Sexual Addiction: Exploring IFS in Sex and Porn Addiction Treatment
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Sexual Addiction: Exploring IFS in Sex and Porn Addiction Treatment

Sex and porn addiction are often misunderstood as mere problems of impulse or morality. In reality, they are complex emotional responses to unaddressed inner wounds. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy offers a compassionate and powerful framework to understand and heal the root causes of these behaviors.

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Betrayal Blindness: Not Seeing What’s Obvious
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Betrayal Blindness: Not Seeing What’s Obvious

When someone we trust hurts us, the pain is often not just emotional—it’s disorienting. Why do we stay? Why do we ignore the signs? This psychological state is known as betrayal blindness, a term coined by Dr. Jennifer Freyd. It explains why people often remain unaware of, or in denial about, betrayal in relationships—especially when the betrayer is someone we depend on.

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Trauma: How Developmental Trauma Impacts Identity
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Trauma: How Developmental Trauma Impacts Identity

Developmental trauma isn’t just something that happens in the past—it shapes how individuals see themselves, connect with others, and navigate the world. For many adults, unresolved childhood trauma continues to silently dictate their emotional responses, relationship patterns, and sense of self. Understanding the link between early trauma and identity is essential for healing and transformation.

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Couples: How to Recover From Lying in a Relationship
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Couples: How to Recover From Lying in a Relationship

Lying in a relationship can leave deep emotional wounds and shake the very foundation of trust. Whether it's a small lie or a major betrayal, the path to healing is never simple—but it is possible. Recovery from dishonesty requires intentional effort, vulnerability, and a structured approach that helps both partners reconnect and rebuild.

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EMDR Through a Polyvagal Theory Lens
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

EMDR Through a Polyvagal Theory Lens

Understanding trauma involves more than just exploring the mind—it requires us to understand how the nervous system reacts to danger, safety, and connection. That’s where Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, meets EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This powerful combination offers deep insight into how trauma is stored in the body and how healing can take place.

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Couples: Understanding and Overcoming Anxious Attachment Styles in Relationships
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Couples: Understanding and Overcoming Anxious Attachment Styles in Relationships

In today’s evolving relationship landscape, understanding your attachment style is one of the most empowering tools for building healthy, secure, and emotionally fulfilling connections. One of the most commonly misunderstood attachment styles is the anxious attachment style, which can deeply affect how we show up in romantic relationships.

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Sex Therapy: Navigating Sexual Incompatibility
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Sex Therapy: Navigating Sexual Incompatibility

Sexual intimacy is a vital part of many romantic relationships. When partners experience mismatched desires, needs, or preferences in the bedroom, it can create emotional distance, conflict, and confusion. However, sexual incompatibility doesn't have to be a deal breaker—with the right strategies and support, couples can work through differences and deepen their connection.

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Infidelity: Navigating Emotional Cheating
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Infidelity: Navigating Emotional Cheating

When we think about infidelity, the first thought often revolves around physical betrayal. But there’s another kind of affair—less visible, but just as devastating: emotional cheating. It can unravel trust, damage intimacy, and leave partners questioning the very foundation of their relationship.

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Sexual Therapy: How Sex Therapy Can Help
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Sexual Therapy: How Sex Therapy Can Help

Human sexuality is deeply personal and complex, influenced by a range of emotional, psychological, and social factors. For some, sexual behaviors can feel overwhelming, compulsive, or out of control—causing distress and disruption in daily life. Fortunately, sex therapy offers a compassionate and evidence-based path to understanding, healing, and reclaiming sexual well-being.

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Betrayal: Coping with Family Rejection
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Betrayal: Coping with Family Rejection

Family rejection cuts deep. When the people who were supposed to love and protect you are the ones who hurt or abandon you, the emotional pain can feel unbearable. But healing is possible. By shifting perspectives, setting boundaries, and cultivating self-love, you can break free from the cycle of betrayal and begin to thrive.

