The Effectiveness of Equine-Assisted Experiential Therapy: Results of an Open Clinical Trial

by Brad Klontz, Alex Bivens, Deb Leinart, & Ted Klontz

This is a study we completed on Onsite’s equine therapy program, which was recently published in the journal “Society & Animals: The Journal of Human-Animal Studies.”  In the study, participants showed significant improvements in psychological symptoms and psychological well-being following treatment. This is one of only a few studies ever completed on the effectiveness of equine-assisted psychotherapy.  If you would like a copy of the article, contact Brad Klontz at brad@klontzcoaching.com.

The Miracles of Equine Therapy

This is an article published in Counselor Magazine written by Ted, Margie and Deb Leinart of Onsite Worshops. It describes in detail Onsite's Equine-Assisted Experiential Therapy program.

The Miracles of Equine Therapy

The intentional use of horses for therapeutic purposes has a long history. Originally, the animals were used to help clients challenged in the physical realm, while their use as psychotherapeutic agents is a more recent development. It can be suggested that equine-assisted therapy, as it exists today, is a natural evolutionary development having its roots in the experiential therapy movement of the '70s, when alternatives to traditional "talk" therapy were being developed. Onsite Workshops first became aware of horses being used intentionally as psychotherapeutic agents in the early '90s, during our association with Sierra Tucson Treatment Center, in Tucson Arizona. Sierra Tucson is generally acknowledged as one of the first, if not the first, addiction treatment centers to develop an equine assisted therapy component to their traditional 28-day treatment program. Since that time, because of the apparent effectiveness of the concept of equine-assisted therapy, the number of programs and practitioners offering this therapeutic technique has literally exploded into a movement of its own.

At Onsite, the programs are based on the belief that individuals who are susceptible to addictions and/or compulsions, have as one of the underlying factors, a baseline of unresolved historic trauma. This unresolved trauma creates a seemingly unbearable level of anxiety that individuals learn to medicate in any number of ways that our field identifies as addictions and/or compulsions.

Over the last decade, we have found the use of equine-assisted therapy to be a highly effective and efficient tool for trauma resolution, as well as for teaching and practicing some of the recovery life skills that newly sober individuals need to have in order to stay sober. As our equine assisted therapy programs have evolved, we are constantly discovering new and exciting ways to use this therapeutic tool to support our clients, their partners, and their family's recoveries.

Breaking with tradition
One quality of equine psychotherapy which contributes to its effectiveness is the unique setting in which the work is done. Outside the traditional four walls of the therapy room - closer to the sun, wind, heat, color, beauty, distractions, and naturalness - the setting tends to provide an atmosphere for openness, the unexpected, and the unusual. Clinical issues may emerge as each person experiences the sensation of the equine site. The client's needs for control or structure, safety and familiarity, physical comfort, as well as past experiences with horses, add an additional layer onto the anxiety experienced upon entering a new therapeutic environment. The unusual setting may also disarm those who are "therapy-wise" and well defended emotionally.

In the equine-therapy setting, a variety of experiential techniques are utilized to further the therapeutic process and promote interaction between people and horses. The participant is asked to accomplish certain tasks involving touch, movement, and other elements that serve to change the normal therapeutic environment. The first task after some group warm-up exercises at the Onsite Equine Workshop is to choose a horse with which to work. The dynamics of this task can be a powerful stimulus to self-discovery, as this statement from a participant shows:

On the first morning at the corral I found it hard to pick a horse to work with and to make a definite commitment. In the end, the horse picked me. I was standing by a pen of three and couldn't decide which one to pick. The third one, which I had not considered, came up to me and reached for me. When I was in the pen with her I started to cry. Memories of the pain of my first marriage and the divorce after my husband had an affair came back to me. As we led the horse out of the pen, the therapist told me the horse was part of a triangle. The other mare kept her away from the male. She was also in season. I was surprised, to say the least, at how much the horse mirrored my own situation and she continued over the next few days to mirror much of the sexual and relationship issues I had in my life...Chris

