The Living Truth Podcast - Freedom From Unwanted Sexual Behavior, Hope & Healing For the Betrayed

What if desire isn’t something to manage, suppress, or fix—but something that reveals who you truly are? In this episode of The Living Truth Podcast, Michael Cary sits down with Jay Stringer, therapist, speaker, and author of Unwanted and the brand-new release Desire, to explore the deeper architecture of desire—far beyond sex, behavior, or performance.   We talk about the provisional self—the version of us we learned to become in order to survive—and how many people unknowingly build their lives, relationships, and even their faith around it. Jay explains how desire exposes the gaps between who we are and who we were never allowed to be, and why unresolved childhood adaptations often propel people into crisis later in life.   Together, we explore: Why true intimacy requires differentiation, not fusion or performance What actually drives people into midlife, relational, or sexual crises How mapping your childhood helps you recover your true self Why desire is holistic—shaping identity, intimacy, meaning, and growth What real intimacy looks like beyond chemistry, compliance, or intensity For anyone navigating recovery, relational healing, or spiritual formation, this conversation reframes desire as an invitation—not a threat. An invitation to wholeness, honesty, and a life that no longer requires you to disappear to belong.   📖 Learn more about Jay Stringer and his new book Desire at jay-stringer.com   Website: jay-stringer.com - Instagram: @jay_stringer_   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #JayStringer #DesireBook #UnwantedBook #MichaelCary #HealingDesire #FaithAndSexuality #ChristianPodcast #SexualWholeness #ShameFreeFaith #RestoringDesire #FreedomJourney #LivingTruthMinistry

Sexuality is one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — parts of our humanity.   In this deeply honest conversation with Julie Slattery, clinical psychologist, author of Surrendered Sexuality, and co-founder of Authentic Intimacy we explore:   • The cultural lies shaping how we think about sex • Why covenant — not consumption — is at the heart of God’s design for sex. • The devastation of betrayal and what it reveals about God’s own covenant love • Four identity traps that keep us stuck in shame, performance, and confusion • Why “just stop” is not a sufficient response to sexual struggles • How trauma, brain science, and community are essential to healing   If you’ve experienced sexual betrayal… If you’re carrying shame for sexual brokenness… If you feel confused about how your faith intersects with your sexuality…   This conversation will remind you that surrender is not about perfection — it’s about bringing your whole, broken self into the light of God’s love.   ✨ Learn more about Dr. Slattery’s work and resources at the links below: www.authenticintimacy.com IG: @authenticintimacy Java with Juli Podcast: https://www.authenticintimacy.com/podcast/ Surrendered Sexuality Book: https://a.co/d/08dxVRpJ   🎧 Listen to the full podcast here: https://LivingTruth61.podbean.com/e/surrendered-sexuality-how-knowing-jesus-changes-everything-with-dr-juli-slattery/?token=468fb7f62ca108c62d9669b8ccbcdc37 📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #SurrenderedSexuality #JulieSlattery #AuthenticIntimacy #ChristianHealing #BetrayalTrauma #SexualIntegrity #CovenantLove #FaithAndSexuality #TraumaInformedFaith #IdentityInChrist #ChristianWomen #MenInRecovery

When betrayal trauma shatters your world, it’s natural to search desperately for answers. Podcasts, books, courses, social media—there is more information available today than ever before. But is there a point when searching for more information actually keeps us stuck? In this powerful and compassionate conversation, Kristin Cary welcomes Shelley Martinkus, co-founder of Redemptive Living, to explore the difference between knowing facts about betrayal and engaging the complex, embodied process of healing. Together, they reflect on the early days of their own recovery journeys—when resources were scarce—and contrast that with today’s flood of information, which can unintentionally become a form of emotional anesthesia. What if healing doesn’t come from finding the “right formula,” but from slowing down, tending to your nervous system, and doing deep relational work—especially within safe community? You’ll hear honest reflections about: • The difference between “snorkeling” the surface and “scuba diving” into deeper healing • How dopamine, distraction, and over-research can numb pain instead of restoring it • Why betrayal recovery must include the body, heart, and nervous system—not just the mind • The surprising power of trauma-informed groups in restoring belonging, agency, and hope • Why Jesus—not a professional, program, or process—is the true source of lasting healing If you’ve ever felt exhausted from trying to “do healing right,” this episode offers a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe, and trust that God is still at work—within you and through safe community. Link to Podcast Episode: The Truth Shall Set You Free; How Full Disclosure Can Benefit Couples in Recovery with Dan Drake and Dr. Janice Caudill: https://LivingTruth61.podbean.com/e/the-truth-shall-set-you-free-how-full-disclosure-can-benefit-couples%c2%a0in-recovery-with-dan-drake-and-dr-janice-caudill-1718683847/   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #BetrayalTrauma #HealingAfterBetrayal #TraumaInformedFaith #ChristianHealing #NervousSystemHealing #EmbodiedFaith #HealingInCommunity #FaithAndHealing #YouAreNotAlone #DeepHealing

