Who is Luke Benoit, MFT?

LukeBenoit
Luke Benoit is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA License #MFC40671), specializing in:
  • Addictions and Recovery
  • Codependency and Relationships
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Sexuality and Gay/Lesbian Issues
  • Childhood and Family Issues
  • Couples Counseling
Speciality in dealing with the pain of addictions, codependency and toxic/painful relationship (sex addiction and sex and love addiction). Often use EMDR to help the patient reconcile past traumas/abuse so they can move past blocks and negative patterns causing ongoing trouble in present relationships and with low self-esteem. Emphasis on Honesty, Being Real, and connection with the Self.

Especially good with Chronic Relapsers in Addictions, Alcoholics, Al-anons and Codependents. Treatment may or may not involve outside work in 12-Step Program. Education about unhealthy family roots which can be causing problems now and helping the client to discover new options and choices. Focus on Action.

Relationship and connection with the therapist is always the most important part of any treatment process. My greatest abilities lie in that connection. Personal experience in recovery helps patients trust me. EMDR a very powerful tool to help take the power out of past hurts for present freedom.

What is a Marriage and Family Therapist?

A Marriage and Family Therapist is a Psychotherapist whose focus is relational — that is to say looking at relationships with other people, and people in relationship to themselves.

Addictions/Alcoholism and Codepency

The best approach for Recovery from Addictions and devastating effects of Alcoholism and Addictions in Families is work in the 12-Step Program (AA, NA, CMA, Al-Anon etc.) These programs focus the participants of taking personal responsibility for their choices and increasing their involvement with Spirituality of their own choosing to overcom their difficulties.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is essentially a treatment for Trauma — which we usually think of as Abuse in one’s History, whether that be Child Abuse, Physical or Sexual, Mental or Emotional.  People are impacted by abuse in many ways and a many ages.  Trauma is not just a Rape or being trapped in the Twin Towers during the 9/11 tragedy.  Essentially here, we are dealing the impact of any experiences that bring us into a “Fight or Flight” response, triggering the Primitive/Survival part of our brain.  Essentially a very real fear of dying.

PTSD and Anxiety Disorders

Often, Trauma experiences result in Post Traumatic Stree Disorder — in which the effects and deep and quite ongoing — and Anxiety Disorders which may include Panic Attacks, Fear of People, Crowds or Social Interactions (Social Phobia).

Therapy

All of the issues can be significantly helped by EMDR which focuses on isolating the Fear/Anxiety promoting thoughts and memories and “Desensitizing” them by bringing the patient back to these feelings and thoughts ---generally a bit of a distance — and helping them to allow the feelings, releasing their past terror which they have been feeling as if it were still alive now.  “Reprocessed,” the generally find calm and we hear statements like -- “Yes that happened.  But it’s in the past now.”  No longer ruling their lives.

Contact Luke

Office:
Luke Benoit, MFT
1901 Newport Blvd.
Suite 350-318
Costa Mesa, California 92627
Contact Information:
phone: (562) 618-3099
email: lukebenoit@lukebenoit.com