Dr. David Burns

And would that ever be considered a positive, healthy outcome if that works for a couple? Or is abstinence the only desirable outcome?

And would that ever be considered a positive, healthy outcome if that works for a couple? Or is abstinence the only desirable outcome?

Yeah, that was actually a solution for the couple. For the woman I was working with in Philadelphia, she eventually decided to have her husband join the therapy and work with them as a couple. And then she disclosed to him, you know, the activity she'd been involved in and how awful she felt. And he was devastated at first because he had no idea, but...

Yeah, that was actually a solution for the couple. For the woman I was working with in Philadelphia, she eventually decided to have her husband join the therapy and work with them as a couple. And then she disclosed to him, you know, the activity she'd been involved in and how awful she felt. And he was devastated at first because he had no idea, but...

He hung in there and then I had them working as a couple and they would have a clipboard and a daily mood log as one of their sexual tools. And whenever she would get anxious, she would raise her hand and then they'd pick up the daily mood log and write down her negative thoughts. And that was very helpful and reassuring. And then they came back the next week and said, we think we're cured now.

He hung in there and then I had them working as a couple and they would have a clipboard and a daily mood log as one of their sexual tools. And whenever she would get anxious, she would raise her hand and then they'd pick up the daily mood log and write down her negative thoughts. And that was very helpful and reassuring. And then they came back the next week and said, we think we're cured now.

And so I never saw them again, but ran into her about... Six or seven years later, I was at the local farmer's markets with my kids. We used to go to this place and get these great sausage sandwiches. I can't remember the name, but it was out on the main line, and they were just to die for. And we'd gotten our sausage sandwiches and ate there. And then this woman came up with –

And so I never saw them again, but ran into her about... Six or seven years later, I was at the local farmer's markets with my kids. We used to go to this place and get these great sausage sandwiches. I can't remember the name, but it was out on the main line, and they were just to die for. And we'd gotten our sausage sandwiches and ate there. And then this woman came up with –

A baby in a stroller and one baby walking along next to her, another one attached to her shoulder or something like that. And she said, do you remember me? And I said, oh, yeah, how could I ever forget? And she said, well, as you can see, your therapy was very effective. That was heartwarming. And, you know, she had been suffering so, so much at the beginning of therapy, so ashamed.

A baby in a stroller and one baby walking along next to her, another one attached to her shoulder or something like that. And she said, do you remember me? And I said, oh, yeah, how could I ever forget? And she said, well, as you can see, your therapy was very effective. That was heartwarming. And, you know, she had been suffering so, so much at the beginning of therapy, so ashamed.

It was a beautiful thing to see them finding a loving relationship. And I guess that's part of what you're maneuvering to with the couples you're treating. And you're seeing that type of thing a fair amount based on what you're saying. Right.

It was a beautiful thing to see them finding a loving relationship. And I guess that's part of what you're maneuvering to with the couples you're treating. And you're seeing that type of thing a fair amount based on what you're saying. Right.

So the goal is being helpful if there's a problem in their marriage, in their relationship. And the goal is not, you know, of a Puritan nature of there's right and wrong ways to have a sexual life or a sexual identity or sexual fantasies.

So the goal is being helpful if there's a problem in their marriage, in their relationship. And the goal is not, you know, of a Puritan nature of there's right and wrong ways to have a sexual life or a sexual identity or sexual fantasies.

Are you seeing a lot of this problem? And if people are in Oklahoma City where your practice is, we can put in the show notes where they can get a hold of you. But are you seeing quite a lot of this type of thing now? Are you getting a reputation for specializing in this? Yes.

Are you seeing a lot of this problem? And if people are in Oklahoma City where your practice is, we can put in the show notes where they can get a hold of you. But are you seeing quite a lot of this type of thing now? Are you getting a reputation for specializing in this? Yes.

Well, I can imagine too, how many therapists in the world do you think are using the techniques you've outlined on porn addiction? You might be the only one.

Well, I can imagine too, how many therapists in the world do you think are using the techniques you've outlined on porn addiction? You might be the only one.

Yeah, right.

Yeah, right.