Middle Tennessee’s Premier Counseling and Coaching Center for Children, Adults, Couples, and Families!

Anchored in Healing, LLC

Support with structure. Growth with depth. Change that lasts

Middle Tennessee’s Premier Counseling and Coaching Center for
Children, Adults, Couples, and Families!

Anchored in Healing, LLC

Support with structure. Growth with depth. Change that lasts.

Sex & Love Addiction Treatment

A large majority of this practice is aimed at helping individuals, partners, and couples recover from the self-sabotaging effects of sex and love addiction (or problematic sexual behaviors). Addiction involves a pathological relationship to a mood-altering substance or behavior. Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on an individual’s relationships with family, friends, loved ones, and environment.

Addiction creates feelings of hopelessness, shame, depression, and/or anxiety; it impacts our ability to express ourselves in a healthy way and makes it difficult to regulate our emotions. As a result, our problem-solving capabilities are impaired. We begin to shut down, and we lose our ability to connect with others authentically. Sex addiction is really not about sex. It is a feelings disorder, an intimacy disorder, and an attachment disorder.

The brain loves patterns and natural habits. Unfortunately, it will store and repeat any behavior that it’s taught. The brain can easily be wired in ways that reinforce unconscious and unwanted behaviors; however, the brain is neuroplastic and can rewire. Over the past 15 years, research has shown how to rewire your brain by examining your current negative habits, thought patterns and emotions. Once understood, we will give you the tools needed to replace unwanted habits with more desired and healthier ones.

Our Approach

At Anchored in Healing, we believe that the absence of a negative does not make a positive. If an individual only focused on stopping unwanted behavior, without an understanding of the role it was playing for them, then other problematic behaviors will usually re-surface and the individual, while sober, really hasn’t “recovered” even if they are not acting out.

At Anchored in Healing, we focus on real healing with change that lasts. There are 2 phases of treatment, sobriety and recovery.

Sobriety vs. Recovery

Sobriety

Sobriety simply means abstinence from the addictive substance or behavior. For example, someone who is not drinking alcohol, using drugs, or engaging in compulsive sexual behaviors is considered sober. However, sobriety does not automatically mean emotional healing or personal growth, it only addresses the outward behavior, not the inner issues that fuel it.

Key Characteristics of Sobriety:

  • Stopping addictive behavior
  • Can be short-term or maintained through willpower alone
  • Does not guarantee healthy coping skills, emotional regulation, or repaired relationships

Recovery

Recovery goes beyond stopping the problematic behavior. It is a holistic process that addresses the root causes of addiction, including trauma, attachment wounds, and unhealthy coping strategies.

Recovery focuses on healing the mind, body, and relationships, developing new ways of living, and creating long-term emotional and relational health.

Key Characteristics of Recovery:

  • Addresses underlying pain and triggers, and understanding the root causes of addiction, not just stop behaviors
  • Involves personal growth, emotional regulation, and accountability
  • Develop healthy internal and external boundaries and relational skills
  • Focuses on creating a life of purpose and connection
  • Heal shame and build self-worth
  • Foster authentic intimacy without compulsive patterns

In our practice, we have multiple Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSATs) who have received rigorous training in helping addicts, partners, and relationships heal from the effects of sex addiction. We utilize a very structured 30 task model approach to treatment. The task model approach is designed to break through the compartmentalization of addiction and identify specific therapeutic goals that, if accomplished, will help clients establish and maintain sobriety from self-sabotaging behaviors, and then recovery their true self inside. We utilize evidence-based practices to help clients not only stop the problematic and unwanted behavior but learn how to attach in a healthy way and create the meaningful relationships they want.

Example of Sex & Love Addictive Behaviors We Treat

With the right help, you can experience freedom from destructive cycles, and you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out today and let us walk you through a healing journey towards freedom and the life you ultimately desire.

Are You Ready to Break free from destructive cycles and
reclaim authentic connection?

We help individuals understand the root causes of their addictive patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and build relationships grounded in honesty, trust, and mutual respect.