I am currently serving on the Board of Directors of a national organization that recently issued the following press release (see below).  I am properly trained and available to assist people in the Athens area with issues stemming from this issue:

Help and Guidance Offered to Those Affected by the Ashley Madison Data Breach

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Todd Love, PsyD, JD, LPC
                todd@doctoddlove.com
                www.doctoddlove.com
                 706-383-7401

September 1, 2015

Ardmore, PA – We recently saw more than 30 million email addresses of users of the infidelity website Ashley Madison go viral. More are expected to be released.  The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) recognizes the serious impact resulting from the release of this personally identifying information. Many people personally affected by this situation are experiencing feelings of fear, shame, anger and other extremely difficult emotions.  The release of this information is resulting in serious negative consequences for many people, include severe marital discord, job loss, social humiliation, harassment and other serious difficulties.  There have even been reports of people taking their own lives as a result of the emotional devastation caused by this incident.

SASH strongly encourages people who are affected by this incident to seek counseling from appropriately trained health professionals who can offer assistance in coping with this situation.  Such assistance can be provided by psychotherapists, individual counselors, marriage and family therapists, sex therapists, pastoral counselors and other providers.  SASH maintains a searchable list of its members who are available to provide such assistance. SASH members are available to provide assessment, referral and treatment options.

SASH firmly believes that some people who frequently use sites such as Ashley Madison may have an underlying problem with addictive, compulsive or poorly controlled sexual behavior. A person who repeatedly engages in sexual behavior that violates his or her value system and commitment to others has a problem that is best addressed in a serious and comprehensive manner.  

Counseling and other forms of professional support can also be very helpful for the partner of a person who has engaged in sexually deceptive behavior.  The profound shame, fear, disorientation, rage and grief experienced by people who learn that they have been betrayed can be extremely difficult to manage, especially when this behavior has occurred over a lengthy period of time.  SASH strongly encourages people to reach out for help in such difficult circumstances.   

SASH encourages people with such problematic sexual behavior to seek professional assistance in addressing this issue as well as any other contributing factors.  SASH members are available to provide assessment, referral and treatment options.

The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health is a nonprofit multidisciplinary organization dedicated to scholarship, training, and resources for promoting sexual health and overcoming problematic sexual behaviors.  Founded in 1987 and now headquartered in Ardmore, PA, SASH is a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Professional Association and a recognized leader in the dissemination of educational and clinical information to clinicians and allied professionals in the intervention and treatment of problematic sexual behaviors.
 
Dr. John Giugliano, President of SASH adds “We’re very proud of our organization and the opportunity to serve our colleagues and the general public in the compassionate treatment of problematic sexual behavior and addiction”.

For more information, including the ability to contact experts available to speak in public or media forums about this or any other issue related to problematic sexual behavior, go to sash.net.