If more than one person chooses to work with a certain horse, another set of issues emerges around sharing and negotiating:

The program began with selecting our horse. First, choosing a horse we wanted, then resolving any conflict if two of us chose the same horse. This was most revealing in that one of the things mirrored to me is that I place my needs second to the needs of others, thus seldom getting what I really want...Charles

The next task is to groom the horse. The grooming process, again, illustrates personal dynamics and issues such as nurturing, attention, asking for help, isolation, dependence, performance anxiety, connection, and intimacy:

We then spent time getting acquainted with and grooming our horse. At first this felt strange, but as I talked to and groomed my horse, I noticed myself feeling more at peace and somewhat introspective. Here an extraordinary thing happened. I revisited the death of my father and for the first time in my life I lost complete control emotionally. It was only after the therapist had a group member assume the role of my Dad and tell me he loved me that I was able to stop crying. Again a big factor was my feeling for safety. Oddly enough, I had not even thought of my Dad's death until I started crying...Beth

Tasks that promote interaction with the horses are games and exercises. For example, a client is blindfolded and must lead a horse depending upon group members for guidance. Another example is leading the horse through a maze. Goals of these activities range from getting support to facing fear. Lunging is another activity, as is riding the horse in a variety of ways. Horses also are used as role players in psychodramatic vignettes or to play out transferred emotions:

There I was on the ground feeling deep pain and feeling totally alone, when my horse came right over to me and nuzzled me with his nose. When the therapist asked who the horse represented, I knew immediately that he was my Higher Power and had been standing by all along...Margaret

Another factor that adds so much significance to the effectiveness of equine therapy is the nature of the animal itself. At 1,500-plus pounds, 7 feet or more in height and a small brain, the horse has survived by being faithful to its extraordinary senses. The physical reality of the horse elicits emotions and behaviors such as fear, indifference to personal safety, lack of focus, denial, and anxiety in the psychotherapy environment that can be a catalyst for important awareness as participants see the results of following instructions, being aware of self and others, and setting boundaries.

To be safe around horses, one needs to be emotionally in their body and aware of where the physical body is in relationship to the horse. The animals are giving signals to the recovering client about their level of connection through movements such as walking away, ignoring, being distracted by other horses, sleeping, and eating. When horses respond to the emotional and physical state of the client, there is an opportunity to immediately intervene by raising awareness of where in the body they have feeling and to practice congruence with feelings and behaviors. Horses give accurate feedback with no agenda. Time and again, the animal's attention will return to the client or to a relaxed state once there is apparent congruity in the person. In addition, like all animals whose bodily functions include flatulence, defecation, urination, sexual arousal, sneezing, chewing, etc., horses can stir many issues of abuse, body image, sexuality, compulsivity as well as laughter and play.

Very few people have a neutral reaction to horses. While some have an enduring affection for horses, whether based on actual experience or romantic notion, others bring a sense of dread or fear. For some, this opportunity reinforces their historic experience of being able to get closer to and feel safer with animals than with humans. Others come to the therapeutic moment with significant fear. This preset creates a great sense of emotional energy in the therapeutic session from the beginning. Projection and transference begins strongly and immediately with the animals in this setting:

Animals have always been safe for me - safer than most people I have known. So I wasn't afraid of them, as much as I was of what they may ask me to share. Animals - especially horses - are open to listening and at some level, understanding. It's as if they urge me to share my pain with them...Karen

At the heart of equine therapy technique is the use of metaphor. The primary job of the clinician is to promote and elicit the metaphors, note and comment on the serendipity and sometimes truly miraculous moments as the client works with the horse:

Another powerful experience occurred on day two when I was in the field with my horse. A little donkey wandered up and began vying for my attention. Somehow, I instinctively knew he represented my inner child. I told the therapist I wanted to give up my horse and keep the donkey. She asked if I thought I couldn't have both. It never occurred that I could, but I tried it. I found it most interesting to watch them interact. At first they acted like strangers. The horse nipped at the donkey as if jealous, but the donkey hung in there. Soon they were on both sides of me in a protective position...Keith

