Professional phone or video counselling and life coaching anywhere in Canada
As a professional counsellor since 2009, Gerry has had the privilege of guiding people through a process of understanding sex and porn addiction, utilizing tools to escape the trap, repairing damage caused by unhealthy sexual behaviours and healing past hurts to achieve long-term mental health.
"Every day, it amazes me how God takes the explosive consequences of sex and porn addiction and uses them as opportunities for people to obtain personal and relational healing. I have witnessed many people break free of unhealthy sexual behaviours. Not only that, marriages that looked impossible to repair have been miraculously healed and made stronger than they were previously." Gerry Pettyjohn
Gerry's therapeutic approach has been shaped from several perspectives:
First is a personal perspective. Gerry was caught up in a world of unhealthy sexuality for twenty-four years. Pornography addiction and intimacy anorexia eroded his marriage to a point where his wife was ready to take their children and leave. He entered a recovery process and escaped the trap with some hard work and commitment. Additionally, Gerry's wife participated in partner’s recovery. A dual devotion to the recovery process transformed their marriage into something beautiful which continues to grow in a fulfilling and desirable direction. It was such an overwhelming experience, Gerry was inspired to return to school to obtain a master’s degree in counselling so he would be qualified to help others escape the bondages of sex and porn addiction. Gerry's personal experience in and out of sex addiction (along with a saved marriage) adds depth to his counselling ability.
A second perspective is Gerry's educational background. Since entering recovery, Gerry has become a student of sex addiction by following researchers, authors and clinicians such as Dr. Doug Weiss, Dr. Patrick Carnes and Dr. Mark Laaser. In addition, Gerry has a certification for sexual recovery therapy through the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy (AASAT). Dr. Doug Weiss is the president of AASAT and the executive director of Heart to Heart Counselling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a clinical psychologist, he has guided thousands of people through the sex addiction recovery process and has written over forty books on sexual addiction and marriage.
A third factor influencing Gerry's recovery approach with people is his clinical experience and observation. He has clocked thousands of hours sitting in proximity to sexually addicted people and their partners. The journey with each individual is a roller coaster ride of highs and lows which primarily revolve around successes or failures in their relationships. The view from his counselling chair provides confirmation that experts such as Dr. Patrick Carnes and Dr. Doug Weiss know what they are talking about. Sexual behaviours truly have the potential to become addictions. When sex is engaged for physical purposes alone (without spiritual and emotional connection), it is one-dimensional and there is a high probability that people will become addicted. Tolerance builds over time where there is a pattern of increasing frequency and/or intensity of behaviours. When sexual behaviours are stopped, there are withdrawal symptoms. Often, sexually addicted people intend to spend just a few minutes on a sexual activity but suddenly many hours are consumed. There is a desire to stop but they cannot seem to resist and they succumb to the impulses time after time. Social, occupational and recreational activities are negatively affected. In many instances, there is a threat of losing a marriage, a job, one’s health or one’s freedom but the sexually addictive behaviours continue despite the consequences.
A final perspective of the sex addiction recovery process emanates from Gerry's Christian worldview. At age 26, he became a Christian and began a spiritual journey of understanding God and God's plan for his life. For those of you who are reading this who are not Christian, Gerry wants to encourage you to keep an open mind. His therapeutic approach is not an “in your face” legalistic Christian style. He respects clients enough to realize they may have some differing opinions and values. In fact, because he believes everything and everyone has been created by God, Gerry endeavours to treat all people with dignity, respect and value regardless of their belief system or lifestyle choices.
"God has been a huge part of my personal recovery process and I cannot help but mention how prayers have been answered, fellowship and counsel of believers has been vital to my personal growth, and Biblical scriptures have inspired me to move forward." Gerry Pettyjohn
If these words have given you hope, please fill in the contact form on the home page or text Gerry at 204-292-5058 and begin your recovery process. May God bless your day!
"I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself" (Exodus 19:4).