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Liz Lacy, LCSW

Elizabeth Lacy is an LCSW and certified schema therapist in New York City, NY. She is currently the Director of Lacy Mental Health, PLLC. Liz has over 23 years of post-graduate experience in mental health as a clinical director, supervisor, trainer, and therapist. She specializes in treating behavioral addictions, anxiety disorders, attachment-based psychotherapy, and couples counseling. Liz has earned advanced certifications in schema therapy, transformational chair work, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), DBT, and clinical supervision. She has also trained extensively in third-wave CBT protocols for anxiety and OCD. Liz serves as Clinical Director at a newly developed international addiction treatment program from their New York office. She also maintains a private practice specializing in schema therapy and EFT for individuals and couples. Liz provides clinical training and supervision internationally in schema therapy and attachment-based addiction treatment. Ms. Lacy is a member of the Sexuality, Attachment, and Trauma (SAT) Network and the International Society for Schema Therapy and regularly presents at conferences worldwide.
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Thursday Dec 4th

ADDICTED TO LOVE, STARVED FOR CONNECTION: USING SCHEMA THERAPY TO HEAL HYPER-SEXUALITY

This presentation explores how Schema Therapy offers a deeper, developmentally informed framework for treating hypersexuality. Rather than focusing solely on behavioral control, this approach targets the unmet emotional needs and early attachment disruptions that drive compulsive sexual patterns, helping clients build lasting change through the Healthy Adult self.

Using a comprehensive case example, participants will examine the formation and cycle of hypersexual modes, including the progression from pornography and fantasy to infidelity and sex work as attempts to soothe emotional pain. Common barriers to progress will be identified, along with specific Schema Therapy interventions that strengthen core needs for connection, validation, and self-regulation.

Therapists will leave with a clearer understanding of how to conceptualize hypersexual behaviors, identify underlying schemas such as Defectiveness, Emotional Deprivation, and Insufficient Self-Control, and apply practical techniques that mo