Category: Recovery

• 🎙️ New Podcast Interview: Porn is Not the Problem on the Divorcing Religion Podcast

  

  Discover Forest Benedict’s powerful new interview on the Divorcing Religion podcast: “Porn is Not the Problem.” Explore porn addiction myths, ethical porn, Internal Family Systems, and healing from religious trauma and sexual shame in this honest, hopeful conversation.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  June 23, 2025

  Addiction, Anti-Pornography Movement, Faith, IFS, Inspiration, LGBTQIA+, life after lust, pornography, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction, Sexual shame, sexuality, Shame

  Authenticity And Freedom, deconstruction, Divorcing Religion, Ethical Porn, healing journey, IFS, Internal Family Systems, mental health, Podcast Interview, recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection, Sex Addiction Recovery, Sex Positive Therapy, Sexual Empowerment, Sexual Healing, Sexual shame, Shame Free Sexuality, Therapist Interview

• The F-Word Was Father’s Day: A Poem of Reclamation

  

  A healing poem about reclaiming Father’s Day from trauma through self-love, fatherhood, and inner reparenting. A tribute to self-fathering and growth.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  June 14, 2025

  Addiction, Attachment, Change, children, Codependency, Connection, CPTSD, Fun, Grief, IFS, Inspiration, Parenting, Poetry, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction, Shame, trauma, writing

  breaking generational cycles, compassionate self-love, emotional healing, father wound, father’s day, fatherhood journey, forest benedict, grief and growth, healing, healing from childhood trauma, healing poem, IFS, IFS therapy, inner child healing, Internal Family Systems, LMFT blog, men’s healing, mental health, parenting and trauma, poetry for healing, recovery, Religious trauma, reparenting, self-compassion, self-connection, self-fathering, trauma, trauma recovery

• Now Offering Professional Consultation for Therapists & Helping Professionals

  If you’re a therapist, coach, or mental health professional looking for support, clarity, or direction, I’m excited to share something new with you. After years of walking through the personal and professional terrain of healing, learning, and unlearning, I’ve officially opened up professional consultation offerings—and my brand-new Professional Consultation page is now live. Whether you’re navigating complex cases, burnout,…

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  April 21, 2025

  Addiction, IFS, Inspiration, partners, Recovery, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction, Sexual shame, Shame

  burnout, consultation, healing, IFS, mental health, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection, sex addiction, Sexual shame, Therapist

• Afraid to Set Boundaries? Why People-Pleasing Is Costing You More Than You Think

  

  Afraid to set boundaries? Discover how people-pleasing and self-silencing are trauma responses—and how healing through IFS therapy can help you reclaim your voice, set healthy limits, and live more authentically.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  April 18, 2025

  Anxiety, Change, Codependency, Connection, IFS, partners, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, Shame, trauma

  codependency, fawning, healing, IFS, mental health, people-pleasing, recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection, trauma

• Ditching 12-Step Dogma: Science-Based Recovery That Actually Works

  

  Uncover the truth about 12-step programs and why they rely on pseudoscience rather than evidence-based recovery. Learn how outdated dogma can hold people back and discover science-backed alternatives that actually work for overcoming addiction.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  March 10, 2025

  Addiction, Change, Faith, IFS, pornography, Recovery, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction

  12-step, addiction, dogma, evidence-based, faith, healing, IFS, pseudoscience, recovery, Religious trauma, science

• My Going Inside Podcast Interview: Religious Trauma, Sex Addiction, Masculinity, & IFS

  

  Explore healing and authenticity in the latest Going Inside Podcast episode with Forest Benedict. Dive into religious trauma, sex addiction recovery, toxic masculinity, and the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS). A must-listen for anyone seeking freedom and self-connection.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  December 9, 2024

  Addiction, IFS, pornography, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction, Sexual shame, sexuality, Shame, trauma

  group therapy, IFS, masculinity, mental health, recovery, Religious trauma, self-connection, sex addiction, Sexual shame, trauma

• Explore Specialized Areas of Healing and Growth on My Website

  

  Explore the areas of therapy I specialize in, including working with other therapists, religious trauma, anxiety, trauma/CPTSD, sexual shame, and more. Discover how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can help you heal from within. Reach out today for a free consultation and start your journey toward self-connection and transformation.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  October 24, 2024

  Anxiety, Connection, IFS, Recovery, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Sexual shame, trauma

  anxiety, healing, IFS, recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection, Sexual shame, therapy, trauma

• What Do You Want to Read? Should We Dig Deeper or Break New Ground?

  

  Discover meaningful topics that matter most to you. Explore personal growth, childhood trauma, codependency, IFS, ADHD, religious trauma, and more in this reflective blog post. Share your thoughts and help shape the conversation.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  September 12, 2024

  Addiction, Connection, IFS, Inspiration, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Sexual Addiction, Sexual shame, Shame, trauma, writing

  ADHD, BreakNewGround, ChildhoodTrauma, codependency, CompulsiveBehavior, ConnectionAndHealing, DigDeeper, EmotionalHealing, FindingPurpose, HealingJourney, IFS, InnerWork, MentalHealth, Neurodivergence, PersonalGrowth, ReligiousTrauma, SelfCompassion, SelfDiscovery, SexualShame, TraumaRecovery

• Addicted to Approval: Moving from Codependency to Self-Connection

  

  Discover how focusing on external validation can fuel codependency and learn how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can help you break free by cultivating self-connection and internal validation. Explore practical insights to shift away from people-pleasing and reclaim your worth.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  September 9, 2024

  Addiction, IFS, Recovery, Religious trauma, trauma

  addiction, approval, codependency, external validation, IFS, recovery, Religious trauma, trauma, validation

• The Hidden Struggle: Men, Isolation, and the Need for Connection

  

  Explore why many men struggle with isolation and loneliness, the importance of building meaningful connections, and how joining the Healing Through Connection group can help. Learn how this supportive community can transform your life by fostering deeper bonds with others and yourself.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  August 30, 2024

  Addiction, Attachment, Connection, Recovery, Shame

  belonging, connection, group therapy, IFS, isolation, loneliness, men, online group, recovery, Sexual shame, trauma