It’s Not About the Sex

From Vocal Coach to Recovery Coach - Arnold McCuller

In this episode we welcome Arnold McCuller, interventionist and recovery coach based in Southern California. Learn about his extensive career working as a professional vocalist which has taken a later-in-life shift toward interventions for those in the entertainment industry and beyond. Arnold can be reached at www.arnoldmcculler.com.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Psychodrama 101: It’s All About the Warm Up - Jean Campbell

Today we welcome Jean Campbell, the CEO of Action Institute of California to talk with us about psychodrama, sociometry, resourcing, and Somatic Experiencing—all in the context of compulsive sexual behavior, addictions in general as well as trauma. With 30 years of expertise, Jean brings together groups of people to heal from their broken-heartedness. She can be reached at www.theactioninstitute.com or actioninstitute@mac.com.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Turning Down the Volume on Shame - Susskind & Merlino

In this episode we examine Chapter Three of Andrew’s workbook as we encourage curiosity and non-judgment about shame. Although shame never goes away entirely, you can respond to it differently. In this discussion we explore the following: building shame resiliency, taming the inner critic and practicing mindful self-compassion. Tune in to see how shame can be normalized and diminished in your life and recovery.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Attachment Assessment DIY - Joni Lavick, LMFT

On today’s episode we warmly welcome back clinical psychologist Joni Lavick, who is a seasoned expert on attachment theory and its applications. In this informative conversation we cover the following: the history of attachment theory, misconceptions, how to understand your own patterns, and the correlation between attachment strategies and addictive behaviors and more. Please tune in to this user-friendly approach to understanding attachment strategies.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com
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Living with Loss - Susskind & Merlino

Grief and loss is often overlooked or avoided in our society. Andrew and Sue take this opportunity to delve into this often-misunderstood topic of grief and loss and its implications on long-term recovery from sexual compulsivity. Andrew shares a “memoir snapshot” as well as specific practices to consider using toward living more peacefully and openheartedly with the inevitable losses that come with being human.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

A Grief Memoir - Jen Davis, MA, CLC

In this intimate conversation, Jen Davis takes us on a journey that most of us avoid. From her own transformative experiences with grief, Jen shares the curiosity, the wonder and the ultimate path to living a fuller life. Through a lens of self-compassion, honesty and forgiveness we explore the limitless possibilities and challenges that go along with grief recovery. Co-collaborating with grief and the practice of sitting with uncomfortable emotions sets the stage for this very natural and eternal part of being human. Jen Davis can be reached at www.kindregardsjenny.com.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Emotional Resilience - Susskind & Merlino

Today’s episode featuring Andrew and Sue focuses on Emotional Resilience, the lead chapter of Andrew’s workbook. In the original book, the first chapter explored Emotional Sobriety, but the word resilience is more aligned with Andrew’s current focus on regulating the nervous system. This episode kicks off a monthly spotlight on each workbook chapter.
 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Sexual Recovery: From a Nightmare to a Love Story - Steven Wolt

Today’s episode is Sexual Recovery: From a Nightmare to a Love Story. We welcome Steve Wolt, founder of Valor Recovery, a peer-based recovery coaching and support system to help men overcome porn abuse, sexual compulsivity and intimacy challenges. By discussing the promises of sexual recovery, Steve offers hope and inspiration to his clients and our listeners. He shares the differences among coaching, therapy and sponsorship in clear and grounded terms and concludes the episode with an emphasis on love and fellowship. 
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com

Virtual Book Launch Celebration - Susskind and Merlino

Andrew’s latest release The It’s Not About the Sex Workbook: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Compulsivity (Routledge Press, 2024) is now available for purchase on Amazon, and he and Sue wanted to take this opportunity to explore Andrew’s journey with his three books from 2004 to 2024. Andrew shares the opportunities and challenges that go along with the writing process and the publishing world and ends with immense gratitude for his incredible team of supporters who have been in his corner all these years.
Music credit: Neil Freebern Freebernmusic.com
 

Lovingkindness Meditation - Susskind

At this time of unrest in the world, it’s even more important to focus our attention on lovingkindness toward self and others. Adapted from a meditation developed by the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center (MARC) at UCLA, this timely exercise provides an opportunity to carve out some time to cultivate the love and kindness within.