Jerri Jorgensen, Co-owner of Desert Solace addiction recovery center explains why inpatient treatment for pornography addiction can be such an effective part of a larger treatment plan.
Jorgensen appeared on the In My Head Podcast, where she explained how Desert Solace’s inpatient program incorporates various types of treatment to help clients overcome pornography and other addictions.
When grappling with her husband’s pornography addiction, Jorgensen was clear. She set a boundary that she would help him through his recovery journey, but would not stay if he chose to live in addiction.
Related: How To Talk To Your Kids About Pornography & Addiction
When it comes to a partner’s addiction, “this is their experience,” Jorgensen said, “and you get to have the conversation with them: ‘Is this going to work in your life?’” If the answer is “no,” Jorgensen said, the best follow up is “‘let’s go for something that works.’”
In the Jorgensens’ case, “something that works” involved inpatient treatment. Because of their personal success, the Jorgensens felt called to pass on what they’d learned by opening their own clinic to help people overcome pornography addiction.
Desert Solace offers a 90 day inpatient facility, where clients can get away from the stressors of their daily lives and focus on personal growth and forging connections.
“They say it takes 45 days just to start changing brain paths,” Jorgensen said, referring to the way addiction changes the brain. “The other 45 days (are) to really instill all those beliefs about themselves — of who they really are. Not who they’ve been told they are,” she continued.
During that time, Desert Solace residents will live together, eat together and keep each other accountable through their healing journeys together.
“They stay at our house,” Jorgensen said. “It’s a lovely house. We’re licensed for 16 beds, but we like to keep it no bigger than 12. We just feel like we can treat them better,” she explained. “We’re on 5 acres. We have horses. They’re assigned a horse when they get in to care for. We do equine therapy, which is a whole other thing; it’s amazing.”
Besides caring for horses, residents will get in touch with their bodies while eating healthy and exercising.
“They eat healthy. We have a chef. They go to yoga, they work out, they do some kind of physical activity six days a week.”
This physical activity helps residents rebuild a sense of self-esteem.
“Guys that come in, and they’ve just let their bodies go,” sometimes have deeper self-esteem issues in place, said Jorgensen. “They’re just — ‘Why should I take care of my body? I’m a piece of crap.’” Jorgensen explained that in order to overcome these ideas, “we treat them physically (and) spiritually.”
Residents also go into town for errands, to go to the gym, and to go to church services. When temptation arises during these trips, residents can turn to each other for help staying accountable.
“They have three or four group meetings a day, plus individual therapy,” Jorgensen said. During the group sessions, Jorgensen said, “there’s just like a band of brothers. … You’re in it together. And they get it.”
Since there’s so much shame around pornography addiction, specifically, this kind of camaraderie can be immeasurably helpful.
“The advice to the suffering is that they reach out,” Jorgensen said. “The days of isolating are over. There (are) people out there that … think, ‘I’m the only one,’” she continued. “Oh my gosh. This is a pandemic.”
Once residents return to their daily lives outside of Desert Solace, they’re connected to sponsors and therapists in their areas and join weekly conference calls with Desert Solace veterans to help them stay focused on their goals.
“The guys that stay connected to us — and they may not make the call every week — but they stay connected. Maybe they start with a therapist and go once a week, then it goes down to twice a month, once a month,” Jorgensen said. “(For) the guys that do that: we’re at a hundred percent recovery.”
Jorgensen stresses that people in recovery still have “bumps in the road,” but if they stay accountable, keeping up with a sponsor and therapy as needed, they’re moving forward in their lives.
“We are not about perfection,” Jorgensen said. “I mean, we’re working towards connection.”
Desert Solace is an inpatient addiction treatment center in St. George, Utah. Desert Solace specializes in the treatment of pornography and sex addictions. Additionally, they offer treatment programs for gaming, gambling and substance abuse. Their inpatient facility for porn, sex, gaming, gambling and substance addictions features professional, licensed counselors, a professional chef, equine therapy and more. With ongoing outpatient support for patients and their loved ones via phone calls and online messaging, Desert Solace believes in involving the client’s family in the recovery process.
Desert Solace
451 N Meadow Dr.
Dammeron Valley, UT 84783, USA
info@desertsolace.com
(435) 817-1351
Note: Article contributed by KHTS AM 1220 & 98.1 FM
PWhy Inpatient Treatment For Pornography Addiction Works
https://desertsolace.com/why-inpatient-treatment-for-pornography-addiction-works/
Desert Solace / Addiction Treatment Center / Pornography Addiction / Sex Addiction / Inpatient Addiction Treatment / Porn Sex / Porn Addiction / Recovery Center
