#34 - Gary Katz Part 2: How to Identify and Treat Sex Addiction

Certified sex addiction therapist Gary Katz is back for a second episode following a recent men’s retreat at Beond. Gary is the founder for the Center for Intimacy Recovery in New York. He has been trained in a variety of modalities including sensorimotor psychotherapy and EMDR. Gary joins us again to dive back into the subject of sex addiction, this time answering questions we didn’t get to cover in our last discussion, and discussing the retreat for men suffering from sex addiction.

• Why Gary decided to become a sex therapist after 20 years in education

• Self-awareness: What are the signs that one’s sexual behaviors are becoming problematic?

• Denial as a result of shame and guilt

• The first line of treatment

• Talk therapy: How effective is it? Where does it lack?

• Men’s retreat: Why six men joined Gary at Beond in May

• Feedback post-ibogaine treatment

• The importance of preparation and integration

Why it’s important:

Where much of Gary’s last appearance on the show was dedicated to unpacking the “what” and “why” of sex addiction, this episode speaks to the “how”: how to identify it, and how to treat it. Gary discusses the experience of witnessing six men dealing with different levels of compulsive or destructive sexual or intimate behaviors, who traveled to Beond to receive ibogaine treatment and engage in twice-daily group therapy sessions. How did they come to a place of feeling better? Gary highlights the importance of honesty, accountability, preparation, and integration, and reminds us that when it comes to using psychedelics or engaging in healing work of any kind, we’re all starting at different places and moving at different paces. 

Relevant links:

• Ibogaine Uncovered: Episode 31: Ibogaine for Sex Addiction and Betrayal Trauma
• The Center for Intimacy Recovery
• About Gary
• Center for Intimacy Recovery: Men’s Retreat
• Statistics on Sex Addiction in America