Pathway to Recovery

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this special episode, therapist Dorothy Maryon presents on communication after betrayal for the SAL 12-Step Men's Online Workshop.  Dorothy delves into the drama triangle—a concept explaining common unhealthy communication patterns that hinder relationship repair. She discusses strategies for breaking free from these patterns by understanding a...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this Q&A, hosts Tara and Justin provide some final commentary on the subject of setting boundaries and bottom lines in the recovery process.  They emphasize how boundaries and bottom lines can effectively help break the cycle of addiction and  suggest that the creation of these action plans should take place during moments of relative peace prio...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Justin B.  speaks with SAL 12-Step members Karin and Jan to discuss the importance of setting healthy boundaries in recovery from betrayal trauma. Both Karin and Jan share their own experiences navigating relationships affected by betrayal. They describe setting boundaries as a way of protecting themselves and their own peace. The...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this Q&A episode, host Tara McCausland interviews Steven and Rhyll Croshaw,  co-founders of S.A.  Lifeline Foundation, who share their experiences and insights on setting boundaries and bottom lines in relationships and personal recovery. They discuss the differences between boundaries and bottom lines. Steven explains how he sets his 'bott...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, Tara McCausland talks with Dr. Sheri Keffer about the importance of setting and holding boundaries in relationships, particularly when dealing with sexual betrayal and addiction. Dr. Keffer shares her personal journey of recovery and emphasizes the need for betrayed partners to have courage and patience with themselves as they practice...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this Q&A, hosts Tara and Justin briefly review the origins  of the 12 steps and touch on each one in preparation to take a deep dive into each of the steps in future episodes. They talk about the foundation, cornerstone, and keystone of the 12 steps, as well as the importance of first admitting powerlessness, turning to the God of your understan...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode Justin B talks with Josh Walpole, a sex addict living in long-term recovery as well as a therapist who specializes in treating sexual addiction and betrayal trauma.  We discuss the importance and perhaps necessity of qualified therapy to help all involved prepare and brace for impact.  Both the impact of the consequences of the addictio...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Hosts Tara and Justin explore how their New Year's resolutions have evolved in the context of recovery learning and application. They discuss the significance of incorporating a higher power into their goal-setting process. The conversation delves into the concept of surrendering personal will and allowing divine guidance to shape goals and action...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland and therapist Dan Drake  discuss the importance of finding a qualified clinician that has specialized training in sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. They suggest questions/ways to vet a therapist to ensure best therapist-client fit. They explore  how having a therapist during the disclosure process is helpful, and paint a pictur...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland is joined by her assistant and friend, Jeni Brockbank. They discuss the concept of "surrender" as part of recovery, especially during challenging times such as the holidays.  A three-step surrender process "on your knees, on the phone, in a box" is also shared which includes prayer, reaching out...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, Tara McCausland interviews Kahi Winget, the SAL Women's 12 Step executive director. Throughout the interview, they discuss the structure and benefits of SAL 12-Step meetings for individuals suffering from betrayal trauma, the hurdles to joining the meetings, as well as the journey of recovery. Both encourage newcomers to attend me...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland speaks with two leaders of the SAL 12-Step program, Kahi Winget and Andrew Schmucker. They discuss what originally brought them to SAL 12-Step meetings and how the reasons for their participation have evolved through the recovery process. Kahi and Andrew share unique blessings from working the SAL 12-Step program as well as how the...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode Tara talks with Andrew S, the men's Executive Director for SAL 12 Step and a recovering addict. Andrew explains what someone can expect when they attend a 12 Step Meeting, and how SAL's 12 Step differs from other programs. Tara and Andrew discuss spiritual connection, one of the pieces in our Recovery Puzzle. How does a relati...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this Q&A, hosts Justin and Tara compare and contrast healthy vs. unhealthy sexuality using a document prepared by Dr. Jill Manning. See the post here.   Understanding the broad scope of this question, they suggest that personal values and a God-centered approach are helpful starting points for thoughtful individuals seeking guidance on this  sen...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. This week, Justin B takes some time to talk quality education, the value of rigorous honesty in recovery, and experience in the school of life with Steven Croshaw.  In this episode, Steven addresses if shame is the driving factor in addiction, the process of surrender,  and helpful educational resources are discussed. Access those resources in the link...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this Q&A episode, hosts Justin and Tara discuss the importance of having a common language and vocabulary to use when it comes to important recovery words and definitions.  They discuss importance of having a strong sobriety definition as a basis for recovery that is understood and agreed upon and consider the S.A. Lifeline definitions of the te...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. This week Tara talks with licensed marriage and family counselor, author and podcaster Geoff Steurer. Part of the recovery puzzle for both pornography addiction and betrayal truama is to find quality education and therapy. How does one go about this? How do you know what sort of sources to trust? Tara and Geoff discuss these issues as well as timelines...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Tune in for the second portion of the 2023 S.A. Lifeline Conference Q&A Panel. Some of the questions answered in this episode include: -What are some effective methods you use, therapists, with your clients to help them process difficult emotions? -How can you navigate being in recovery, addict side, while being a nurse, or in the medical field whe...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. John H is a recovering sex addict with more than 3 years sobriety and member of SAL 12-Step.  In this conversation with Justin B, he discusses the miracles and benefits of rigorous honesty in recovery after many years of continuous dishonesty.  We discuss the SAL Recovery Puzzle with the emphasis on rigorous honesty. Support the show SA Lifeline Founda...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this special Q&A episode, we share a portion of the Q&A Panel Discussion from our 2023 S.A. Lifeline Conference.  Here are the questions answered in this segment: -What resources do you recommend for an individual in recovery who wants to understand how best to support their betrayed spouse? -I have four adult daughters. Who have been affect...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Join Tara in this fascinating episode as she talks with Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation.  Learn how addiction works in the brain and how to keep the balance between pleasure and pain on an even keel.  Anna discusses how rigorous honesty helps heal relationships and strengthens the brain. People who practice "strict" sobriety tend to  h...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Today is another Q & A with our hosts, Tara McCausland and Justin B.  Most addicts lie about their behaviors because they think it will protect themselves and not hurt others around them. Justin discusses how he eventually recognized the error in his thinking and how honesty has improved his relationships. They talk about how dishonesty is one of t...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Our annual S.A. Lifeline Conference Come Heal With Us: A Community Focus on the Effects of Pornography, Sexual Addiction & Betrayal Trauma is right around the corner on Sept. 9, 2023 in Sandy, Utah. In this special episode, we meet several of our speakers and hear in their words a brief overview of their presentations. We end with the wisdom of a f...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Allison T and her husband thought his pornography addiction would get better once they were married. She spent many years in a support role to her husband before she realized she had betrayal trauma. She explains how a willing heart came gradually as she recognized she had her own recovery work, separate from her husbands'.  Allison shares how the...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B speak again with Heather B about her experience developing a willing heart and choosing to work her recovery from betrayal trauma even though her husband, Justin, did not choose recovery for 7 long years after disclosure. Heather discusses how humble prayer, a helpful faith leader, and taking small steps toward recove...