Joel D Ziff Edd

Sex addiction (sometimes referred to as sexual dependency or sexual compulsivity) is defined as any sexually related, compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and/or one's work environment. Sex and love are healthy, vital aspects of our lives.

Difficulties with impulse control and regulating emotions including phobias, fears, anger management, shame, guilt, grief, etc. Work related issues including coping with job loss or change, difficulties with colleagues, employees or supervisors, clarifying one's professional and personal goals and implementing plans to make changes.

As a result of advances in medical treatment, many diseases can now be treated successfully that were previously fatal. In addition, there are many more options, complementary and alternative treatments as well as conventional medical approaches. Moreover, we now understand that we can take an active role in our own healing process.

I have had a life-long personal and professional interest in the integration of psychotherapeutic perspectives and methods with traditional Jewish understanding of ritual practices, sabbath and holy-day celebrations, text study, and the I-Thou relationship with Spirit as a process of psycho-spiritual development.

Assessment - utilizing interviews and online assessment questionnaires developed by Patrick Carnes to clarify current difficulties and past history so as to assess the extent to which a person may have sexually addictive behavior, and, if so, the options for overcoming this problem.

Collaborative treatment - in situations in which a clinician is treating an individual and needs a referral for the spouse or the couple, or in situations in which a couple is being seen for therapy and an individual therapist is needed.To the extent that clients are willing to give permission for communication, I prefer to work collaboratively on behalf of our shared clients.