Teen Pornography Addiction Treatment now available in Logan, Utah

Mending The Armor is pleased to announce that the program is now available in Logan, Utah and the surrounding areas including: Richmond, Smithfield, Hyde Park, North Logan, Mendon, Providence, River Heights, Millville, Nibley, Hyrum, Wellsville, Paradise, Garden City Austin Wood, LMFT has joined the network and is providing this service in his office in Logan.  Austin received his master’s degree from the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Utah State University in 2002.  He also has a B.S. in Family and Human Development with a minor in Family Finance.  Austin has worked in a variety of helping services including providing individual therapy and marriage counseling along with group therapy at LDS Family Services.   He and his wife worked as Shelter Managers for CAPSA gaining insight into domestic violence issues.  He has been a therapist and program manager for a residential treatment facility providing therapy for troubled adolescents and their families. His presentations on pornography and its impact on relationships, along with counseling individuals who struggle with sex addiction, has allowed Austin valuable experience in helping individuals overcome this destructive habit.  Austin has a non-judgemental approach and a listening ear.  These attributes, combined with his 10+ years experience, qualify Austin to work with you as your Marriage and Family Therapist.

The pillars of a successful recovery for teen pornography addiction

A strong recovery plan is vital for teens striving to conquer pornography addiction. Because of the support and accountability provided by the treatment, many youth are able to keep their addiction in check during the time they are in treatment. The difficulty lies in the months and years following completion of treatment. One of the most important parts of the treatment process is the creation of a viable recovery plan.

Youth in the program are asked to consider the example of a building being able to endure and withstand the elements over time needs to be built with a strong support system. Many buildings are designed with pillars that bear the weight of the main structure of the building. These pillars have to be strong and firm. If one or more of the pillars is flawed or weak, then the building will not stand, but will eventually crumble. The four pillars that make up a successful recovery plan for teen pornography addiction are: Support, Success, Accountability and Insight. Youth are taught that in order remain abstinent from sexual addictions in the future, they need to develop these four pillars in their lives.

Significant time in the treatment process is spent assisting teens in building each of these four pillars. Youth in the program successfully complete treatment only when they have been able to put together a recovery plan that includes each of the four pillars.  Youth then complete their treatment with a formal, structured plan for their recovery which can guide them well beyond their time in the program.

Q&A: My son has been clean from pornography for several months without professional help. What benefit is there for him to participate in the program?

It sounds like your son is making progress and it is encouraging that he has been able to refrain from using pornography for several months. The Mending The Armor program can still be of great benefit to your son as we want to assure that all youth who participate in the program are able to achieve a long-term recovery from pornography addiction and not simply be “abstinent” for a period of time. Breaking an addiction to pornography can be difficult and often times can involve multiple periods of abstinence followed by relapses. We believe there is a difference between “abstinence” and “recovery”.

It has been our experience that many youth are able to refrain from viewing pornography by using will power alone for a period of time, but that unfortunately, too many eventually relapse back into the addiction. This happens with some young men who refrain from viewing pornography to become worthy to serve a mission, but with the stresses and demands of missionary life, begin to struggle again with the addiction while serving. This also happens with some returned missionaries who have been able to remain abstinent while on their missions, but upon returning home and reintegrating into society, become vulnerable and return to the addiction. For many adults attempting to overcome the addiction, their pornography addiction has been a life-long issue and only after years of failed attempts, have realized that they can’t do it on their own and need professional help. The Mending The Armor program is designed to help young people learn to manage the addiction while they are still young, so they can avoid having to deal with the problem later in life.

“Abstinence” is defined as simply refraining from the use of pornography through will power, while “recovery” refers to the acquisition of the insight to understand the origins, cycle and underlying issues that accompany the addiction along with the skills to manage the emotions that drive the addiction.

Youth who complete the program are provided professional clinical intervention to assist them in identifying the origins of the addiction, the cycle of the addiction, the underlying emotional issues that drive the addiction and assistance in the creation of a recovery plan. The recovery plan then serves as a long-term guide for effective management of a proclivity toward using pornography. Completing the Mending The Armor program serves as an important tool beyond simply “will power” for helping youth to overcome pornography addiction.

Pornography Addiction Treatment for Teens and Young Adults now Available in Rexburg, Idaho

The Mending The Armor Program offering treatment for pornography addiction for LDS teens and young adults is now available in Rexburg, Idaho through Centerpoint Counseling. This office serves the Teton and Upper Snake River Valley.  Geoff Winfree has helped hundreds of individuals and families while in private practice since 1997 and has supervised other clinicians since 1999. He provides counseling to individuals, couples, and families using a brief systems approach. Geoff helps address a wide array of issues including depression, addiction and substance abuse, pornography, eating disorders, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Geoff’s current work includes:

• Adjunct Faculty Member of Brigham Young University-Idaho in the Home and Family Department;
• Contracted Mental Health Provider for the Brigham Young University-Idaho Counsling Center;
• Clinician for Upper Valley Resoures and Counseling Services;
• Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Theraists;
• Member of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psycholotherapists;
• Professional Lecturer;
• Licensed in Idaho and Oregon.
• Clinical Therapist at Vista Health Center, Idaho Falls, ID

Brandon has been working therapeutically with individuals, couples, and families since 2005. He has worked in various settings that include: residential, home-based and outpatient. His experience includes work with children, adolescents, adults and couples. This experience covers a broad range of issues, including parenting, marital, pre-marital and family conflicts. His extensive training and education allow him to address issues such as attention-deficit, defiance, adoption issues, depression, anxiety, grief, anger management, marital and pre-marital satisfaction, sex addiction, couple sexual dysfunction, traumatic events and childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse.  Brandon has received specific training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IRRT (Information Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy), which allow him to assist individuals, couples and families who have experienced trauma events such as: physical, sexual or emotional abuse, life-threatening situations or significant losses. Brandon’s current work includes:

• Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• Clinical Member of the Idaho Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• Licensed in both Idaho and Utah
• Serving on the Conference Committee for the Idaho Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.