Kristin Cary welcomes Dr. Barbara Steffens, founder and first president of the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS) and one of the pioneering voices who reframed sexual betrayal as trauma rather than codependency.   Together, Kristin and Dr. Steffens explore how ministry leaders, counselors, and pastors can wisely and compassionately walk with betrayed women and struggling couples through the aftermath of sexual sin. They discuss best practices for trauma-informed care, the importance of safety and stabilization, and what it looks like to shepherd hearts with both truth and tenderness.   Gain insight into the multi-dimensional partner trauma model with practical strategies for responding to crisis moments, and a renewed vision for the Church’s role in bringing hope and healing to those navigating the devastating fallout of betrayal.   Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, counselor, or simply someone walking alongside a friend in pain, this conversation will equip and encourage you to become a safer and more effective presence of Christ’s love.   Previous LT podcast episode mentioned:   The Truth Shall Set You Free; How Full Disclosure Can Benefit Couples in Recovery with Dan Drake and Dr. Janice Caudill   Link to Barb & Lyschel's training: https://hoperedefined.org/resources/shepherding-through-crisis-training/   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #ShepherdingThroughCrisis #BetrayalTraumaRecovery #DrBarbaraSteffens #KristinCary #APSATS #TraumaInformedMinistry

When your life is shattered by trauma, slowing down can feel impossible—even unsafe. In this tender, soul-nourishing conversation, Kristin reconnects with her friend Anna Christine Seiple, a licensed counselor, trauma survivor, and author of The Sacred Art of Slowing Down. Anna shares her profound story of devastation, healing, and rebuilding a life she never imagined possible.   Together, Kristin and Anna explore: ✨ Why slowing down is often forced upon us in seasons of trauma—and how it becomes an unexpected doorway to healing ✨ How the body carries what the mind tries to outrun, and why listening to your body is a deeply biblical practice ✨ The damaging myth in Christian culture that the body is “bad,” and how Scripture actually presents a fully integrated, embodied spirituality ✨ Why healing isn’t linear, logical, or fast—and how God meets us in the mystery ✨ Permission to be human: the messy, cyclical process of grief, anger, hope, and restoration ✨ What it looks like to tend gently to the parts of yourself you’ve long ignored or believed were unworthy of care   If you’re walking through betrayal, chronic stress, unwanted sexual behavior or profound disorientation, this episode will remind you that your body is not your enemy—your body is crying out for compassion. God created you as an integrated whole, and every part of you is worthy of love, safety, and healing.   Anna’s wisdom, vulnerability, and theological depth offer real hope for anyone longing to feel whole again.   Link to Anna’s book: https://a.co/d/dHvaCtF Anna's website: https://www.acseiple.com/   🎧 Listen to the full podcast here: 📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #BetrayalTraumaHealing #SacredArtOfSlowingDown #EmbodiedFaith #HealingAfterBetrayal #ChristianHealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #SoulCare #ChristianCounseling #AnnaChristineSeiple #HopeAfterBetrayal #EmbodiedSpirituality #SlowingDownToHeal #KristinCary

When betrayal trauma shatters your world, it can feel impossible to imagine anything good emerging from the rubble. In this deeply encouraging conversation, Kristin sits down with Gigi Hopkins, Director of Wives Care at Be Broken Ministries, to explore how the process of healing can lead to expanding your influence, your agency, and your God-given impact on the world around you.   Gigi shares: ✨ Why early healing feels so disorienting—and why that's normal ✨ The difference between control and influence, and how shifting that mindset changes everything ✨ Real ways women regain agency even when life feels out of control ✨ How boundaries, self-care, emotional work, and spiritual grounding open doors for transformation ✨ Honest stories from her own journey and how healing ripples outward into family and future generations   This episode will breathe hope into anyone in the early or ongoing stages of betrayal trauma healing—especially if you feel overwhelmed, powerless, or unsure where to begin. God's restoration is deeper, slower, and more beautiful than we expect…and your healing matters more than you know.   📖 Ready for healing? Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   To learn more about Be Broken Ministries: https://www.instagram.com/bebrokenministries/# https://www.facebook.com/bebrokenministries https://vimeo.com/channels/psrpodcast   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #BetrayalTraumaHealing #WivesCare #BeBrokenMinistries #HealingAfterBetrayal #ChristianPodcast #TraumaRecovery #HopeInChrist #BoundariesAndHealing #EmotionalHealingJourney #KristinCary

Betrayal shatters your world. It leaves you wondering which way is up, how to survive the devastation, and whether you’ll ever feel whole again. Kristin interviews trauma-informed counselor, coach, and author Tammy Gustafson to talk about her new book, Broken to Brave: Your Courageous Act of Healing After Intimate Betrayal (releasing January 27, 2026).   Tammy shares her four-phase framework for healing after intimate betrayal— Reveal, Reorient, Realign, and Rebuild   She offers hope for women at every stage of the journey. Drawing from her own story, her years as a counselor, and her research with over 1,700 betrayed partners, Tammy brings compassion, validation, and practical guidance for anyone walking this painful road.   You’ll hear: Why betrayal trauma impacts your body as much as your heart The importance of boundaries, grief, and anger in the healing process Common stuck points that slow recovery A vision for post-traumatic growth and a life of beauty and joy beyond betrayal   ✨ Don’t miss the FREE Betrayal Healing Conference hosted by Tammy at the end of January each year. Kristin will be one of the speakers, and this is your chance to learn from leading voices in the betrayal trauma field.   📖 Learn more about Tammy and her book: https://livefreecounseling.com/   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #BetrayalTrauma #HealingAfterBetrayal #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing #ChristianHealing #BrokenToBrave

