Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships

When Is the Right Time to Make Amends?

Is there a "right" time to make amends in sex addiction recovery? What if the person in recovery isn’t following the 12-step model—or isn’t “there yet”? In this heartfelt discussion, we explore how true amends are less about perfection and more about presence, intention, and accountability.

This episode breaks down what “living amends” really means—how small, consistent, and humble actions can begin to repair trust even before a formal ninth step. We also look at how couples navigate the tension between healing timelines, what good recovery looks like even without a program, and why it’s never too early to take ownership of harm.

If you’re wondering how to start showing up for your partner, even while still figuring things out yourself, this episode offers clarity and hope from a place of honesty and grace.

When Parents Hurt Without Knowing: How Betrayal Trauma Impacts Children

What happens to children when they grow up in a household shaped by addiction, betrayal, and emotional absence? In this emotional and raw conversation, we explore the long-term impact of sex addiction on kids—and what parents can do today to help stop the cycle.

Through lived experience and clinical insight, the discussion touches on how a parent’s unhealed shame, absence, or addiction—whether it’s to substances, sex, or emotional avoidance—can lead to deep developmental wounds in their children. Even when unintentional, the emotional neglect, rage, and instability create a lasting imprint.

This episode is a call for healing—for parents to begin their own recovery journey, to understand the power of safety, emotional regulation, and honest repair. Because healing your inner world can change how your children experience theirs. 

#TherapistTalks #MentalHealthMatters #Hidden #CulleL.VandeGarde

What Does Real Amends Look Like? Humility, Healing & Showing Up Daily

Making amends isn’t just a step—it’s a way of living. In this powerful and honest conversation, the hosts explore what it truly means to make amends in sex addiction recovery, especially when it comes to relationships. From the early days of confusion and disclosure to those pivotal “aha” moments when empathy finally lands, this episode breaks down the real heart behind the amends process.

Together, we discuss:

When is the right time to make amends?

What does a living amends actually look like?

How can you repair relational damage when the hurt runs deep?

Why waiting for the perfect moment could do more harm than good

This episode offers both betrayed partners and addicts a grounded, compassionate understanding of how to rebuild trust—not just through apologies, but through humble, consistent change.

If you’re on a recovery journey or supporting someone who is, this is the insight you’ve been waiting for.

#MakingAmends #LivingAmends #SexAddictionRecovery #BetrayalTrauma #RelationshipHealing #12StepRecovery #TrustRepair #HealingTogether #HumilityInRecovery #RecoveryJourney #TherapistTalks #EmotionalRepair #AddictionSupport

When “I’m Sorry” Isn’t Enough: Making Amends That Truly Heal

In sex addiction recovery, there’s a moment—often unexpected—when everything shifts and the addict really "gets it". The defenses fall, empathy clicks into place, and for the first time, the betrayed partner feels truly seen and heard. This episode dives deep into that moment—the turning point in recovery when an addict can finally make meaningful amends.

Join us as we explore how amends aren’t just about apologies, but about transformation, timing, and truly taking responsibility—not only for the betrayal itself, but for the emotional aftermath during recovery. From the addict’s growth process to the partner’s need for safety and repair, we break down what genuine, healing amends look like.

Whether you’re in the midst of recovery or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers real insight, validation, and hope for building something stronger on the other side of broken trust.

#MakingAmends #SexAddictionRecovery #BetrayalTrauma #LivingAmends #RelationshipHealing #CouplesInRecovery #TraumaInformedCare #12StepRecovery #HealingTogether #InfidelityRecovery #EmotionalHealing #TherapistTalks #RecoveryJourney #SexAddiction

The Truth About Amends in Sex Addiction Recovery - Can You Ever Make It Right?

What does it really mean to make amends after betrayal? In this deeply vulnerable and honest episode, therapists explore the amends process from both the addict’s perspective and the betrayed partner’s experience. It's not just about apologies or flowers—it’s about understanding the full emotional impact, taking responsibility, and learning how to rebuild trust over time.

We unpack the emotional weight behind amends in sex addiction recovery, why it can’t be rushed, and how true healing requires empathy, accountability, and a whole lot of humility. If you’ve ever asked, “How do I make things right after breaking trust?” — this conversation is for you.