In accomplishing tasks with the horse, the manner in which the client approaches completion of these tasks immediately becomes an obvious mirror as to how they approach other life challenges. The distortion or defense of talking about a life situation in the traditional therapeutic session disappears. Dysfunctional behaviors or habitual problem-solving patterns often emerge as the client interacts with the horse. With the help of the therapist's interventions, the client can take an opportunity to practice new behaviors and patterns, and through a structured aftercare process, carry these behaviors into action beyond the workshop or session:

Our final day together was a bit of a struggle. We were to groom and prepare to saddle the horses for a ride, but mine would not let me do anything to him. I didn't quite understand it. I called the therapist over, and it turned out I wasn't telling him what I was feeling. Having recently left a relationship that had no closing, I felt incomplete. I began to tell him how I was feeling, and began to cry. I had such a connection with him; I did not want to leave him yet. As soon as I began to cry and talk to the horse, his face was in my chest, as if he wanted to hug and comfort me and express the same feelings I was expressing. He was incredibly compassionate and loving. He rubbed his head against mine, and let me hug him, as long as I needed him. I was able to let go after the ride but knew he had impacted my life in a major way...Pat

The most common metaphors have to do with how the client approaches relationships with self and others:

I initially picked a very attractive but slightly aggressive and even dangerous horse to work with because I did not listen to the horse handler when he pointed out that horse was not available. This mirrored what I often look for in relationships - attractive, dangerous, and of course, unavailable! I was able to grieve this tendency of choosing to put myself out there for others at my own expense as I dealt with not being able to be with this beautiful yet unavailable horse...Christy

In addition to therapeutic interventions, the metaphors may be the basis for celebration and healing:

The most powerful moment for me was when I got up on my horse. I could feel the power of life come up through me. It was exhilarating. And when the therapist said that that power was always within me - I felt awestruck. She clearly believed that, and at some level, I knew it too. As the months have passed, I know it more and more. I am definitely stronger, more powerful, more grounded. I'm more whole. I'm even taking riding lessons, exploring the artist inside me - and having fun...Betsy

Equine Therapy provides a unique experiential environment for the therapeutic process. Currently, a research study is being conducted with participants at Onsite Workshops' Equine Therapy program to measure outcomes and effectiveness of this model. As this method's popularity grows, it will bring together more and more practitioners and clients to promote emotional health.

Marjorie Zugich, MA, CETII, and Ted Klontz, MA, MAC, CSAC, CET II, are co-owners and Executive Directors of Onsite Workshops, Inc., located near Nashville, Tennessee. Marjorie has over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and specialist in the areas of co-dependency, relationship and addictions. Ted has over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, lecturer, and therapist and is widely respected throughout the U.S., Canada, and Central America for his diverse professional contributions to individuals, families, and organizations. He co-authored with Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, a book entitled Family Reconstruction.

Deb Leinart MS, LPC, CET II, CSAT II, is Clinical Director of Onsite Workshops. Trained as a Marriage and Family therapist, she has worked in the field for over 20 years. Her experience is diverse in that she has worked in a number of settings including mental health centers, treatment facilities, schools, and private practice.

http://www.counselormagazine.com/display_article.asp?aid=The%20Miracle%20DECEMBER.htm

Talk is Cheap: The Healing Effects of Experiential Therapy and Psychodrama

From Brad

Here is the first professional article I had published. It was published in Counselor: The Magazine for Addiction Professionals (Formerly Professional Counselor Magazine). In a retrospectively ironic but at the time maddening twist, the article was originally published in Ted's name by mistake. The magazine had published several articles written by Ted previously, and failed to notice the different first name. When the article was released, it even had Ted's picture on it instead of mine! I am not sure which one of us felt worse. However, we think Sigmund Freud probably would have had a pretty good laugh!

http://www.counselormagazine.com/display_article.asp?aid=talk_is_cheap.asp

Talk is Cheap: The Healing Effects of Experiential Therapy and Psychodrama

By Brad Klontz, PsyD, CSAC

“You have got to be kidding me,” Erin thought to himself. “There is no way that I am going to do that!”

