Part 1: What Sexual Addiction Recovery Actually Looks Like | An Interview with Steven Croshaw and Chris Raleigh

Steven Croshaw is the co-founder and President of SA Lifeline Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing hope, education and resources related to sexual addiction and betrayal trauma recovery. He was instrumental in the production of Understanding Pornography and Sexual Addiction: A Resource for Families, Religious, and Community Leaders. Steven is a commercial real estate developer. He has been married to Rhyll Anne Croshaw for 49 years and they are the parents of seven children and 27 grandchildren. They are grateful to be working recovery one day at a time. Chris Raleigh grew up in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and served in the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mission. He has a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in education, and has taught for 28 years in both public and private school settings—including 23 years as a seminary and institute instructor. Chris’ church assignments have included callings in the elders quorum, Sunday School, high council, bishopric, and as a bishop and stake president. In his current assignment, he serves with his wife, Peggy, on the Church’s Corrections Committee, ministering to both Church leaders and inmates in six county jails and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah. Chris and Peggy have nine children and 14 grandchildren. Chris’ desire in sharing his story is to lend hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to the many men and women who feel trapped within the grasp of the illness called addiction. Trying to reverse four generations of addiction within his family has not been easy but he knows it is possible. This is PART 1 of a 2-part podcast conversation. Steven Croshaw Chris Raleigh Highlights 02:15 Introduction to the episode and the topic of sexual addiction and the speakers, Steven and Chris 05:30 Chris talks more about his story of dealing with pornography and how it has inspired others as he has been willing to be honest and tell his story 10:30 Steven tells his story of how he got into pornography and how he and Chris met in recovery. 19:00 Betrayal trauma is equally important to address as pornography addiction. Wives need to be brought into the recovery process. They need support and resources to get through the process too. 25:00 You can’t just stop the behavior. You can’t do it by yourself. 27:00 While Steven’s leaders cared and were loving, they didn’t give him the right advice and resources that he needed 27:30 Steven’s first experience with a sexaholics 12-step meeting. He walked away from it because he couldn’t relate. 28:40 Steven’s life-changing experience of getting arrested for picking up a prostitute. It was a turning point for him. 32:00 Through all of his recovery, Steven now understands that recovery is based on total and complete honesty. 33:00 Steven describes his third disciplinary council as a positive experience even though he got excommunicated 34:50 Anyone struggling with sexual addiction needs to know that you are responsible for your own recovery. Bishops and stake presidents don’t know how to help you. 35:45 The steps Steven took to find the proper help 37:15 How can I trust my husband after so much betrayal? How do I know my husband is truly in recovery? 39:30 Steven and his wife have created a foundation to help others recover from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma 40:00 What does recovery take and what does it look like? Radical honesty Willingness Links Listen to PART 2When the Stake President Struggles with Pornography | An Interview with Chris RaleighHow to Help the Spouse of an Addict | Interview with Steven & Rhyll Croshaw Facebook Group: I Am Finally FreeIamfinallyfree.comDopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, by Anna LemkeS.A. Lifeline FoundationSAL 12-StepWhat Can I Do About Me?He Restoreth My SoulUnderstanding Pornography Addiction and Betrayal Trauma Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcastListen on YouTubeGet 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help latter-day saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.