The Self-Help Path

Some twenty years ago, at the height of my own addiction and with the purest of hearts, I sought help. I desperately wanted to end the addiction and if that wasn't possible, my life. I could no longer face the person I had become and saw no future where I could co-exist with sexual addiction. But as sincere as I was, no help was available--at least, not that I could afford. My venture into the twelve steps left me demoralized and hopeless. And so I chose to take my life. Thankfully, the suicide attempt led only to my being hospitalized and it was during this hospitalization that I made a promise to someone that, should I find my way out of this addiction...I would come back to teach others. And I would do so in a way that didn't discriminate against those who couldn't afford treatment.

The Recovery Workshop is the culmination of the path that I found. This wasn't achieved through therapy and support--it was forged through 2 1/2 years of isolation, pain, commitment and a tenacity to rise above the label of 'addict'. It was my original hope that a handful of others might benefit from the path that I traveled--less the pitfalls that delayed my own transition to health. Over the past decade, the recovery workshop has achieved this and much, much more. It has shown such a deep connection within human nature that should you follow this path, it won't be a matter of if you recover, but rather...whether you do so in a matter of months (following the path directly) or years (should you allow yourself to stumble on the known obstacles). And it is offered to you, free.

Unfortunately, because it is free, many make the mistake of assuming it has little value and so, their initial efforts match that misperception. They mistakenly convince themselves that they won't lose much if they don't succeed on this journey because after all, it didn't cost them anything. Don't make this mistake. What you will likely come to discover is that it was one of the most valuable tools you will have ever used--across any area of your life, not just recovery. Approach this workshop as if your life depended on it because quite literally, it does. At least, the quality of the life that you will lead for the next ten, twenty, thirty....sixty years.

The Self-Help Path

You begin the self-help path by pouring your heart and soul into the recovery workshop. This workshop has 80+ lessons--each progressively built to teach you first the functional mechanics of addiction and the fundamentals of recovery; then more complex, naturalized tools/skills that are evolved from your early work. Complete each lesson in order, including the accompanying exercises. One of the biggest obstacles that you will need to overcome in a self-directed recovery is that lack of support, feedback and coaching. You will receive some here, but it won't be a regular staple of your work. Instead, you will need to do a lot more personal research by examining the feedback offered others in the past.

Additionally, while it is entirely possible to recover in isolation (I hate appearing to advocate for this, but I would be hypocritical to say otherwise, since my recovery was in complete isolation), you can save yourself many pitfalls by developing your own face-to-face support system (therapist, sponsor, support group, etc.). If you are married, plan on sharing the fundamentals of your transition to health with your partner. To keep them private is to treat the symptoms of your addiction, not the core.

As you finish an exercise, post the results in your personal recovery thread in the forum. I used to check everyone's threads religiously, but the sheer number of workshop participants have made this impossible to continue. However, we have implemented a mentoring program that involves those nearing the end of the workshop to strengthen their own development by mentoring others who are just starting out. This will be your primary source of feedback--along with other coaches and, even myself from time to time.

Conclusion

The self-help recovery path is a reliable option for ending your addiction. It is completely free--and always will be. Does it provide you with the most stable path to health? No, you will likely experience obstacles that could have easily been identified in coaching--but that's okay. You keep your eyes focused on the ultimate goal: health--and you will get there.

Optional: Audio Coaching Series, & Prioritized Lesson Responses ($275)

For those who have chosen to take the self-help path, but would like to supplement that process with Jon's comprehensive audio coaching series, occasional live discussions and prioritized lesson responses:

Note: If you have already purchased Personal Recovery Coaching, there is no need to register for this supplement. It is included in your coaching package already.