Guidelines for CCPS/CPC

Who Are Sex Addicts or Betrayed Partners

As a sex addict or a betrayed partner in recovery, you have a responsibility to both yourself and your clients to consistently assess how your past experiences may be impacting your current work.

If you are a recovering sex addict, you are especially susceptible to triggers that come up through your work with or about betrayed partners and it is important to remain vigilant regarding your recovery, healing, and boundaries.

Likewise, if you are a betrayed partner, you have probably been through much trauma and it is important to avoid being retriggered through your work with betrayed partners, as well as the possibility of overlaying your own recovery experiences onto the betrayed partners you work with.

Lastly, as a sex addict or betrayed partner in recovery, you are vulnerable to triggers or transference/countertransference related to the sex addict, or other therapists/coaches, such as your client’s partner’s therapist/coach, directly or indirectly involved with your client (i.e. projecting resistance, hostility, or ill intent).

Following these guidelines can also minimize the risk of having a complaint filed with APSATS which could result in a formalized, mandated action plan to address ethical issues.

General Guidelines for Recovering Sex Addict and Betrayed Partner CCPSs and CPCs:

• Take time for intentional self-care.

• Have a consistent recovery/self-care routine.

• Utilize supervisors to explore transference/countertransference issues that commonly emerge when working with            clients who have experiences similar to your own.

• Develop and maintain professional peer supports.

• When appropriate, consult with an APSATS Supervisor for guidance.

• When appropriate, take time for your own individual therapy.

Additional Guidelines for Recovering Sex Addict CCPSs and CPCs:

• Continue your own personal recovery work.

   o This may include but is not limited to having a sponsor/mentor, consistently attending meetings, and having regular          connection and accountability with people in your recovery community.

• As appropriate, integrate your recovery into your professional environment.

    o This may include but is not limited to informing your supervisor of your recovery, attending recovery meetings for             professionals, and using your professional peers for support.

    o The decision to share your recovery with your supervisor should NOT be made independently. It should be a                   decision that incorporates guidance from your sponsor, appropriate members of your recovery community, and

       other professionals who are in recovery. Also, this decision should take your partner’s experience into consideration.

• Any addiction struggles and/or time limited relapses should be acknowledged to recovery and professional peers who      hold you accountable regarding sobriety and recovery.

     o Seek supervision in order to successfully manage your own recovery while effectively working with clients.

• If you have a significant relapse, take direct action to stabilize your sobriety and recovery and consider taking a time        out from working with clients.

     o Consider more intensive recovery activities such as increasing the frequency of recovery phone calls, increasing              the frequency of meetings with your sponsor, increasing the frequency of recovery meetings you attend, starting or          increasing the frequency of your individual therapy sessions, or going to an inpatient program to regain sobriety                traction.

     o The decision to take a time out from working with clients should NOT be made independently. It should be a                    decision that incorporates guidance from your employer, your sponsor, appropriate members of your recovery                  community, and other professionals who are in recovery. This decision should again take your partner’s experience          into consideration.

Additional Guidelines for Betrayed Partner CCPSs and CPCs:

• Continue your own personal healing work.

     o This may include but is not limited to connecting with people who support you in your healing, consistently                        attending betrayed partner support meetings, and having consistent connection and accountability with people in              your healing community.

• As appropriate, integrate your healing work into your professional environment.

     o This may include but is not limited to informing your supervisor about your experience of betrayal trauma and

        your healing work, attending betrayed partner meetings for professionals, and using your professional peers

        for support.

     o The decision to share your betrayal trauma and healing work with your supervisor should NOT be made                             independently. It should be a decision that incorporates guidance from appropriate members of your healing                     community and other professionals who have experienced betrayal trauma and healing work. Also, this decision               should take your spouse’s experience into consideration.

• Any time-limited trauma experiences should be acknowledged to healing supports and professional peers who hold        you accountable regarding trauma reactions and continued healing work.

     o Seek supervision in order to successfully manage your own betrayal trauma and healing work while effectively                  working with clients.

• If you have a significant, extended trauma experience, take direct action to work through your trauma and

  consider taking a time out from working with clients.

     o Consider more intensive recovery activities such as more frequently calling people who support you in your

         healing, increasing the frequency of betrayed partner support meetings, starting or increasing the frequency of                 your individual therapy sessions, or going to an inpatient program to address your current trauma experience.

     o The decision to take a time out from working with clients should NOT be made independently. It should be a                    decision that incorporates guidance from your employer, appropriate members of your healing community,

        and other professionals who have experienced betrayal trauma and healing work. This decision should again take            your partner’s experience into consideration

It is commendable that you have decided to do this important work. Your safety and the safety of your clients is the gold standard that APSATS strives for in our client sensitive services.