Workshops
Healing for Broken Hearts
Women's Intensive workshop for female partners of sex addicts
Secrets Revealed … If the discovery of your husband’s secret life and sexual addiction has resulted in your:
- Feeling alone and scared
- Isolating from family and/or friends
- Blaming yourself
- Rationalizing his behavior
- Making excuses for him
- Wondering where to turn for help
- Becoming depressed and anxious
Then please know … There is Hope. You can begin to have Hope as you learn:
- You did not cause his addiction
- You cannot cure his addiction
- You cannot control his addiction
You can begin to experience Hope because:
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God …” Psalm 40:2-3a
Our Purpose … Is to help women SEE by offering a Women’s Intensive Workshop during which we will:
- S: Support their emotional and spiritual needs
- E: Encourage women by mentoring them to become better stewards of themselves
- E: Empower women by mentoring them through educational lectures, experiential exercises, linking to available resources, and networking with other women
Here’s what real women are saying about Healing for Broken Hearts Intensive Workshop:
- “It was a weekend of renewal. It was so refreshing to be taken care of and to focus on just me. I learned I am not alone in this journey and I learned valuable tools for change.”
- “Only place I’m aware of where real help is available — lots of help in a short time.”
- “Thank you so much! I feel so much healthier and better prepared for this journey. I had no idea what was in store. Thank you for giving me the tools needed.”
Details
This Intensive/Workshop is a 4-day, 3-night “on-site” program designed by professional staff to directly and positively affect the healing process when a woman discovers, receives disclosure of, or has been living silently with the knowledge of her male partner’s out of control sexual behaviors.
Every workshop is held in a location specifically chosen to provide safety and privacy while the attendees and staff address the numerous emotional and spiritual wounds which have affected the participants.
The workshop fee of $995 includes ALL lodging, food, supplies and approximately 40–50 hours of professional instruction. The attendee pays for her own travel to and from the workshop site. A $300 non-refundable deposit is required with the application to attend.
Why this Intensive/Workshop?
The Healing for Broken Hearts workshop is an on-site program. This means that the attendees stay with the workshop staff through each day and evening without having to stop the work in progress at the end of a typical work day then resume it the next morning. This arrangement maximizes the participant’s emotional, physical and financial investment in her healing journey by allowing her to learn, feel and express herself in a safe, supportive setting without the burden of strict time constraints.
Since the cost of the workshop includes all lodging, food, and materials, participants are freed from the additional cost and logistics of getting a hotel room or purchasing meals.
The workshop is not “therapy” (and not covered by insurance) but is presented by licensed staff having many years experience in the field of addiction recovery. They understand the unique needs of and the pain experienced by women in relationship with a sex addict. Each learning module and coursework is based on the latest research in the study of sexual addiction.
The Workshop Staff
Facilitator — Valerie Arnett, LCPC, CAADC, CSAT
Ms. Arnett is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), having completed the program developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes through the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP). Additionally, Valerie has completed Level II training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has counseled hundreds of wives of sex addicts and facilitated the Women’s Intensive Workshops for over 10 years. For more information about Ms. Arnett, see our Therapist Bios page.
Co-Facilitator — Lori Bushell, LCPC, CSAT, CMAT
Ms. Bushell is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and a Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist (CMAT) in Eating Disorders and Chemical Dependency/Alcoholism. These certifications were obtained through the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP), founded by Dr. Patrick Carnes. Lori specializes in the treatment of sexual addiction/sexual anorexia, co-addiction, and working with spouses of sex addicts. She has facilitated pycho-educational support groups for spouses of sex addicts. See our Therapist Bios page for additional information about Ms. Bushell.
Support Staff — Jackie
Jackie is our year-round volunteer support staff member responsible for most of the administrative, non-clinical aspects of the program including site preparation, logistics, and clerical tasks. Jackie is on site during each workshop to help both the clinical staff and participants as required.
Scholarships
Occasionally, we are gifted funds so that a new participant with no other means to afford it might have help paying for her workshop. If you need assistance, please contact Val at (309) 692-6622 to discuss your particular situation.
Travel to the Site
Only registered participants will be given information and directions to the workshop site. If you have registered and are interested in carpooling with other attendees, please contact Val.
If you are arriving via plane to the Peoria International Airport, we will transport you from there to the workshop site. Val MUST have a completed Registration and Itinerary Form (found in the application packet) faxed to her one week before the workshop. Please make your flight arrangements to ARRIVE at Peoria Airport no later than 2:00 p.m. on the first day of the workshop.