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'''Douglas William Weiss''', professionally known as '''Dr. Doug Weiss''', is an American psychologist, author, speaker, consultant, television host, and counselor. He is the executive director of | '''Douglas William Weiss''', professionally known as '''Dr. Doug Weiss''', is an American psychologist, author, speaker, consultant, television host, and counselor. He is the executive director of '''Heart to Heart Counseling Center''' and has worked in psychology, marriage counseling, relationship recovery, sex addiction recovery, professional education, writing, and media for several decades. | ||
Weiss has described his professional work as focusing on individuals, couples, and families dealing with relationship difficulties, sexual addiction, intimacy anorexia, and partner betrayal trauma. His work includes intensive counseling programs, professional training, public speaking, books, educational materials, and television and other media appearances. | Weiss has described his professional work as focusing on individuals, couples, and families dealing with relationship difficulties, sexual addiction, intimacy anorexia, and partner betrayal trauma. His work includes intensive counseling programs, professional training, public speaking, books, educational materials, and television and other media appearances. | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:48, 12 November 2026
Douglas William Weiss, professionally known as Dr. Doug Weiss, is an American psychologist, author, speaker, consultant, television host, and counselor. He is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center and has worked in psychology, marriage counseling, relationship recovery, sex addiction recovery, professional education, writing, and media for several decades.
Weiss has described his professional work as focusing on individuals, couples, and families dealing with relationship difficulties, sexual addiction, intimacy anorexia, and partner betrayal trauma. His work includes intensive counseling programs, professional training, public speaking, books, educational materials, and television and other media appearances.
According to his professional biography materials, Weiss has nearly four decades of experience in counseling, psychology, relationship education, and marriage counseling. He has also been involved in the development of treatment strategies for sex addiction and describes himself as the original creator of an outpatient intensive sex addiction counseling program.
Early life and background
Douglas William Weiss was born on April 18, 1962, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. He grew up in Bethlehem.
Weiss has described a difficult childhood involving family disruption, foster care, exposure to pornography, and sexual abuse. According to his account, his parents' relationship ended in divorce and he was subsequently placed in foster homes. He has also described developing addictions to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sex.
At the age of 19, Weiss experienced what he describes as a spiritual experience that marked the beginning of a period of recovery and personal change. He has stated that he has subsequently remained sober for approximately 40 years.
Education
Weiss attended Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He subsequently pursued higher education in pastoral ministry, business, theology, marriage and family counseling, and psychology. His reported educational background includes:
- United Wesleyan College — Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Business
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary — Master of Divinity
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary — Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling
- North Central University — Ph.D. in Psychology
His professional qualifications listed in his biography materials include being a licensed psychologist and a licensed professional counselor.
Career
Early counseling career
Weiss began his professional career as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor.
While working toward a master's degree, he obtained a position as a technician at a psychiatric hospital. He has described this experience as his first significant exposure to professional psychology and clinical counseling.
At the psychiatric hospital, Weiss worked with patients with a range of psychological disorders and was responsible for documenting clients' conditions and treatment objectives. He also observed therapists conducting group work and participated in environments involving twelve-step meetings.
Weiss has stated that this experience strengthened his interest in counseling. He described discovering that he was naturally inclined toward helping others and that clients' progress and success became a major source of motivation for continuing his counseling career.
He later worked at the Psychiatric Hospital of Fort Worth before moving into private practice.
Development of specialization
According to Weiss, his career in psychology and counseling developed partly from a lack of specialized referral options for people experiencing sex addiction. While working in a psychiatric hospital, he observed that psychiatrists and therapists did not have suitable places to refer clients struggling with sex addiction. He subsequently established a private practice to address this area.
His work eventually expanded into marriage counseling, relationship recovery, sexual addiction recovery, professional education, speaking, writing, and media.
Weiss reports having almost 40 years of experience in counseling, psychology, relationship education, marriage counseling, and sex addiction recovery.