Following his therapist’s advice, Erin found himself in a five-day experiential therapy residential program. He really didn’t have any idea what he was getting himself into when he agreed to attend. He knew only that he needed help, and his therapist suggested that he participate in an intensive experiential therapy program as an adjunct to their weekly therapy sessions. Erin has successfully maintained his sobriety for four years and is proud of the strides he has made in his life. In the last three years, he has been involved in weekly psychotherapy, struggling to make sense of where he has been and where he is going. Recently, he has felt “stuck” in his relationship with his wife and has come to acknowledge that he does not know how to meet her at the level of emotional intimacy that she desires. In therapy, Erin had been gathering insight about how his painful past hinders his adult functioning, but he continues to find himself engaging in old patterns of thinking and behaving. He knew he needed something different, but this? No way!

The fear in him started to grow the moment he saw the introduction video demonstrating experiential therapy. He saw participants bring to life their painful pasts in a small group of role-players. The group therapist acted as a guide, leading participants through reconstructed “scenes” and encouraging the expression of feelings and the resolution of internal conflicts. The intensity of the rage, grief, relief and joy that he witnessed in the video was shocking, intimidating and unnerving.

So far, in his own small group, Erin has witnessed several other group members “work through” painful events and relationships with the help of the group leader and other group members who, at times, served as role players. In the last three days, Erin agreed to play the roles of a son, brother and father. He saw group members express previously unexpressed thoughts and feelings. He saw them practice new behaviors, such as setting boundaries and making commitments to engage in behavioral changes following the program. Erin helped hold one side of a pillow as a woman released 25 years of unexpressed rage by hitting and screaming at a group member who was portraying her abusive uncle. He played the role of a dead son lying on the floor under a sheet and held the hand of a mother, racked with grief, as she was saying goodbye. He also took part in a “magical moment” where a group member was given the opportunity to be nurtured by another group member role-playing his deceased father, who was never able to express his love for him. Nothing had ever felt so real to Erin. Because of being a part of the group and other members’ work, Erin had become aware of some intense grief and anger related to his own family of origin. But what would happen when it was his turn?

Erin’s turn

Erin felt a mixture of fear, anxiety and excitement as the therapist invited him to stand up and come to the center of the group. He felt himself trembling all over. What if he started to cry and couldn’t stop?

“Where would you like to start Erin?” the group leader said.

“I guess with my mother,” Erin replied as his eyes began to fill with tears.

“Who in the group would you like to ask to play your mother?” the group leader asked.

What is experiential therapy using psychodrama?

There are many different types of approaches to psychotherapy that fall within what is commonly referred to as experiential therapy. To varying degrees, they are linked to a humanistic-existential theory of humanity and use direct experience as the major avenue to change (Mahrer, 1983). Experiential Therapy Utilizing Psychodrama (ET) is a particularly powerful form of brief intensive group experiential psychotherapy. For years, anecdotal evidence from numerous clinicians and clients have pointed to how this form of therapy can facilitate quick, dramatic and lasting improvement in the quality of the lives of those it touches.

ET is grounded in the theory and techniques of psychodrama, and primarily employs the use of role-playing techniques. It also incorporates art therapy, music therapy, family sculpting and Gestalt techniques into an approach with philosophical underpinnings in existential-humanistic psychology, devel-opmental theory, and models of addiction and family therapy (Klontz, 1999). Recently, this model has lent itself to empirical examination. Stable and significant reductions in psychological symptoms and significant enhancements in psychological well being were reported in a group of individuals who underwent treatment using this modality (Klontz, 1999).

Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse is a well-known author and clinician in the field of family systems as they relate to addictions. Wegscheider-Cruse was a long-time student of Virginia Satir, and was pivotal in synthesizing Satir’s brilliant work, along with the works of others (e.g. Fritz Perls, J.L. Moreno) into ET. While Wegscheider-Cruse (1981) focused on the treatment of alcoholic family systems, her conceptualization of codependency, family processes and family roles (e.g. alcoholic, codependent, hero, scapegoat, mascot and lost child) can be applied to any painful family system in which children do not receive the necessary and appropriate nurturing they need to successfully meet developmental challenges. This includes families in which one or both parents are involved in chemical or behavioral addictive and/or compulsive behaviors. In addition to the use of chemicals, these behaviors could include: sexual addiction, work addiction, exercise addiction, eating disorders, gambling and/or an excess of almost any usually normal behavior.

When used to excess, these chemicals and activities keep individuals from living authentically and from being fully present in their lives. Individuals engaged in these activities are likely to be detached from their feelings (which may often be the goal of the behavior), and are unable to be emotionally present. In addition, their thinking is often distorted, they have difficulty cultivating a spiritual existence, and in the end they may develop chronic health problems (Wegscheider-Cruse, Cruse, and Bougher, 1990). As parents, they are unable to create an environment in which children receive the nurturing they need to become fully evolved. Rather, children from these families have a limited repertoire of choices and as such, they typically follow their parents’ example. Thus, they perpetuate the cycle in new generations. ET’s ultimate goal is to acknowledge and stop this cycle and provide individuals with opportunities to heal old wounds. It offers people new ways of dealing with emotional and psychological turmoil, which aids in the cultivation of here-and-now involvement in one’s life and relationships.

ET views individual’s present psychological symptoms as being rooted, directly or indirectly, in the context of a family system. Many aspects of an individual’s current context act to support, maintain and even exacerbate the individual’s problematic behaviors. Often clients enter therapy with the hope of reducing their unpleasant symptoms such as depression, anxiety or feelings of low self-worth. ET views these symptoms as signals of a deeper struggle. As such, through the process of resolving unfinished business related to significant formative relationships and events, psychological symptoms often diminish in intensity and scope. ET attempts to treat the disease so that the symptoms are allowed to dissipate. Often the presenting symptomology is not even formally addressed. This approach stands in stark contrast to emerging systems of therapy whose primary emphasis is the reduction of psychological symptoms through symptom-focused interventions. What

Does ET Look Like? A typical ET group therapy session follows the three stages of psychodrama set forth by the founder of psychodrama, J.L. Moreno (1987): the warm-up stage, enactment stage and sharing stage.

The warm-up stage

During the warm-up stage, group members are encouraged to get in touch with their feelings and to “warm up” to their subjective selves. This is accomplished by using any of a variety of experiential methods. In the case example above, Erin’s group was provided with art supplies and encouraged to draw a picture representing a significant emotional event in their family of origin. Erin drew a court scene in which his parents were involved in a painful custody battle. In describing the impact this event had on him as a child, Erin was able to successfully access latent thoughts and emotions related to this event, which were used as a springboard into the second stage.

The enactment stage

In the enactment stage, role players and/or props are used to represent significant individuals in the client’s past, present or future. With the guidance of the therapist, the client may be invited to interact with the role-players using any of a variety of experiential and psychodramatic techniques. Through the process of addressing any unresolved emotions and cognitions related to these individuals and events, catharsis and the resolution of unfinished business may occur. Often, this is accompanied by new insights and understandings coupled with newfound motivation to make behavioral changes. In this stage of Erin’s work, the therapist invited him to set up a court scene with role-players and props, which Erin chose to include. Erin was then invited to share with each important figure his thoughts and feelings related to the event and their relationship in general. With the support of the other group members and the therapist, Erin was given the opportunity to express anger, pain and grief through a variety of experiential methods. When Erin agreed that he had said and done the things he needed to do, the therapist encouraged him to practice setting personal boundaries with a member of his family. With feedback from the therapist and other group members, Erin was given the opportunity to practice engaging in new, healthy behaviors made possible by the new clarity and strength he received through this therapeutic process.