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Trauma: Polyvagal Theory - Understanding and Applying Trauma and Recovery
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Trauma: Polyvagal Theory - Understanding and Applying Trauma and Recovery

In 1994, neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges introduced Polyvagal Theory, shifting the landscape of trauma recovery by reframing how we understand the body’s response to fear, safety, and social connection. By exploring how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) processes threat and safety, Polyvagal Theory has empowered trauma-informed therapy with powerful, body-based tools for healing.

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Couples: The Art of Sacrifice in Relationships
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Couples: The Art of Sacrifice in Relationships

In any thriving relationship, sacrifice plays an essential role in nurturing love, trust, and emotional connection. But knowing when and how to prioritize your partner’s needs—without losing yourself in the process—is an art form. Mastering the balance between selflessness and self-care can transform your relationship from strained to secure.

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EMDR: Rewiring Your Nervous System
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

EMDR: Rewiring Your Nervous System

Many clients arrive at therapy having tried affirmations, journaling, or self-compassion exercises—only to find these practices fall flat. For those carrying unresolved trauma, saying “I am enough” often feels hollow in the face of deep shame, stress, and a dysregulated nervous system.

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Codependency: Understanding IFS and Its Relationship to Codependency
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Codependency: Understanding IFS and Its Relationship to Codependency

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy offers a transformative lens for understanding emotional struggles like codependency. Rather than labeling behaviors as "problems," IFS views them as coping strategies developed by distinct sub-personalities—or "parts"—within the self. This compassionate, non-pathologizing model helps individuals uncover and heal the emotional wounds driving their behaviors, fostering true self-awareness and growth.

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Sex Therapy: Tips to Improve Your Sex Life
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Sex Therapy: Tips to Improve Your Sex Life

Improving your sex life isn’t just about performance—it’s about connection, communication, and care. Whether you’re navigating changes due to age, relationship shifts, or simply looking to reignite passion, enhancing your sexual well-being can significantly improve both emotional intimacy and physical satisfaction.

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Infidelity: Attachment Styles and Their Impact on Adult Relationships
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Infidelity: Attachment Styles and Their Impact on Adult Relationships

Have you ever found yourself repeating the same painful patterns in your romantic relationships, despite your best intentions? The answer may lie in your attachment style—the unconscious blueprint you developed in early childhood that shapes how you give and receive love in adulthood.

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Sexual Addiction: Six Common Signs of a Love Avoidant
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Sexual Addiction: Six Common Signs of a Love Avoidant

Navigating intimacy with a love avoidant partner can be confusing and emotionally exhausting. While they may appear charming and connected at first, love avoidants often struggle with emotional closeness, leading to distancing behaviors and relationship dissatisfaction. Understanding the signs of love avoidance can help you protect your emotional well-being and make informed choices in your relationships.

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Betrayal: Understanding the Depths of Betrayal Trauma
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Betrayal: Understanding the Depths of Betrayal Trauma

Betrayal trauma goes far beyond romantic infidelity. It strikes at the core of our emotional security and trust, often leaving deep psychological and physical scars. Whether experienced through a partner, parent, friend, or institution, betrayal trauma can shatter a person’s inner world, leading to profound and long-lasting effects. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of betrayal trauma, its psychological and physical symptoms, and how healing begins.

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Trauma: A Heartbreak’s Echo - Can a Breakup Cause Trauma?
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Trauma: A Heartbreak’s Echo - Can a Breakup Cause Trauma?

Breakups are emotionally devastating, and for some, the aftermath lingers long after the relationship ends. But can the emotional turmoil of a breakup actually lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? While not every breakup results in clinical PTSD, the emotional distress can mimic many of the symptoms. Understanding this connection can be the first step toward healing.

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Couples: Attachment Styles and How They Affect Adult Relationships
Jamie Gibbs Jamie Gibbs

Couples: Attachment Styles and How They Affect Adult Relationships

Understanding attachment styles offers powerful insight into the way we experience intimacy, resolve conflict, and connect with others. Rooted in attachment theory developed by John Bowlby and expanded by Mary Ainsworth, these patterns begin in childhood but profoundly influence adult romantic relationships. By exploring our attachment style, we gain the tools to develop more fulfilling, secure partnerships.

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