Recent Posts
Claiming St. Joseph as a Model of Holiness this Advent
The leaves are off the trees. Thanksgiving has come and gone. And stores and shops are playing Christmas music. As Christians, we are preparing now for the birth of our Savior. And specifically as Catholics, we are in the midst of Advent, which marks the end of the...
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems (Part 1)
One of the more memorable characteristics of the therapists I had when I was a client at The Ranch was his uncanny ability to tell you exactly what you needed to hear. Many of the men who were in the Sexual Recovery Program (SRP) were there because they realized they...
Recovery Insights on the Gift and Challenge of Loving Family
This past summer, I’ve been able to return home for weddings on three separate occasions. And my parents came out to visit me after one of the weddings, too. So, despite being a few states away, I’ve gotten to see my parents quite a bit this past summer. One of my...
ACA Reparenting: Finding Healing and Wholeness from Childhood Trauma
I’ve learned through ACA (Adult Children of an Alcoholic) recovery that growing up in a dysfunctional home actually gave me a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, thanks to recent research into this phenomenon there are many resources available to...
Working My Fifth Step with a Priest
Step Five: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” My journey into a lasting and more abundant sober life coincided with my diving deeper into my Catholic faith. I had been in, out of, and around AA for 14 years. But...
Recovering a True Understanding of God through the Steps
I remember my first run through a recovery program. I did not start with SA (Sexaholics Anonymous) but with a program called Celebrate Recovery (CR), which is a Bible-based 12-step program. Most attendees were non-denominational Christians, those seeking recovery from...
“The Screwtape Letters’” Valuable Insights for Addiction Recovery
During my own recovery, I have found C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters to be particularly useful in navigating the emotional fallout from a relapse as well as an aid during periods of temptation. The Screwtape Letters is a fictional work detailing a collection of...
Trevor’s Testimonial
As a drummer, Trevor grew up idolizing some of the greatest drummers in the music business. And while he admired their sheer musical talent, many of them weren't exactly the best role models in other ways. “From a younger age my idols were drummers but some of them...
The Vital Role of a Sponsor: Being a Gift of Service
I’ve written about how going it alone in recovery without support, guidance, and direction from a sponsor for a ninth-step amends process led to my relapse and the demoralization of myself and those around me. This humiliating experience was necessary for me to let go...
Using the “Circle Plan” to Overcome Sexual Addictions
Within recovery, we rely on various metaphors, idioms, and analogies as helpful tools. For example, there is the “ladder” that one must “climb” toward sobriety. Likewise, there are “battles” that must be “fought.” And then there is the “circle plan,” which is popular...
Claiming St. Joseph as a Model of Holiness this Advent
The leaves are off the trees. Thanksgiving has come and gone. And stores and shops are playing Christmas music. As Christians, we are preparing now for the birth of our Savior. And specifically as Catholics, we are in the midst of Advent, which marks the end of the...
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems (Part 1)
One of the more memorable characteristics of the therapists I had when I was a client at The Ranch was his uncanny ability to tell you exactly what you needed to hear. Many of the men who were in the Sexual Recovery Program (SRP) were there because they realized they...
Recovery Insights on the Gift and Challenge of Loving Family
This past summer, I’ve been able to return home for weddings on three separate occasions. And my parents came out to visit me after one of the weddings, too. So, despite being a few states away, I’ve gotten to see my parents quite a bit this past summer. One of my...
ACA Reparenting: Finding Healing and Wholeness from Childhood Trauma
I’ve learned through ACA (Adult Children of an Alcoholic) recovery that growing up in a dysfunctional home actually gave me a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, thanks to recent research into this phenomenon there are many resources available to...
Working My Fifth Step with a Priest
Step Five: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” My journey into a lasting and more abundant sober life coincided with my diving deeper into my Catholic faith. I had been in, out of, and around AA for 14 years. But...
Recovering a True Understanding of God through the Steps
I remember my first run through a recovery program. I did not start with SA (Sexaholics Anonymous) but with a program called Celebrate Recovery (CR), which is a Bible-based 12-step program. Most attendees were non-denominational Christians, those seeking recovery from...
“The Screwtape Letters’” Valuable Insights for Addiction Recovery
During my own recovery, I have found C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters to be particularly useful in navigating the emotional fallout from a relapse as well as an aid during periods of temptation. The Screwtape Letters is a fictional work detailing a collection of...
Trevor’s Testimonial
As a drummer, Trevor grew up idolizing some of the greatest drummers in the music business. And while he admired their sheer musical talent, many of them weren't exactly the best role models in other ways. “From a younger age my idols were drummers but some of them...
The Vital Role of a Sponsor: Being a Gift of Service
I’ve written about how going it alone in recovery without support, guidance, and direction from a sponsor for a ninth-step amends process led to my relapse and the demoralization of myself and those around me. This humiliating experience was necessary for me to let go...
Using the “Circle Plan” to Overcome Sexual Addictions
Within recovery, we rely on various metaphors, idioms, and analogies as helpful tools. For example, there is the “ladder” that one must “climb” toward sobriety. Likewise, there are “battles” that must be “fought.” And then there is the “circle plan,” which is popular...