Whether you’re on your own recovery journey or supporting someone through theirs, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on one of the hardest parts of the healing process.

#SexAddictionRecovery #AmendsProcess #BetrayalTrauma #RelationshipHealing #MakingAmends #RecoveryJourney #TraumaInformedCare #12StepRecovery #EmotionalHealing #AccountabilityMatters #TherapistTalks #HealingFromInfidelity #TrustRecovery

"Talking About Being the Adult Child of a Sex Addict and the Legacy of Sex Addiction with Culle L. Vande Garde "

What happens when you grow up in a home where sex addiction, secrecy, and emotional disconnection define the family dynamic? In this intimate conversation, the author of Light in the Dark: The Hidden Legacy of Adult Children of Sex Addicts share how the book came to life—and why it's opening doors for healing across generations.

Featuring Culle L. Vande Garde, one of the co-authors and a certified sex addiction therapist, this episode explores the 12 core characteristics of adult children of sex addicts, the invisible weight of carried shame, and what it truly means to reclaim your voice, your story, and your right to healing.

Whether you’re a clinician, a survivor, or someone trying to make sense of your past, this discussion brings clarity, compassion, and hope. Learn how shame gets passed down, what recovery really looks like, and how to begin rewriting your narrative—one truth at a time.

#LightInTheDarkBook #AdultChildrenOfSexAddicts #GenerationalHealing #CarriedShame #SexAddictionRecovery #TraumaAwareness #FamilyOfOriginWork #EmotionalHealing #BreakingTheCycle #ShameResilience #InnerChildHealing #RecoveryJourney #TherapistTalks #MentalHealthMatters #Hidden #Culle L.VandeGarde

Carried Shame and How It Shapes Your Childhood and Relationships

Today we talk about the concept of "carried shame"—a form of inherited emotional pain that can follow us from childhood into our adult lives. Through powerful storytelling and deep clinical insight, we explore the difference between healthy shame and carried shame, and how upbringing, parenting styles, and unspoken family dynamics shape our sense of self-worth.

Featuring a vulnerable account from someone who began their healing journey as a young adult, this conversation brings clarity to a topic many of us feel but rarely name. If you’ve ever questioned why certain triggers run deep, or why you carry guilt that doesn’t feel like yours, this episode is for you.

It’s time to unpack the emotional contagion we absorb from our environment—and learn how true healing begins with awareness, self-compassion, and the courage to repair.


#CarriedShame #EmotionalHealing #ChildhoodTrauma #GenerationalShame #CodependencyRecovery #InnerChildHealing #MentalHealthMatters #ShameResilience #TherapyJourney #SelfWorth #HealingFromWithin #ParentingAndHealing #TraumaAwareness

Being A Child of A Sex Addict

Today we speak on the long-term impact of sex addiction on children who grow up in hypersexualized households - a topic rarely discussed, but deeply important.

We discuss the 12 characteristics of being an adult child of a sex addict.

Whether you're a therapist, someone in recovery, or just curious about how family dynamics and hidden trauma can shape us, this episode offers education, validation, and a call for more open, compassionate conversations.

#SexAddictionRecovery #TraumaBonding #GenerationalHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #ACSA #TherapyTalk #ChildhoodTrauma #FamilyDynamics #EmotionalHealing #ShameRecovery #SexualHealth #TherapistLife #HealingJourney

Is Avoidance A Part of Sex Addiction?

Why do so many people struggling with addiction also struggle with avoidance? In this deep dive, we explore how avoidance manifests in addiction, relationships, and emotional healing—and why overcoming it is critical for long-term recovery.

Avoidance may have once been a coping mechanism, but in addiction and relationships, it often leads to more harm than protection. How can individuals recognize their patterns and move towards true healing?

How Fear Shapes Addiction & Relationships

Is avoidance at the root of sex and love addiction? In this episode, we explore how different attachment styles influence addiction and why avoidance—whether emotional, relational, or physical—plays a significant role in both addiction and intimacy disorders.

Many struggling with addiction are unconsciously protecting themselves from deeper pain. But how does this avoidance impact their relationships, and what steps can they take to break free from these patterns?