DOC ON THE CLOCK Do I NEED help?  Our Uniquely Focused Program for perople in Pathological Love Relationships * Are you tired of counselors not ‘getting it’ about your relationship?*  Sick of being labeled ‘codependent’ or ‘addicted’ to them?

*  Can’t find a counselor who understands pathology, dangerousness, or psychopathy?

*  Have you jumped from group to group or therapist to therapist only to find no one?

If so, you fit the typical profile of the people (women and men) who are finding knowledgeable and effective help through our Pathological Relationship Program.   We are the leading researchers on people who have been in pathological love relationships and we have taken this research and knowledge and developed an intensive coaching and supportive program. Affordable and quick, 4 day retreats help you jump start your recovery. Stop spending time ‘looking’ for another therapist. We’re right here! Women OR men who have been in destructive relationships have complex situations going on in their life. HOW you got to that point of pathological relationships is a journey, often from childhood on. There are reasons that people end up in this place. Some reasons that are fairly predictable.  Having an outside person (whether one of The Institute counselors or coaches or a counselor in your area) help you see your patterns in your story that you may be ‘too close’ to the issue to see, is often very helpful. It is important that you find the genesis or beginning of your pattern and find out everything that is interwoven in your selections and relationships.  Regardless of whom you use, if you have had relationships (especially multiple ones) that meet our definition of dangerous—you owe it to yourself to INVEST in yourself with a Pathological Relationship Educator and work through this so that you can have a chance at a healthy relationship choice in the future. If you want to be happy in a healthy relationship, you have to lay the ground work for it to happen.  “I was surprised at how much we accomplished in a phone session. When you have someone who knows as much about pathology as The Institute does they can quickly pick upon traits, situations, and even conversations that are dangerous. It was also helpful to have someone I was accountable to for changing my choices NOW. The counselor/educator was an encouragement to me to grow past this unhealthy need in my life. Knowing I was going to be having a session with her helped me make the steps each week I needed to so we could talk about my choices and progress. I wouldn’t be free of that abusive relationship today without this service.” (Ginny)   HOW COME MY OWN COUNSELOR DOESN’T UNDERSTAND DANGEROUSNESS? I get asked this question a lot—people read the book and see themselves in it. Then they make an appointment with a counselor in their area. They do to the session and describe the pathological behavior and/or pathological aspects of the person they were just with. The counselor doesn’t seem to have much of a reaction to it or has little to say about it. Sometimes they will refer to it as ‘your perception’ or ‘maybe you need to look at your communication with them.’ They have TOTALLY missed the destructive and pathological behaviors themselves!Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon and is the reason The Institute began offering phone support.  My specialty has been in the field of Psycho-pathology for 20 years. However, many counselors do not specialize in it and so they don’t understand the impact of pathology, don’t understand the signs and symptoms in the relationship, or the permanence of the disorder. Therefore, people often find that they don’t ‘get’ much from the sessions in terms of validation or examination of her patterns of selection.  Don’t feel bad! This is often the case. Some women have taken my book to their therapist and asked them to read it. Sometimes the therapist could understand the concepts and work with them. Others still did not respond to the issue of pathology.  Here’s what you can do:

1. When trying to find a therapist who understands dangerousness, ask for a free initial consultation to discuss the issues you will want to talk about. If they seem clueless, you haven’t lost anything except your time.  2. Ask if they specialize in any of these fields:  Abnormal Psychology Personality Disorders Chronically Mentally Ill Psychopathology  These are interchangeable words with the concept of dangerousness.  3. Look in the Yellow Pages or go online and look for those who list as one of their specialties any of the words listed above. Often these are listed more in websites where there is more room to list lots of things they treat.  If in the end, you still cannot locate a therapist, we welcome the opportunity to work with you.   AFFORDABLE COUNSELING The break through and key element for many persons to break their patterns of selection or to end a relationship they are in is to have the specific counseling and support they need to change their lives.  Counseling today is often not affordable and ranges from $150-250 a session! Few people, especially without insurance, can afford that.  The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction (www.SafeRelationships.com) remains on the forefront of affordable support and counseling. Our normal cost for counseling is $100 per session—still a deal in today’s mental health market. CONTACT ONE OF OUR THERAPISTS FROM THE THERAPIST REFERRAL PAGE ON THIS SITE                        __________________________________________________________________               Since The Institute’s counselors can only take ‘x’ amount of clients per week, sessions that are paid for and/or booked are not refundable. Sessions that are not canceled within 24 hours of it’s scheduled time are still billed for that time. Unused sessions are not refunded. Simply click on ‘Therapist Referrals’ off the main menu to reach someone to help you immediately. BUY A SESSION OR TWO FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT! YOU MIGHT JUST SAVE THEIR LIFE!     

__________________________________________________________________     Since The Institute’s counselors can only take ‘x’ amount of clients per week, sessions that are paid for and/or booked are not refundable. Sessions that are not canceled within 24 hours of it’s scheduled time are still billed for that time. Unused sessions are not refunded. ** Sandy is currently on ‘hiatus’ and not taking phone counseling clients at this time. However there are a number of counselors who have been trained by The Institute. Simply click on ‘Therapist Referrals’ off the main menu to reach someone to help you immediately. To work directly with Sandy, book a retreat and work with her thru the retreat center. Just click on Treatment and Retreat Center off the main menu. Sandy is ONLY working with people thru the retreats. THANKS BUY A SESSION OR TWO FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT! YOU MIGHT JUST SAVE THEIR LIFE!