Pathway to Recovery

S.A. Lifeline Foundation
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Pathway to Recovery is an S.A. Lifeline Foundation podcast featuring hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B.  We have conversations with experts and individuals who understand the pathway to healing from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma because we believe that recovering individuals leads to the healing of families. 

  1. 6D AGO

    Trauma 101: What It Is and How It Affects Both the Betrayed and Betrayer w/ Scott Stolarick

    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 trauma, and how childhood coping strategies can become harmful in adult relationships. Scott emphasizes trauma’s personal nature, the importance of validating first disclosures, building safety and trust, careful history-taking, and thoughtful use of modalities like EMDR with informed consent, concluding with encouragement for those beginning or continuing recovery. 00:00 Conference Invitation 01:40 Meet the Host and Guest 03:49 Scott’s Background 04:43 Seeing Trauma in Sex Offenders 09:44 Myths About Trauma 13:05 Fresh vs Historical Trauma 14:19 Trauma for Addicts vs Partners 17:54 Childhood Maladaptive Coping Skills Brought into Adulthood 21:32 What Counts as Trauma 25:06 Building Resilience 28:33 Why Trauma Awareness Matters 31:17 Healing Order of Operations 35:54 Effective Trauma Modalities 37:25 Closing Advice for Recovery 38:36 Final Thanks and Wrap Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    40 min

  2. MAR 31

    Finding Peace Through the Surrender Process w/ Heather B

    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 through therapy and shares how applying SAL’s three-step surrender process (“on the phone, on my knees, in the box”), has helped her learn to relinquish control and trust God, allowing her to find peace amidst many of life's challenges.   00:00 Conference Announcement 02:03 Meet the Host and Guest 02:40 Early Experiences with the Power of Prayer 05:15 First Marriage and Betrayal 08:03 Miracles and a New Path 09:28 Second Marriage Growth 12:37 Therapy and Trauma Healing 14:22 Learning the Surrender Process 16:38 What is Surrender? 19:17 Phone Knees Box Method 23:23 Letting Go of Outcomes 28:27 Regulating Big Emotions 30:40 Handling Intrusive Thoughts 32:30 Daily Spiritual Practice 35:33 Advice for Newcomers 37:22 Encouragement to Return 38:56 Closing Thanks and Wrap Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    40 min

  3. MAR 17

    What To Do If a Dating Relationship is Affected by Pornography w/ Jill Manning

    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 proceed toward engagement or marriage while addiction is active; she cites guidance that a year of sobriety and recovery work is ideally established first. They discuss avoiding codependent “fixing” by the non-using partner,  clarifying responsibility, and how marriage stress can escalate compulsive behavior. Manning describes recovery markers beyond abstinence—insight, humility, openness, honesty, transparency, firm boundaries, and emotional maturity—and notes compulsive sexual behavior often co-occurs with mental health issues. 00:00 Conference Announcement 01:19 Podcast Welcome 03:41 Slow Down First 08:46 Boundaries Not Fixing 11:16 Marriage Myth Debunked 19:33 Leverage Before Marriage 26:18 Mental Health Underneath 28:41 Signs of Real Recovery 36:03 Avoid Codependency 40:15 Hopeful Closing Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    43 min

  4. MAR 10

    Discussing and Preventing Pornography Use in Dating Relationships w/ Jill Manning

    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 causes individuals to abandon personal values or ignore discomfort around pornography use. She advises bringing the topic up in dating situations after some trust is built, prepping with other meaningful discussion topics, and paying attention to a person's comfort and authenticity around the subject of pornography. Manning explains pornography use is never a "small issue" because it consistently undermines healthy relationship development citing research linked to porn use and relationship dissatisfaction and increased divorce risk. 00:00 Conference Announcement 01:20 Meet Dr. Jill Manning 02:36 Why This Topic Matters 05:20 Jill’s Experience: Dating and Talking About Pornography 10:21 Myth: Everyone Does Porn 15:36 Clarifying Values and Ethics 25:23 Research and Real World Harms 28:40 How to Bring It Up in Dating 36:47 Why It’s Never a Small Issue 42:05 Part Two Teaser and Wrap Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    44 min

  5. FEB 24

    Embracing Humility in Recovery w/ Mitch H.

    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 humility as the key to sustainable recovery—“seeing things as they really are” and staying “right sized,” without ego or self-condemnation. He explains how humility fuels honesty, connection with God, and trust in a sponsor, making it essential to working the steps and maintaining long-term change. Mitch closes by encouraging newcomers to keep coming back and reassuring them that healing and freedom are possible. Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    39 min

  6. FEB 10

    Keys to Positive Sobriety & Long-Term Sex Addiction Recovery w/ Steven Croshaw

    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 recovery for nearly two decades. He emphasizes the importance of rigorous honesty, humility, accountability, and the critical role of understanding and addressing trauma for relational healing. The conversation highlights the key aspects of long-term recovery: the significance of embracing compulsive, problematic sexual issues as an addiction; the interplay of lust and shame and what truly drives addiction; working the 12 Steps; developing top lines, bottom lines, and boundaries to sustain sobriety.  Real-life challenges and insights from both Steven and Tara provide a deep, personal perspective on the complexities and rewards of recovery. Read Steven's article HERE. 00:00 Positive Sobriety & Keys to Long-Term Sex Addiciton Recovery Takes w/ Steven Croshaw 02:20 Steven's Early Struggles with Addiction 04:44 Marriage and Hidden Behaviors 07:02 First Confession and Continued Struggles 08:36 Second Confession and Realization of Addiction 10:14 Arrest and Turning Point 11:30 Understanding Addiction and Recovery 21:49 The Role of Lust and Shame in Addiction 26:16 Defining Sobriety in Recovery 30:54 Understanding Lapses and Relapses 31:47 Keys to Long-Term Recovery 33:31 Daily Practices for Recovery 37:52 Addressing Betrayal Trauma 49:11 The Role of Resentment in Addiction 53:55 Bottom Lines and Top Lines in Recovery 55:51 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    58 min

  7. JAN 27

    Strength, Hope & Healing: The 2025 SAL Conference 12-Step Women's Panel

    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 the importance of a willing heart, seeking spiritual connection, humility, honesty, supportive community, qualified therapy, boundaries, and the surrender process. Each woman provides personal insights and practical advice on navigating the complex emotions and challenges in their healing process, reaffirming that recovery is a gradual but achievable goal.  Join us for the upcoming S.A. Lifeline Foundation Vision Cast! Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    56 min

  8. JAN 13

    Spotting Incomplete Sex Addiction Recovery & What To Do About It w/ Tammy Gustafson

    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 leave partners feeling unsafe and dissatisfied. The episode also explores how triggers are indicators of unresolved trauma needing attention and offers strategies for calming the nervous system. Tammy provides advice for both addicts and betrayed partners, emphasizing the importance of emotional safety, self-compassion, and continued hard work for healing. She recommends shifting from performance-based to identity-based recovery and underscores the necessity of ongoing deep, character-transforming work for genuine recovery. Want to connect with Tammy? Check out her website here.  Support the show SA Lifeline Foundation SAL 12 Step Find an SAL12Step Meeting Donate Contact to ask questions or make comments Transcripts

    51 min
See All (98)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Pathway to Recovery is an S.A. Lifeline Foundation podcast featuring hosts Tara McCausland and Justin B.  We have conversations with experts and individuals who understand the pathway to healing from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma because we believe that recovering individuals leads to the healing of families. 

Information

  • Creator
    S.A. Lifeline Foundation
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pathway to Recovery
  • Show Website
    Pathway to Recovery

You Might Also Like