Pathway to Recovery

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Therapist and 12-stepper Josh Walpole shares his personal history with pornography and sexual addiction, and how recovery led him to become a therapist at Circles of Grace (formerly Lifestar). He explores how stories shape recovery, contrasts lying with acceptance and radical honesty, and connects the hero’s journey and redemption arcs to change. He ou...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Tara McCausland shares an SAL 12 Step Conference keynote presentation by therapist and 12-step participant Amanda Christensen. Amanda explains how childhood power dynamics, explicit and implicit family rules, and family systems patterns can shape secrecy, emotional neglect, perfectionism, and vulnerability to sexual acting out. Amanda shares her own di...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Jonathan L. interviews LMSW Courtney Weaver about finding quality education and qualified therapy for sex addiction and betrayal trauma recovery. Courtney explains key certifications (CSAT, APSAT, CPTT, C-BIRT), how to choose a therapist based on whether someone is an addict or betrayed partner, and what to ask therapists, including their understa...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland interviews Debbie Laaser about understanding and managing triggers after betrayal.  Laaser explains that distress from triggers is shaped by perceptions and encourages slowing down reactive fight-or-flight responses. Using her “seven desires” model (to be heard/understood, affirmed, blessed/loved unconditionally, safe, healthily to...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland speaks with Pathway to Recovery co-host Jonathan L. Jonathan starts by sharing his adolescent internet porn exposure and how curiosity eventually led to  pornography addiction. He shares how his behavior intensified after his mother died when he was 14, and produced shame, compartmentalization, lying. After marriage, he disclosed t...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland interviews psychotherapist Scott Stolarick, who shares how his work in corrections and with  sex offenders led him to recognize trauma as a driver of maladaptive behavior and the need for both accountability and support rather than shame. They discuss common misconceptions about trauma, differences between recent and historical tra...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Jonathan L.  interviews guest Heather B. about surrender as a key recovery principle. Heather shares formative experiences where prayer was her refuge amid family abuse and dysfunction, her brother’s fatal accident, and a first marriage marked by discoveries of multiple addictions that led to her choosing divorce. Heather describes healing trauma...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland welcomes Dr. Jill Manning for part two of a discussion on pornography and dating. This episode covers what to do when a dating relationship is already affected by pornography. Manning advises an immediate “slow down,” warning against the myth that marriage or sex will solve pornography or sexual addiction, and urges partners not to...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Host Tara McCausland speaks with Dr. Jill Manning about empowering singles to prevent pornography problems through education, value clarification, and open communication. Manning rejects the narrative that “all men look at porn,” noting both genders can struggle and that “common” doesn’t mean healthy; she warns that this belief enables use and often ca...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. Jonathan L welcomes Mitch H, who shares his journey from early pornography exposure to escalating sex and lust addiction marked by secrecy, workplace boundary violations, confession, marital strain, and cycles of relapse. Lasting change began when a sponsor challenged him to fully commit to recovery and to do whatever recovery required. Mitch describes...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland interviews Steven Croshaw, president and co-founder of S.A. Lifeline Foundation, who is also her father. Steven shares his journey of battling sexual addiction, starting from exposure to pornography at a young age, through years of hidden behaviors and relapses, to ultimately achieving sobriety and long-term recove...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. This podcast episode features a women's 12-step panel from the 2025 S.A. Lifeline Virtual Conference. Moderated by Tara McCausland, the discussion centers on the SAL recovery puzzle, circle models, and how these tools aid in healing from betrayal trauma. The panelists—Madison, Jan, Sarah, and Lisa—share their unique recovery journeys, emphasizing...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland speaks with therapist Tammy Gustafson about 'incomplete recovery' in the context of sex addiction and how it affects both partners in the relationship. Tammy explains the concept of incomplete recovery, where behavioral changes without deep, relational character work lea...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this brief holiday episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland reflects on the challenges faced by those dealing with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma during this season. Drawing parallels with Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Tara explores how the past, present, and future present hurdles and opportunities for those...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this special episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland shares a SAL 12-Step men's panel discussion from the 2025 S.A. Lifeline Virtual Conference. Moderated by Jonathan L., the panel includes men with years of experience in recovery, sharing their journeys of surrender, accountability, and spiritual growth. Key topics inc...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland welcomes Tim Stein, co-founder of Willow Tree Counseling and president of the American Foundation for Addiction Research (AFAR). Tim shares how AFAR, originally founded by Dr. Patrick Carnes, is advancing research to validate sex addiction as a legitimate, diagnosable condition and to improve treatment accessibilit...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode,  Jonathan L. talks with guest Kaylene, who shares her powerful story of her betrayal trauma recovery journey after 20 years of struggle. They delve into the concept that recovery requires patience and time, illustrating how small, consistent actions over time can rebuild trust and promote healing. Kaylene emphasizes the importance of s...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, host Tara McCausland speaks to licensed therapist Debra Kaplan about the intricate link between financial infidelity and sexual betrayal, emphasizing the psychological and emotional impact on individuals and families. They explore the importance of a financial therapeutic disclosure, financial literac...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Jonathan L. welcomes guest Lyman D., who shares his powerful journey of commitment to recovery from sex addiction. Highlights include the importance of willingness, the transformative power of connection with a Higher Power, and the significance of taking actionable steps to maintain commitment over time. Lyman also discusses prac...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland speaks with Dr. Kenneth Adams, a top expert in the field of enmeshment and sex addiction. Dr. Adams explains the concept of enmeshment, its impact on family dynamics, and how it may play a role in the development of  sexual addiction. He discusses the difference between enmeshment and covert incest, shares examples...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, interim host Jonathan L. welcomes Amber, a participant in the SAL 12-step program, to discuss her journey of healing from betrayal trauma and deepening her spiritual connection with the God of her understanding. Amber shares her experiences of overcoming personal barriers to spiritual connection, the importance of lamenting and feeling...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland and therapist Geoff Steurer discuss principles to help youth already caught in the trap of pornography and other problematic sexual behaviors. The episode focuses on providing guidance to parents on creating a supportive environment where children feel safe discussing their struggles. Geoff emphasizes the importanc...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. This episode re-shares a foundational discussion with Dr. Anna Lembke, a leading expert in addiction medicine, on the importance of radical honesty in recovery. Dr. Lembke explains the neuroscience behind addiction, highlighting the roles of dopamine and the brain's pleasure-pain balance. The conversation also delves into the necessity of rigorous...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. The NEW SAL Book is now available for purchase on the website!  Come and get it here! In this episode of the Pathway to Recovery podcast, co-host Justin B, has an interesting and meaningful conversation with Steve T., a recovering sex and multidisciplinary addict. They delve into the topic of rigorous honesty, a key piece of the new SAL recovery puzzle...

Questions or feedback? Leave your email here. In this episode, host Tara McCausland talks with Sam Black, author of 'The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It'. They discuss the 5 Myths parents believe about pornography and their child and  the impact of pornography on the developing brain. They also discuss how parents and faith leaders can create s...