The sharing stage

In the sharing stage, group members are invited to “give back” to the individual who worked. They are encouraged to share what they heard, saw and felt during the psychodramatic vignette. They may also share gifts or insights that they received about their own lives through witnessing and/or participating in the psychodrama. Intellectual analysis of the process is discouraged. The sharing stage is important as it helps the client “reintegrate” and begin to consolidate what he or she has learned. For Erin, the sharing stage helped him see that he was not alone. He was amazed that others had experienced similar feelings and was deeply touched that people learned from his experience. He was also relieved to see that other group members felt closer to him after he had expressed his feelings, and they saw his ability to express his innermost thoughts and feelings as a sign of strength rather than of weakness.

A life-changing event

For Erin and many others, participation in such a group is a life-changing event. Empirical research has demonstrated that participation in a group experience like that outlined above can produce significant reductions in psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, compulsiveness and feelings of inferiority. Participants have reported significant enhancements in their ability to be more oriented in the present, more self-supportive, more sensitive to their own needs and feelings, more accepting of themselves, and more able to develop meaningful, warm interpersonal relationships with other.

Rather than just talking about issues in a detached manner, ET techniques can be used as powerful catalysts, which give individuals the opportunity to fully experience themselves in the moment, staying with their feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations rather than avoiding them. ET’s goal is to provide a therapeutic environment in which clients are most able to access turbulent memories, appropriately express the breadth and depth of associated unresolved emotions, adjust cognitive components of the memory through new insights and learning, and restore the memory as a permanently altered entity. The successful completion of this process will often lead to a resolution of the emotional and cognitive impasses in an individual’s life. Clients are often better able to experience the totality of their here-and-now relationships and experiences without the constraints associated with debilitating unresolved emotions.

Brad Klontz, PsyD, CSAC (btklontz@aol.com) is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified substance abuse counselor, therapist, consultant and coach. The president of Coastal Clinics, Inc. in Kauai, Hawai’i, he has been published in numerous publications and is co-author of Financial Awakenings.

The Use of Psychodramatic Techniques Within Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Theoretical and Technical Integration

From Brad

This was the first article I had published in a peer-review psychological journal.  In fact, the The Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Socieometry (Formerly The International Journal of Action Methods), is one of the oldest psychological journals in the world!  The article was published in 1999.  Special thanks to Dr. Tian Dayton for her knowledge and expertise in the area of Psychodrama, and her willingness to collaborate with Brad on this project.  Dr. Dayton is the author of several classic books on Psychodrama.  Two of our favorites include: The Drama Within: Psychodrama and Experiential Therapy and Drama Games: Techniques for Self-Improvement.  If you are interested in reading this article in its entirety, it is available at most University libraries or you can contact Brad at brad@klontzcoaching.com.

Title: The Use of Psychodramatic Techniques Within Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Theoretical and Technical Integration.

Abstract: Regardless of what might be considered ideal, most therapy today is brief. Consequently, psychodrama practitioners could serve many of their clients by following a brief model of therapy. Solution-focused brief therapy is an approach that is receiving increased support from those who provide brief therapy. The integration of solution-focused theory with psychodrama theory and its techniques is offered as a model for the provision of short-term, solution-focused interventions. The authors provide suggestions for the practice, highlighting the use of psychodrama's social atom, action sociogram, future projection, and regressive drama techniques.

Authors: Klontz, Bradley T.; Dayton, Tian; Anderson, Laura S.

Source: International Journal of Action Methods: Psychodrama, Skill Training, and Role Playing. 52(3), Fall 1999, 113-120.

