Show Notes
Why is addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing rarely a straight line?
On this episode of Brazen Recovery, hosts Jacob and Miriam sit down with Eric Ford, AMFT (Associate Marriage and Family Therapist) at Pathway Therapy Center in Walnut Creek, California, serving the broader San Francisco Bay Area and East Bay community.
Eric shares the personal and clinical story behind why he chose to dedicate his career to addiction recovery therapy. Together with Jacob and Miriam—bringing raw, lived insights as a recovering addict and a betrayed spouse—this conversation explores how the Cycle of Change applies directly to the messy realities of real-life healing. They unpack why behavioral setbacks happen, how to move past shame, and how to understand the vital clinical differences between Recovery Coaching and Licensed Psychotherapy when building a support team.
We discuss:
Eric Ford’s Clinical Journey — What drew him to specialize in addiction, compulsive behaviors and trauma therapy at Pathway Therapy Center in the East Bay, CA. The Cycle of Change in Practice — How therapists and recovering addicts can use the Transtheoretical Model to navigate readiness, action and maintenance without shame. Reframing Relapse Through Lived Experience — How Jacob and Miriam initially viewed relapse as failure versus understand it now. Recovery Coaching vs. Licensed Therapy — Breaking down scope of practice and how to know which support level you need for long-term recovery.
Interested in exploring how recovery coaching could jumpstart your recovery? Just getting into this space and don't know where to start?
Free Discovery Call: Hop on call with Jacob. No judgement. No pressure. Just helpful insight from someone who knows the terrain. 1-on-1 Coaching with Jacob: Work directly with Jacob for personalized addiction recovery coaching. Book a session at brazenrecovery.org or schedule your today. Take The Free Self-Assessment: Not sure how serious the problem is? "Addiction" can be a scary word. Let the numbers do the talking by taking a quantitative assessment. Whatever the result, you're in good company. There is a path forward.
🚨 DISCLAIMER: The Brazen Recovery Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The personal experiences, perspectives, and opinions shared by Jacob, Miriam, and their guests are not a substitute for professional medical, clinical, mental health, or legal advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional regarding your personal situation.
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When betrayal trauma hits, the initial discovery is rarely the whole story. The slow trickle of truth—known as staggered disclosure—inflicts continuous, compounding trauma on a spouse trying to find solid ground.