In this quiet space between the holidays—or whenever your heart finally slows down enough to feel—Kristin offers a calming, Christ-centered invitation to breathe again.   If you’re navigating the devastation of sexual betrayal, the shame of unwanted sexual behavior, or the disorienting waves of grief that erupt long after the crisis, this episode will meet you with compassion and truth.   You’ll be guided through: - Simple breathwork to settle your overwhelmed nervous system - Gentle questions to help you reconnect with your body and your needs - Biblical reminders of God’s nearness to the brokenhearted - A powerful visualization to help you encounter Jesus in a place of peace - Hope for the year ahead—not in perfection, but in His faithful presence   This is not a “try harder” message. It’s a place to take off the mask, slow down, and remember that you are held by a God who sees, knows, and loves you.   If you’re a betrayed partner seeking clarity and support, you’re invited to join Kristin’s free 5-day experience, Operation Restoration. https://living-truth.kit.com/operation-restoration   If you’re a man struggling with unwanted sexual behavior, new resources are coming soon through Men in the Battle®. https://www.living-truth.org/joinmib   Wherever you find yourself today, you’re not alone—there is hope and healing for you.   🎧 Listen to the full podcast here: https://livingtruth61.podbean.com/e/hope-in-the-new-year/?token=0c3af86fc4f46ca3a1c4844894454bce   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #BetrayalTraumaHealing #ChristianHealingJourney #UnwantedSexualBehavior #HopeAfterBetrayal #GodIsNear #HealingInChrist #ChristianPodcast #HealingFromTrauma #GroundingPractice #NewYearHope #YouAreNotAlone #KristinCary #BreathworkForTrauma #SpiritualHealing #JesusMeetsYouHere #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth

What does true sobriety look like for those battling sex and pornography addiction—and how does recovery move beyond the addict to bring healing to their partners? In this episode, Michael sits down with Tim Stein, co-author of Finding the Way Through: A Workbook for Sex and Pornography Addiction to explore a new framework for recovery. Together, they unpack the workbook’s definition of sobriety, the critical shift from addict thinking to recovery thinking, and the importance of “partner betrayal sensitivity.” With practical tools, raw honesty, and hope for transformation, this conversation equips both addicts and their loved ones with a roadmap for lasting change.   Order Finding the Way Through: A Workbook for Sex and Pornography Addiction - Sobriety, Recovery, & Partner Betrayal Sensitivity: https://a.co/d/1uaAb0F   📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth

Let's explore the often-overlooked connection between spiritual warfare & mental health. In this episode, Kristin and Dr. Natalie Atwell—counselor, educator, and long-time advocate for trauma survivors— shine light on the unseen battles many believers face, especially those carrying deep childhood wounds, walking through betrayal trauma, or struggling with destructive sexual patterns.   Dr. Atwell shares the sobering rise she’s seen in her practice of clients entangled in darkness—through trauma, pornography, and even human trafficking—and how these openings can fuel emotional chaos, compulsive behavior, and distorted thinking. She also offers compelling insight into how lies planted in childhood can become spiritual footholds in adulthood… and how Jesus meets us right in those places with truth, power, and freedom.   You’ll hear: Why spiritual warfare can masquerade as mental-health symptoms How trauma makes us vulnerable to lies—and how those lies can be broken The subtle ways the enemy gains influence through culture, coping strategies, and popular practices How deliverance, counseling, and trauma-informed care work together What hope looks like for betrayed partners who feel crushed under the enemy’s attempts to steal, kill, and destroy Why God’s heart is fiercely protective of the vulnerable—and how He restores what darkness tried to ruin   Whether you’re battling unwanted sexual behavior, healing from betrayal, or simply trying to understand the spiritual dynamics beneath today’s struggles, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and deep encouragement.   Jesus is stronger than every force that comes against you—and even in the ashes, He is already rebuilding.   Links to Dr. Natalie Atwell's Resources:   Mental Warrior Website > Dr. Atwell's Personal Instagram > Mental Warrior Instagram > Natalie Atwell Counseling Instagram > Mental Warrior Facebook > Link to Purchase Natalie's Book >   Get $50 off Dr. Natalie's Mental Warrior Course 📖 Learn more about our programs: https://living-truth.org   The Living Truth Podcast; Conversations that shed light on the deeper issues that unlock healing from porn addiction, sex addiction, and sexual betrayal.   #LivingTruthPodcast #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndHealing #AddictionRecovery #MenInTheBattle #WomenInTheBattle #LivingTruth #SpiritualWarfare #FaithAndMentalHealth #BetrayalTrauma #TraumaAndSpirituality #UnwantedSexualBehavior #SexualAddictionRecovery #FreedomInChrist #ChristianCounseling #EmotionalHealing #HumanTraffickingAwareness #PornAddictionRecovery