I have been doing individual therapy and couples therapy with people having problems with sexual addictions and compulsions for 20 years and have led men's sexual addiction groups for 6 years (however at this time I am not offering groups).

I have found over the years about 80% of the men that come in for therapy for sexual addiction have more of an intimacy issue that is highlighted by a sexual addiction issue.  And about 20% of the men I see have a true sexual addiction issue and need to work with it as an addiction.  With those who have more of an intimacy issue, I often work to assist them in issues of intimacy (sexual and emotional) in their relationships.  In other words, the person needs to learn how to develop real intimacy with another and the sexual addiction is the symptom that is showing that there is a problem in this area.  The men that have the intimacy issue still often need to work on the sexual addiction, but as the work proceeds and the sexual addiction issue gets resolved, the work focuses more on the intimacy issue and how to develop it with a partner.  If the person does not have a partner, the focus becomes how to choose a healthy partner with whom he can develop real intimacy.

My focus in individual work is on assisting clients in developing an ongoing and deeper understanding of their sexual issues (often making connections between present problems and childhood experiences), and then if necessary, I help facilitate the release and integration of any repressed painful or traumatic past experiences. I then work to assist clients in working through and resolving their problems by going into their issues in current time and helping to figure out both emotionally and intellectually whatever is needed to resolve the issues. 

My style of working is basically client-centered which means that I work with whatever is most important for a client to talk about and go from there. I am very supportive and positive, and I work to empower clients in whatever way I can. I use empathic listening, reflection and sometimes explaining to assist a client in going deeper and clearing out whatever is in their way of achieving their goals, resolving problems, and/or feeling better.

With couples, I usually work to assist partners in clearing up communication difficulties, dysfunctional relationship patterns, and uncovering the vulnerable feelings that are often hidden in power struggles and trust issues. I ultimately work towards the goal of more connection and intimacy, while working with whatever material comes up and gets in the way of intimacy, or is triggered by intimacy.

I received an MA in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 1989 and received my MFT license in 1992. I have been in private practice since 1988. In addition to my work with sexual addiction and compulsion, I also work with individuals who are working on relationship issues, depression and anxiety, addictions, childhood abuse and neglect, career problems, and self-empowerment issues.

Please feel free to call or email me for an appointment, for more information or for any questions.

E-mail mrobi@sonic.net
Office Phone
(415) 221-3182
(415) 459-0362 (phone & fax)

Office Location
5028 Geary Boulevard San Francisco, CA