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Susan Zola

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT) AND Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS)

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Dr. Minwalla And The Secret Sexual Basement

DR. MINWALLA AND DECEPTIVE SEXUALITY AND TRAUMA TREATMENT (DSTT)


“Deceptive Sexuality and Trauma Treatment (DSTT) is a grounded theory based on a 20-year synthesis of sitting with human beings in clinical practice and listening to human voices. The product of Dr. Minwalla’s work is an advance in clinical technology that has become the vanishing point—where theories of infidelity, and compulsive sexual behavior converge with treatments for systemic abuse, injustice and complex trauma into a plane of extraordinary space and vibrational science.” – The Institute for Sexual Health

What is the “Secret Sexual Basement?” 

“The Secret Sexual Basement is an Educational Metaphor to facilitate a foundational understanding of Deceptive Sexuality and the clinical term, Deceptive, Compartmentalized Sexual-Relational Reality (DCSR) Dr. Minwalla explains that integrity-abuse disorders encompass persistent patterns of emotional, psychological, and relational harm, including gaslighting, lying, lying by omission, blaming, cover-ups, denial, and other related behaviors. Additionally, these disorders involve the establishment, perpetuation, and involvement in a deceptive, compartmentalized sexual-relational reality (DCSR). The analogy employed is akin to a familial scenario where a concealed sexual basement has been surreptitiously constructed by one of its members. The presence of a secret sexual basement may detrimentally affect a victim’s second brain, their subtle survival instinct system, and/or the dynamics of intimate relationships, partner attachment, and trust.”

The Dr. Minwalla Model is based on Education in Deceptive Sexuality and Trauma Treatment.

RESOURCES FROM THE MINWALLA MODEL RESOURCE LIBRARY 

  • The Secret Sexual Basement: The Traumatic Impacts of Deceptive Sexuality on the Intimate Partner and Relationship by Dr. Omar Minwalla
  • Deceptive Sexuality and Trauma (DSTT): A Clinical Model by Dr. Omar Minwalla –
  • 22 Traumatic Injuries and Symptoms of Deceptive Sexuality Trauma Experienced by Victim-Survivor(s) – Intimate Partner or Spouse / DST-22 Clinical Workbook – Dr. Omar Minwalla, Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Sexologist 
  • Informational Justice Classification – Dr. Omar Minwalla  –
  • Partners of sex addicts need treatment for trauma By Omar Minwalla, Psy.D. Article –
  • ‘Sexual Sobriety’ Leaves Victims Untreated By Omar Minwalla, Psy.D. Article  
  • Compulsive-Abusive Sexual-Relational Disorders (CASRD): Diagnostic and Treatment Model by Omar Minwalla, Psy.D. –

  • “What They Don’t Know Will Hurt Them: The Hidden Dangers of Sexual Secrets” by Dr. Omar Minwalla – 

  • “The BluePrint for Deceptive Sexuality: Ten Steps to Building a Secret Sexual Basement – A Guide (for Men) to Understanding Infidelity as Abuse By Dr. Omar Minwalla 

Click HERE to visit the Minwalla Model Resource Library  

WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR SEXUAL HEALTH UTILIZING THE DECEPTIVE SEXUALITY AND TRAUMA TREATMENT (DSTT) MODEL

1. Be a Better Man 1: The Illumination Course – “Be a Better Man 1: The Illumination Course is a 28-Hour, 4-day, live webinar that provides psychoeducation for men on deceptive sexuality and the traumatic impacts that sexual acting out, patterns of infidelity, and cheating often have on the intimate partner, the relationship, children and the family system. By revealing and validating the experiences of their intimate partners, participants gain an understanding of deceptive sexuality as a psychological abuse, and not just a sex problem. The primary objective here is illumination, helping men to see more clearly the psychological operation of integrity-abuse, and shining a light on the 22 specified traumatic impacts on other human beings (DST-22).” – The Institute for Sexual Health

Click HERE to check out the “Be A Better Man Course” 


2. Here I Am Becoming: The Sister Course –  “Here I Am Becoming: The Sister Course is a 28-Hour, 4-day, live webinar that provides psychoeducation for female survivors, curated and conducted independently through the Private Practice of Trish Haight, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), SEP, NARM, NATouch, AF-EMDR, DSTT, CSAT, CPTT, CCPS. Trish will present the same Illumination curriculum from the Better Man 1 Course specifically for the intimate partner or spouse who has been harmed and impacted by deceptive sexuality. The primary objective here is illumination to help empower and offer stabilization by shining a light on the DST model and specifically the 22 specified traumatic impacts (DST-22).” – The Institute for Sexual Health

Click HERE to check out the “Here I Am Becoming: The Sister Course” 

A person stands with arms raised by a body of water at sunrise, accompanied by an inspirational quote about balancing tenderness and strength by Trish Haight—echoing themes explored in Dr. Minwalla and the Secret Sexual Basement.

HELPING COUPLES HEAL PODCAST – EPISODES RELATING TO DR. MINWALLA: 

Helping Couples Heal Podcast Episode 7: Interview with Dr. Omar Minwalla  
“In this episode, we interview Dr. Omar Minwalla, Clinical Sexologist, licensed psychologist and founder of The Institute for Sexual Health about his compulsive-abusive-sexual relational disorder model. Dr. Minwalla explains how his model significantly changes the treatment of betrayal and relational trauma.”
Click Here for Episode Transcript

Helping Couples Heal Podcast Episode 15: Understanding Betrayal with Dr. Omar Minwalla Part One – 
“In the first of a series of three interviews with Dr. Omar Minwalla, Marnie and Duane explore the impact of emotional and psychological abuse in the context of betrayal trauma and explain how this kind of abuse is part of a larger problem that Dr. Minwalla calls an integrity abuse disorder.”

Helping Couples Heal Podcast Episode 16: Understanding Betrayal with Dr. Omar Minwalla Part Two – 
“In the second of a series of three interviews, Marnie and Duane continue their conversation with Dr. Minwalla about integrity abuse disorders; the clinically significant deficits in integrity and patterns of psychological, emotional and relational abuse which cause complex trauma symptoms in betrayed partners.”

Helping Couples Heal Podcast Episode 18: Understanding Betrayal with Dr. Omar Minwalla Part Three –
“In the final episode of a 3-part interview with Dr. Omar Minwalla, Marnie and Duane continue the conversation about integrity abuse disorders and gender pathology in the context of betrayal trauma.”

Omar Minwalla's Secret Sexual Basement

The Secret Sexual Basement

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Hello, My name is Susan Zola, LCSW, CCPS, CSAT. I offer a range of therapeutic services tailored to meet your unique needs. Specializing in individual therapy, couples counseling, and trauma-informed care, I am dedicated to helping you achieve emotional well-being and personal growth in a supportive environment.

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Contact Susan Today

Ready to take the first step toward healing and personal growth? Reach out to Susan Zola, LCSW, CCPS, CSAT, for compassionate support tailored to your needs. Whether you have questions or wish to schedule a consultation, Susan is here to help you on your journey.

  • Licensed In: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina Out-of-State Independent Social Worker Telehealth Provider, Texas, and Virginia

  • 631-332-2213

  • suezola@me.com