Women's Groups

"It is very lonely sometimes, trying to play God."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Coaddiction and codependence, like their addictive counterparts, are really a repression mechanism for current and unresolved suffering. It is a lonely and isolated existence full of deep and toxic, shame.

Underneath the behaviors are attachment and intimacy disorders. Real healing of these injuries happens most powerfully in a group setting. At Life Works, groups are an integral part of the process.

Life Works Recovery offers two women's Groups that meet at the following times:

Women's support groups are hard to find. Often the spouse is left out of the recovery process, left to grieve alone. But the partners of sex addicts are deeply affected by the behavior of the addict, and need other women to share their pain, sorrow, anger, and hope with.

The tasks for the women to work through begin with an acknowledgement and embracing of the hurt and betaryal that has occured. The next step is to help the partner understand that addiction is present in their relationship, and that addiction is a brain disease. A culture of support is then developed, including individual therapy, help for depression and anxiety, and 12-step meetings. The tasks of early recovery include:

Facilitate processing of hurt and betrayal.
Establish safety and personal integrity.
Understand addiction.
Understand codependency.
Prepare for disclosure.

Develop spirituality.
Understand boundaries.
Understand the role of codependency in active addiction.

Five Level Of Acceptance For The Partners

There is hurt and betrayal.
There is addiction present.
Codependency plays a role in active addiction.
Coaddiction is itself a mental disorder.
Both partners addictions have negatively impacted the coupleship.