The Effectiveness of a Multimodal Brief Group Experiential Psychotherapy Approach

From Brad Klontz

This article is the short version of my dissertation. I was very fortunate to have it accepted for publication. The study examined the effectiveness of Onsite Workshops' Living Centered Program (LCP) (www.onsiteworkshops.com).  Long story short... it works!  It was published in The Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Socieometry (Formerly The International Journal of Action Methods)

Title: The effectiveness of a multimodal brief group experiential psychotherapy approach.

Abstract: Assessed the effectiveness of a multimodal brief group experiential psychotherapy approach in reducing psychological symptoms, enhancing well-being, and in maintaining treatment outcomes at a 6-mo follow-up. Treatment outcomes were assessed in 41 Ss (aged 18-67 yrs) diagnosed with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or adjustment disorders. Ss completed an 8-day, residential, group-therapy treatment program which involved 30 hr of intensive group experiential therapy, primarily using psychodrama. In addition, art therapy, music therapy, family sculpting, and Gestalt techniques were combined into an approach with philosophical and theoretical underpinnings in existential-humanistic psychology, developmental theory, and models of family therapy. Ss completed a battery of questionnaires at pretreatment, immediately following therapy, and between 4- and 6-mo posttreatment. Results show that the multimodal brief group experiential psychotherapy approach was effective in reducing negative psychological symptoms and in enhancing psychological well-being in the Ss. Future directions for research are discussed.

Authors: Klontz, Bradley T.; Wolf, Eve M.; Bivens, Alex

Source: International Journal of Action Methods: Psychodrama, Skill Training, and Role Playing. 53(3-4), Fal-Win 2000-2001, 119-135.

Ethical Practice of Group Experiential Psychotherapy

From Brad

This is an article I published in a prestigous American Psychological Association's journal: Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training.

Title: Ethical Practice of Group Experiential Psychotherapy.

Abstract: Ethical issues related to the practice of group experiential therapy are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to ethical considerations associated with group psychotherapy versus individual psychotherapy, therapist competency in the use of experiential techniques, leader power issues, and aftercare. The "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" of the American Psychological Association (2002) and the "Association for Specialists in Group Work Best Practice Guidelines" (L. Rapin & L. Keel, 1998) are referenced to highlight ethical principles and guidelines as they relate to this discussion.

Author: Klontz, Bradley T.

Source: Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training. 41(2), Sum 2004, 172-179.

The Effectiveness of Brief Multimodal Experiential Therapy in the Treatment of Sexual Addiction

From Brad Klontz

This is a study we had published in December 2005 in Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.  It examined the effectiveness of Onsite Workshops' (www.onsiteworkshops.com) week-long treatment program for sexual addiction and compulsivity.  It is only the 3rd study ever published in a peer-review journal examining the effectiveness of psychotherapy in the treatment of sexual addiction, and the 1st to use standarized assessments to measure change.  Special thanks to Dr. Sheila Garos from Texas Tech. University for her invaluable expertise and assistance in completing this project.  The abstract and reference for this study are listed below. 

If you would like a copy of the full article, you can visit a University library near you or contact us at brad@klontzcoaching.com or ted@klontzcoaching.com.

Title: The Effectiveness of Brief Multimodal Experiential Therapy in the Treatment of Sexual Addiction.

Abstract: The authors assessed treatment outcomes in 38 self-identified sex addicts who participated in a brief residential, multimodal experiential group therapy treatment program. Participants completed psychological and sexual symptom measures prior to treatment, immediately following treatment, and six months after treatment. Significant reductions in overall psychological distress, depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and preoccupation with sex and sexual stimuli were reported by participants immediately following treatment and were stable at 6-month follow-up. Significant reductions in anxiety, intrapsychic conflict regarding sexual desire, and shame felt as a result of acting out on sexual desires were reported by participants from posttreatment to 6-month follow-up. The clinical implications of the present study, limitations of the study, and directions for further research in this area are discussed.

Authors: Klontz, Bradley T.; Garos, Sheila; Klontz, Paul T.

Source: Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity. 12(4), Dec 2005, 275-294.