Schwartzberg who is a licensed clinical social worker and Brainspotting trainer based in Atlanta. She is the author of The Curious Voyage: A Rule-Breaking Guidebook to Authenticity which provides powerful exercises and insights that will strengthen your connection both to your truest self and to others. www.cynthasis.com or (917) 816-3534. 

The Curious Voyage - Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW

Based on Johann Hari’s Ted Talk, Andrew and Sue explore the premise that “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.” Andrew believes that emotional sobriety and nervous system regulation are pillars of connection and sustainable recovery. Listen to this episode as you put together the triad of connection for yourself: connection to self, connection to others and connection to a higher power. 

The Opposite of Addiction - Susskind and Merlino

Today’s podcast features psychotherapist and certified sex addiction therapist, Debra Kaplan who passionately discusses her work with couples on issues of “relational currency”, sexual and financial health and imbalances of power. Her recent book “Battle of the Titans: Mastering the Forces of Sex, Money and Power in Relationships” provides a basis for a lively exploration of how these elements make or break relationships.  Debra can be reached at www.debrakaplancounseling.com or info@debrakaplancounseling.com.  Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast and you can get a copy of Andrew's book, "It's Not About the Sex" here.

Sex, Money and Power - Debra Kaplan, MBA, CMAT, CSAT-S

Today’s podcast features Dr. Carol Clark, sex therapist, addictions specialist and author who discusses addiction as a universal problem. She also explores the intersection of sex, relationships and intimacy in the context of addiction recovery. You may contact Dr. Clark by email at counselor@drcarolclark.com or through her websites at www.drcarolclark.com and www.addictamerica.net.

Addict America: The Lost Connection - Dr. Carol Clark

In this podcast we take a closer look at the often-misunderstood term sex addiction in contrast to the  World Health Organization’s classification of compulsive sexual behavior. Through Andrew’s personal and professional experience, we discuss the historical context, the sexual health approach as well as the controversy over the conflicting language still at odds.

Sex Addiction No More - Susskind and Merlino

Today’s podcast features psychotherapist, workshop leader and speaker, Terra Holbrook, LCSW, CADC, CSAT who brings a unique healing approach to early childhood toxic stress. By utilizing Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems (aka Parts Work), Terra focuses on the healing of deep-rooted intimacy wounds. You may contact Terra through her website at www.terraholbrook.com or email at terra@terraholbrook.com. Phone: (208) 520-5695

Polyvagal Theory & Internal Family Systems - Terra Holbrook, LCSW, CADC, CSAT

In twelve-step programs such as SLAA, fantasy is often labeled as a problem. Yet, it may also be an adaptive way to cope with a complicated childhood or trauma. So how can fantasy be a pleasurable, liberating experience? Tune in to this episode to learn more about this expansive subject and see how building the capacity for healthy fantasy is a sure-fire sign of advanced recovery.

Fantasy as a Survival Strategy - Susskind & Merlino

This month marks thirty years since Andrew finished his graduate school experience at UCLA, and this podcast takes a clinical stroll down memory lane. From his roots in traditional talk therapy moving on to coaching, somatic therapies and group therapy, Andrew explores the evolution of the mental health field as well as his unexpected career path. Sprinkled into the conversation is his view on compulsive sexual behavior circa 1991 versus today.

30 years in Review: 1991-2021 - Susskind and Merlino

In this podcast, we welcome an old friend and colleague, Buck Dodson who is a life coach and licensed psychotherapist passionate about helping clients share their gifts and activate their superpowers. Buck hosts the Gay Men’s Life Lab podcast and can be reached through his website at www.buckdodson.com.

Reimagining Midlife - Buck Dodson

Many people find it challenging to start a meditation practice. In this “mini-meditation” Andrew will lead you through a brief Grounding exercise that takes less than 5 minutes of your time. Give it a try and see what happens.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation - Susskind

In this informative podcast, we welcome San Diego-based sexual health author, trainer, and psychotherapist, Douglas Braun-Harvey. His recent book “Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior: Rethinking Sex Addiction” sets the stage for a lively discussion about his sexual health model. Braun-Harvey offers us easy-to-understand ways of conceptualizing out of control sexual behaviors as a sexual health problem and not a disease or addiction. Tune in for this very educational and articulate conversation.

Out of Control Sexual Behavior - Douglas Braun-Harvey MFT, CGP

It's Not About The Sex is a podcast based on the book by the same name. Psychotherapist Andrew Susskind examines issues such as shame, grief, narcissism, and codependency to demonstrate how people use out-of-control sexual behavior to cope with broken heartedness. Each podcast he interviews other therapists who work with clients dealing with addictive behaviors around troubled relationships.

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It's Not About the Sex

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