Heart to Heart Counseling Center
Weiss founded Heart to Heart Counseling Center and serves as its executive director.
In this role, he oversees clinicians and counselors involved in private practice and intensive counseling programs. His responsibilities include organizational oversight, supervision, strategic direction, and development of the organization's future platforms and technology.
The center provides intensive counseling services for couples and individuals dealing with relationship and recovery-related issues. Weiss has described five-day intensive programs addressing sexual addiction, intimacy anorexia, and partner betrayal trauma.
He has also developed books and educational materials intended to assist couples and individuals dealing with these issues.
As executive director, Weiss has described his primary leadership responsibility as providing oversight and supervision while maintaining the organization's broader vision and strategic direction.
Marriage and relationship counseling
A significant part of Weiss's professional career has involved marriage counseling and relationship recovery.
He reports almost four decades of experience in marriage counseling. His approach to marriage counseling has been described as addressing the structure of a relationship before focusing on individual issues.
Weiss has stated that his counseling model emphasizes identifying underlying relationship problems and addressing the core issues that contribute to ongoing difficulties.
His intensive counseling programs are designed for couples and individuals experiencing relationship disruption, sexual addiction, intimacy-related difficulties, and partner betrayal trauma.
Sex addiction recovery
Weiss has specialized in the treatment of sex addiction and related relationship issues for much of his professional career.
He has described himself as a pioneer in a number of treatment strategies in the field. He also reports almost four decades of experience in sex addiction recovery.
His approach involves identifying the type of sex addiction affecting an individual and then tailoring treatment according to that type. Weiss has stated that he developed a classification-oriented approach to understanding different types of sex addicts.
He has also emphasized addressing the underlying issues that contribute to addictive behavior. His stated principle for complex recovery cases is to identify the core issues and determine which of those issues the client is willing to address.
Intensive treatment programs
Weiss reports being the first and original creator of an outpatient intensive sex addiction counseling program.
His intensive programs have included five-day counseling programs for individuals and couples. These programs address sexual addiction, relationship disruption, intimacy anorexia, and partner betrayal trauma.
His approach is described as simultaneously addressing the individual experiencing addiction, the spouse or partner, and the marriage itself.
Professional philosophy
Weiss describes his core leadership philosophy as "serve with excellence."
His stated approach to marriage counseling is "structural first then issues," reflecting his emphasis on understanding and strengthening the structure of a relationship before addressing individual problems.
In sex addiction recovery, he advocates first determining the type of sex addiction involved and then applying treatment according to that classification.
He describes his approach to professional decision-making and counseling education as collaborative and team-oriented.
For complex relationship and recovery cases, Weiss emphasizes identifying the core issues that are fueling addictive behavior and focusing on the issues clients are willing to address.
Triune approach
Weiss describes his long-term counseling philosophy as "triune" in nature. Under this approach, the addict, the spouse, and the marriage are treated simultaneously rather than being considered entirely separate components of the recovery process.
He has described this model as a distinctive element of his approach to relationship recovery and sex addiction counseling.
Professional organizations
Weiss has founded or been involved in several organizations and ministries.
American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy
Weiss is identified in his professional biography as the president of the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy.
The organization is described as certifying therapists internationally.
Healing Times Ministry
Weiss founded Healing Times Ministry, which forms part of his broader work in counseling, ministry, education, and public outreach.
Heart to Heart Counseling Centers
Weiss founded Heart to Heart Counseling Centers and continues to serve as executive director.
Writing and authorship
Weiss began his publishing career with his first book in 1992.
He has stated that the publication of his first book significantly expanded his public profile and led to national media appearances, including an appearance on the Phil Donahue program. The exposure helped establish writing and media as continuing parts of his professional career.
Over the course of his career, Weiss has written numerous books and educational materials concerning relationships, marriage, counseling, recovery, and personal development.
His professional biography identifies Women Make Sense as a current book project or recent book associated with his work.
