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Recent Posts
Recovery Insights on the Gift and Challenge of Loving Family
Nov 17, 2021 | Family, Loved One of an Addict, Psychology & Therapy, Therapy
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
Oct 27, 2021 | Adult Children of an Alcoholic, Family, Loved One of an Addict, Therapy
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
Oct 20, 2021 | First Step, Getting Sober, Mercy, Reconciliation, Sacraments, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments
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
Oct 13, 2021 | God, Second Step, The Twelve Steps, Third Step
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
Oct 6, 2021 | Addiction, Getting Sober, Spiritual Tools
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...
A New York Musician Experiences God, Finds Sobriety, and Shares Hope with Others
Sep 30, 2021 | Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
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
Sep 29, 2021 | 12-Step Sponsorship, Eighth Step, Getting Sober, Ninth Step, Sponsorship/Mentorship, The Twelve Steps
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
Sep 22, 2021 | Addiction, Getting Sober, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Sex/Pornography
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...
Advice for Improving Our Conscious Contact with God in Step 11
Sep 15, 2021 | Eleventh Step, Help from the Saints, Prayer, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Spiritual Tools
Step 11 - “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God.” Coming from a background in Evangelical Christianity, I was always cautious when hearing someone talk about meditation because I had learned to equate the word with New Age...
Let Jesus Heal You through Heart of the Father Ministries
Sep 1, 2021 | Family, Spiritual Tools
At some point quite a few years back, I set up a meeting with my pastor to talk about my life and, in particular, my use of pornography. I don’t remember much about the conversation, but I do remember that he gave me a book titled Unbound that I read and enjoyed. This...
Recovery Insights on the Gift and Challenge of Loving Family
Nov 17, 2021 | Family, Loved One of an Addict, Psychology & Therapy, Therapy
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
Oct 27, 2021 | Adult Children of an Alcoholic, Family, Loved One of an Addict, Therapy
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
Oct 20, 2021 | First Step, Getting Sober, Mercy, Reconciliation, Sacraments, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments
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
Oct 13, 2021 | God, Second Step, The Twelve Steps, Third Step
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
Oct 6, 2021 | Addiction, Getting Sober, Spiritual Tools
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...
A New York Musician Experiences God, Finds Sobriety, and Shares Hope with Others
Sep 30, 2021 | Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
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
Sep 29, 2021 | 12-Step Sponsorship, Eighth Step, Getting Sober, Ninth Step, Sponsorship/Mentorship, The Twelve Steps
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
Sep 22, 2021 | Addiction, Getting Sober, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Sex/Pornography
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...
Advice for Improving Our Conscious Contact with God in Step 11
Sep 15, 2021 | Eleventh Step, Help from the Saints, Prayer, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Spiritual Tools
Step 11 - “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God.” Coming from a background in Evangelical Christianity, I was always cautious when hearing someone talk about meditation because I had learned to equate the word with New Age...
Let Jesus Heal You through Heart of the Father Ministries
Sep 1, 2021 | Family, Spiritual Tools
At some point quite a few years back, I set up a meeting with my pastor to talk about my life and, in particular, my use of pornography. I don’t remember much about the conversation, but I do remember that he gave me a book titled Unbound that I read and enjoyed. This...