55. Rick & Christine Presley –Sexual Addiction: What It Is, How It Happens, and How to Recover Part 1

Red Ink Revival Leadership Podcast

Welcome to Episode #55 (#5 of the 2021 season) of the Red Ink Revival Leadership Podcast. Today’s conversation is with Rick and Christine Presley on all things “sexual addiction.” They are therapists and experts in the field of addiction and partner betrayal. They are licensed marriage and family therapists, and experienced treatment providers in grief, loss, and trauma recovery. Their certifications as certified sexual addiction professionals, EMDR providers, and partner betrayal clinicians make them extraordinary voices to help people navigate this turbulent topic.

Their own story of Rick’s sexual addiction and Christine’s fractures and chaos management, is redemptive and inspiring. Before becoming therapists, Rick had a secret raging sexual addiction that began in his early youth and extended for years in their marriage. Much of his anonymous sexual experience was during his time as a pastor on staff at a church. Rick and Christine’s story of recovery is one that gives hope to all. Both Rick and Christine relate the roles they played out with a passion to help others.

On today’s episode we learn about Rick’s addiction story and Christine’s processing of betrayal wounds. We investigate their journeys to faith, them trying to make sense of their struggles, and the destructive power of shame. We explore how believing that God actually “likes” and delights in us can change us at our depths. We discuss what qualifies as an actual addiction and contrast a high sex drive to an addiction, and we explore the impact of porn and why it is unhealthy.

Next week in Episode #56, we continue with part 2 of our conversation. We look at what drives an addict, and why an addict does what they do even though they know it is going to have consequences. We make sense of why a very high percentage of addicts come from religious, rigid, and disengaged families. We talk through how shame is at the root of addiction, and why and how this drives addicts. We review Dr. Patrick Carnes work and break down the cycles of addiction. And finally we talk through what it takes to recover from an addiction.

You don’t want to miss either episode! If you know someone who needs help making sense of their struggles, share this with them and support their recovery.

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Edited and produced by Evan (Emac) McAlister.