To be honest a holiday dedicated to giving thanks seems mistimed this year, which has often been described as a dumpster fire. I would liken 2020 more to a global
READ MORENewsflash: Live a Principled Life
Current states of affairs have me thinking about values, specifically the values that are my own north stars. I recently reviewed the personal work I did in late spring of
READ MOREKevin and the Labyrinth
Every summer I try to carve out for myself three consecutive weeks in the Bethesda Workshops calendar, and I spend part of that time in the mountains of Western North
READ MOREConsolation of the Hawks
Since I started a recovery process almost three decades ago, I’ve been suspicious of coincidences, which I experience frequently. Even in childhood I always perceived them as something far more
READ MOREA Guy Named Kevin
As cases of coronavirus skyrocket with undisciplined reopening and the country learns more about the devasting experiences of Black Americans, the immensity of both realities weighs heavily. It’s hard to
READ MORESuch a Simple Step
According to multiple media reports, Americans are experiencing “coronavirus fatigue,” which is sometimes called “caution fatigue.” People are tired of worrying about an unseen threat, especially those who haven’t personally
READ MOREIgnorance and Silence Equal Complicity
Other blog ideas have been percolating in my head for this week: a child’s lost shoe, the satisfaction of pressure washing, recovery-themed tattoos. But they will have to wait for
READ MOREAltogether You – A Radical Message
Sometimes there is a message that simply will not be silenced. Such is the case with a remarkable new book called Altogether You by my colleague and dear friend Jenna
READ MOREGratitude Counters Comparison
After some hard weeks coping with the pandemic in general and moving our core workshops online specifically, I was more stressed a couple of weeks ago than I want to
READ MORECelebrating the Children Who Make Us Moms
Historically, Mother’s Day was my least favorite day of the year. I was three years old when my “Mama Dottie” died of colon cancer, and for decades, the requisite happy
READ MOREIn the Time of Coronavirus
As one who identifies with the label “writer” more than with any other category, I feel pressure to find words for the experience of living in a pandemic. As a
READ MORECouples Recovery and FANOS Checkin
A coupleship requires the same focus and attention as individual recovery. This podcast describes the structure for couples' recovery and shares the FANOS Check-in, which is a powerful tool for all stages of coupleship healing.
READ MOREPositive Pants
As the predictions about COVID-19 become more dire and Americans cope with another week of major life disruptions, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. The future looks bleak across the board:
READ MORESupporting Recovery During Stressful Times
When you’re under significant stress, it’s often more challenging to prioritize recovery or healthy living practices. In this video podcast, Marnie Ferree shares three simple ways that addicts, partners of
READ MORETools of Recovery
Knowing and using the tools of recovery are crucial to recovery. This audio interview features Bethesda Workshops team member Kirk McDermott, LPC-MHSP, CSAT, being interviewed by Jim Cress.
READ MOREApart But Still Connected
After you get past the crazy toilet paper hoarding, the coronavirus is perhaps making better people out of most of us. In a mustering of individual and collective unity on
READ MOREPartners: So Much Pain!
Discovery or disclosure of a loved one’s sexual addiction creates enormous pain for the partner. This podcast validates and honors a partner’s trauma and unpacks the losses she (or he)
READ MORECoronavirus Interconnectivity
For the third time, I’m deleting what I’ve written about coronavirus and starting over. By now, if you don’t know the basics of how and why many of us initially
READ MOREGod Deeply Loves Dust
Ash Wednesday wasn’t part of the faith tradition of my upbringing, and I was a married adult before I was introduced to the sacred ritual of having ashes imposed on
READ MOREWill You Be My Valentine?
In contrast to the messages from florists, greeting card companies, and candy manufacturers, Valentine’s Day is a landmine for most people who are connected to Bethesda Workshops. The pain of
READ MOREFear or Courage?
Since early in my recovery journey, which started in 1991, I was certain of God’s call to tell my story, and I’ve shared about my experiences as an abandoned child,
READ MOREBe the One
The family room floor is stacked with boxes of packed Christmas decorations, which spill into the garage where they wait to be hauled into the attic. For the first time
READ MORELife Support
The two women walking in front of me on the lake trail caught my attention. It was extremely warm for late December in Middle Tennessee, and this easy, flat path
READ MOREA Very Personal and Extravagant God
Many years of spiritual direction, which for me is like Jesus-oriented experiential therapy, has radically changed my connection with God. I’ve regularly come to see, hear, feel, and experience the
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