Pathway to Recovery

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery Podcast, host Justin B. guides listeners through step six of the 12-step recovery program with guest Brady W. Justin shares his experiences as a recovering sex addict and introduces Brady, who discusses his decade-long journey battling addiction to lust and his recent recovery with SAL 12 Step. The episode div...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland speaks with Michelle Mays about the complex and harmful phenomenon of gaslighting. Mays explains the four types of gaslighting—lying, reality manipulation, scapegoating, and coercion—and the impact each has on those who experience betrayal trauma. The discussion delves into the mental health ramifications, the stag...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, Justin B. explores step five of the SAL 12-step program with guest Carolyn E. Carolyn shares her personal journey through the steps, particularly her experiences with Step 5, highlighting the importance of rigorous honesty, accountability, and the support of a sponsor. She discusses the challenges and...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this special episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland introduces speakers from the upcoming 2024 S.A. Lifeline virtual conference happening on September 26-28, 2024. The episode features insights from notable speakers like Janice Caudill, Dan Drake, Crystal Hollenbeck, Roy Kim, Tammy Gustafson, and MJ Dennis, covering critica...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland speaks with Dr. Stefanie Cranes about the challenges of defining and diagnosing sex addiction. Topics covered include the historical context for diagnosis problems, the stigma and societal misunderstandings surrounding it, and the prevalence and causes of sex addiction based on recent research. Dr. Carnes also shar...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. discuss the challenges and significance of Step Four in the recovery process. The hosts elaborate on the fears and barriers associated with Step Four, emphasizing the need for trust in God, honesty, time, and support from sponsors and group members. They address the added complexities for betrayed pa...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Justin B., a recovering sex addict, discusses Step Four of the 12-step recovery program with guest Bill K. Bill shares his personal journey, exploring his struggles with sex addiction, his family’s history with alcoholism, and the impact of past traumas. He recounts his experiences working on a s...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. discuss the concept of relapse in the context of recovery from sexual addiction. The main discussion revolves around whether relapse is part of recovery, differentiating between terms like lapse and relapse, and emphasizing the importance of rigorous honesty and a recovery mindset for long-term recov...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland and guest expert Dr. Jake Porter discuss the significance of grief in the healing process for betrayed partners and how essential it is for both partners in a relationship to engage in the mourning process. He emphasizes the need for safety and stabilization before addressing grief and mourning, and provides insigh...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. discuss applying recovery principles in parenting and how these principles can positively impact parenting style. They emphasize the importance of surrender, trust in God, and the shift from control, fear and pride to surrender, faith, and humility. Personal anecdotes and member shares from the SAL b...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast , host Justin B. and guest Brittany B. discuss the transformative power of the 12-step recovery program, focusing primarily on Step 3. They touch on the significance of turning one's will and life over to the care of God, the importance of willingness and boundaries, and the principle of sharing a...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B discuss the challenges and importance of Step 3 in the recovery process: making the decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God. They delve into why this can be difficult, and how it is a daily commitment rather than a one-time action. The dialogue includes personal experiences and ins...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland welcomes  guest expert KayLee Dunn, a  psychotherapist and betrayal navigation coach. KayLee shares her expertise in helping individuals, especially women, rebuild trust and heal after intimate betrayal. She discusses the role of the nervous system in betrayal trauma, introducing concepts like neuro-intuitive bound...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland and S.A. Lifeline executive assistant Jeni Brockbank discuss how to manage trauma triggers effectively. Jeni shares insights on understanding trauma triggers and emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, self-care, and setting boundaries. The episode includes a discussion on practical steps to take when faced w...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Justin B. and guest Harvey E. discuss the transformative power of Step Two in SAL 12-Step and in general 12 Step programs. Harvey, a 69-year-old Orthodox Jewish dentist and a recovering sexaholic, shares his journey of over 35 years struggling with same-sex attraction while being married, and shares his experience, strength, and h...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, Justin and Tara discuss the importance of overcoming fear as a major obstacle in successful recovery from addiction and betrayal trauma.  The discussion delves into personal experiences with fear and the significance of surrendering to a higher power to gain serenity. They emphasize the need for replacing self-reliance with  God relian...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland talks with therapist Amanda Christensen about first steps to take immediately following discovery of sexual betrayal. Amanda shares her personal and professional experience, emphasizing the importance of safety, stabilization, and recovery steps for both the betrayed and betraying...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, Tara shares a recent presentation given by Dr. Donald L. Hilton Jr., a neurosurgeon and academic who has studied the effects of pornography on the brain. Hilton discusses how his background informs his understanding of addiction and recovery, offering insights into the nature of addictions (including...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. delve into the crucial question of whether the God of one's understanding is strong enough to restore sanity in the context of recovery. They discuss the common doubts and struggles individuals in recovery face regarding their perception of a higher power, including feelings of abandonment and the question of Go...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. The podcast episode features Justin B. and guest Julie M. discussing her personal journey through betrayal and recovery due to her husband's sexual addiction. Julie shares her initial reluctance to seek help for herself, believing she wasn't the one with the problem. However, upon realizing her life was unmanageable, she turned to the SAL 12...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. explore the concepts of powerlessness and unmanageability in the context of sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. They discuss how admitting to these states can be challenging yet crucial for individuals dealing with addiction and for those who are in a relationship with them.  Justin shares his pers...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland welcomes Dan Gray to discuss therapeutic disclosure in the healing process for individuals affected by sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. Dan emphasizes the critical role of disclosure to help break the cycle of secrecy and shame surrounding addiction, highlighting the benefits of therapeutic disclosure for both...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B.  explore a listener's question about the distinction between calling oneself a sexaholic versus a sex addict, and the implications of that decision. The discussion delves into the SAL definition of sobriety, highlighting the importance of personal values in determining what terms and definitions...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Justin B. speaks with SAL 12-Step member Bryan F.  about  'Step Zero,' a concept not formally recognized in the traditional 12 steps but crucial for initiating the journey towards true recovery.  Bryan emphasizes the importance of community building  as the foundational piece of Step 0...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B. discuss strategies for moving forward after the discovery of betrayal in relationships. The episode emphasizes the emotional turmoil that follows discovery, and the importance of establishing safety and stabilization. They share personal stories, including Justin's own missteps post-discovery an...