The source biography does not provide a complete list of his books and directs readers to his professional biography and website for a full bibliography.
Media career
Weiss has maintained a long-running presence in television, radio, print, podcast, and other media.
He reports approximately 30 years of media experience across television, radio, print, blogs, podcasts, interviews, and related formats.
His television work has included roles as both a host and guest. The biography identifies him as a television host for Healing Times, a self-help television program that has aired nationally and internationally.
He has also been associated with the television program Winning at Marriage.
Weiss has appeared as a guest on numerous television programs and other media outlets and has participated in radio, print, blog, and podcast interviews.
Phil Donahue
Following publication of his first book in 1992, Weiss appeared on the Phil Donahue program. He has identified this appearance as a significant event in the development of his media and writing career.
ABC television
His professional biography states that he is a recurring guest on the ABC television program In the Spotlight and that additional speaking appearances were planned.
Public speaking and professional education
Weiss has worked as a speaker, trainer, and professional educator for approximately 35 years.
His speaking activities have included professional training, motivational presentations, educational programs, and presentations in a variety of settings and organizations.
His stated objective in public speaking is to help individuals progress toward their next level in life.
His professional education work has covered counseling, relationships, marriage, recovery, and related subjects.
Television and media projects
Among the media and entertainment projects associated with Weiss is the film Sex, Lies and Obsession, which he describes as a significant professional collaboration involving the story of one of his clients.
His media career has included television hosting, television guest appearances, radio, print journalism, blogs, podcasts, and interviews.
Career in Fort Worth and Colorado Springs
Much of Weiss's professional work has been based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
His early professional work included the Psychiatric Hospital of Fort Worth, after which he moved into private practice.
He later established and developed his professional work in Colorado Springs, where he currently resides and where Heart to Heart Counseling Center is based.
Leadership
As executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center, Weiss oversees private-practice clinicians and counselors associated with his organization and professional association.
He has described himself as the strategic driver for expanding the organization's work through different platforms and technologies.
His leadership approach emphasizes service, excellence, collaboration, and continued development.
Counseling model
Weiss's counseling model combines individual recovery, relationship counseling, and marriage-focused intervention.
The approach includes:
- identifying underlying or "core" issues;
- addressing factors contributing to addictive behavior;
- understanding the individual's type of sex addiction;
- tailoring treatment according to the identified type;
- addressing the needs of the individual and spouse;
- addressing the marriage simultaneously;
- using intensive counseling programs for appropriate cases; and
- maintaining a collaborative approach among professional team members.
His relationship-recovery philosophy places emphasis on addressing the structure of the relationship before dealing with individual issues.
Professional experience
Weiss's professional biography identifies the following areas of experience:
- Almost 40 years in counseling, psychology, and relationship education
- Almost 40 years of marriage counseling experience
- Almost 40 years of sex addiction recovery experience
- Approximately 30 years of media experience
- Approximately 35 years of speaking, training, and professional education
- Development of intensive sex addiction counseling programs
- Development of treatment strategies for sex addiction
- Authorship of numerous books and educational materials
- Television hosting and guest appearances
- Professional counseling and supervision
- Organizational leadership and strategic development
Personal life
Weiss is widowed and has two adult children.
Outside his professional activities, his stated interests include resistance training, swimming, long walks, and reading.
His charitable and philanthropic activities are described in the biography materials as being primarily church-related.
Current activities
Weiss continues to serve as executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center.
His current professional activities include overseeing counseling professionals, providing intensive counseling programs, writing, professional education, speaking, and media appearances.
His professional biography identifies Women Make Sense as a current book project and notes planned or continuing appearances on ABC's In the Spotlight.
Selected professional roles
- Executive Director, Heart to Heart Counseling Center
- President, American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy
- Founder, Heart to Heart Counseling Centers
- Founder, Healing Times Ministry
- Psychologist
- Licensed professional counselor
- Author
- Speaker and professional trainer
- Television host
- Television guest
- Consultant
See also
References
External links
