It’s Not Your Job to Fix Pornography Addiction | An Interview with Todd Olson and Steve Shields

Summary: Todd Olson, LCSW, CSAT, is a counselor and co-founder of <a href="http://www.lifestarnetwork.com/the-solution/get-help-now/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LifeStar</a>, who has been treating unwanted sexual behavior for over 30 years. Steven Shields, CHMC (2020), runs the website and podcast <a href="https://unashamedunafraid.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Unashamed Unafraid</a>, with the goal of bringing hope and community to those in recovery through sharing authentic and vulnerable addiction recovery stories.<br> <br> The LifeStar Salt Lake Clinic is partnering with Leading Saints to host live events to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead those who struggle with pornography and sexual addiction. This will be an ongoing opportunity, available a few times a month, that you can attend in person or view online. Professional counselors will help guide individuals through the complexities of pornography and sexual addiction so that we are all better prepared to lead those in our lives who need the support. Go to <a href="https://leadingsaints.org/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LeadingSaints.org/subscribe</a> and register to receive information about the Leading Saints live discussions with LifeStar.<br> Highlights<br> 07:00 Todd’s journey treating sexual addictions and how it has changed over 30 years<br> 11:50 Steve’s journey and how he got involved with LifeStar<br> 14:50 LifeStar’s programs<br> 16:20 The purpose LifeStar and Leading Saints have in creating this educational discussion series for lay church leaders<br> 19:30 What’s going on behind the scenes when someone comes to their church leader with a sexual addiction problem: minimal discussion and disclosure leads to temporary relief but a continuing problem<br> 24:30 The disclosure process takes time and professional help<br> 27:45 The bishop’s role is a part of the recovery, not the healer, and education about their role is needed<br> 30:30 Helping young men who are preparing to serve missions<br> 33:30 The bishop doesn’t need to do the hard part but can be the hope and spiritual resource<br> 35:30 Creating a dialogue with therapists and recovering addicts so that leaders can know what they should do and how they should approach the problem<br> 38:55 Handling betrayal trauma with the spouse<br> 41:00 ARP is a 12-step support group, not an an addiction recovery program<br> 44:40 Discussions will be recorded and streamed online, and topics will be repeated to keep the learning going<br> 47:30 We are all volunteers and not expected to know everything, and this will be the Cliff Notes to becoming a resource for those without hope<br> 49:00 Working with counselors<br> 50:30 Men will resist going to support groups and counselors<br> 51:40 Dealing with trauma in the bishop’s office<br> Links<br> <a href="http://www.lifestarnetwork.com/the-solution/get-help-now/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LifeStar</a><br> <a href="https://unashamedunafraid.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Unashamed Unafraid</a><br> Go to <a href="https://leadingsaints.org/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LeadingSaints.org/subscribe</a> and register to receive information about the Leading Saints live discussions with LifeStar<br> <a href="https://leadingsaints.org/the-atonement-works-for-me-one-couples-recovery-from-sexual-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">“The Atonement Works for Me”: One Couple’s Recovery from Sexual Addiction</a><br> <a href="https://leadingsaints.org/6-things-i-wish-bishops-knew-about-addiction-guest-post-by-steven-shields/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">6 Things I Wish Bishops Knew About Addiction</a><br> Steve Shields was also interviewed as part of the Liberating Saints Virtual Summit,