In this Episode Matt and Bethany are joined by Michael Bryan Allison LMFT, ACS, a practicing psychotherapist, sexologist, and MFT supervisor. He has extensive experience with intensive inpatient trauma programs focusing on adults recovering from severe sexual trauma, combat trauma, childhood abuse, and attachment injuries. He serves as the clinical director for a residential dual-diagnosis treatment facility and was, formerly, the director of the Strong Hope Military Trauma Treatment Program in SLC, UT. He is a consultant with residential trauma programs focusing on first responder trauma, and regaining sexual fulfillment in the shadow of sexual trauma. He also maintains a private practice in marriage and family therapy.

In addition, Matt and Bethany bring on their partners, Brindy and Kevin. Together they explore the topic of sex and intimacy. With advice from an expert and questions from a curious and passionate group of friends they help us to de-stigmatize talking about sex.

We all try to find our strength when we need it most. That is often a long and difficult process. Matt Quackenbush, one of the podcast hosts, tells his story of dealing with tragedy and loss, battling addiction, navigating adolescence, and how he was able to turn all of that into finding his strength. Matt shows us how vulnerability is strength, through his emotion and passion teaching us that it is possible to find purpose and meaning when it seems like hope is lost.

Bethany and Matt talk with Special Agent Sete Aulai. Sete's story is nothing short of remarkable. Every day Sete goes to the darkest places of the web to catch child predators as a special agent on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force or ICAC. He shares with us how he is able to find the strength to catch the real bad guys and how to find the why behind doing really hard things every day. We ask questions like what motivates him to keep seeing such horrific images day after day? Has he lost his faith in humanity? And, why did he decide to become a detective and police officer in the first place? His answers are profound and relatable. He also shares with us his strategy for being one of the happiest most positive guys around. It's a great episode with lots of take home knowledge that will leave you grateful for the men who do the hard things we would never imagine doing.

Bethany and Matt sit down with Dr. Amy Crawford, LMFT, PhD. Amy shares the incredible journey she took to become one of the foremost experts in the field of PTSD treatment. She shows us how to own your story, share it with others to find your own strength in doing so. Amy also gives extremely effective tools to manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. This episode is packed with emotion, some laughs, and amazing information you can use to help better your life right now! You're not gonna want to miss this episode.

In this episode: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) An evidenced based treatment for PTSD, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, etc. Amy is a trained expert and shows us a technique called the "butterfly hug," a tool used to bring calm and clarity when reprocessing the past and needing to manage anxiety.

Finding Strength is powered by The Brighton a Day Foundation

http://www.brightonaday.org/

Podcast hosts Matt Quackenbush and Bethany Tenney sit down and talk suffering. What is it? How do we deal with it? Bethany tells her incredible life story and shares how she uses suffering to find strength.

Podcast hosts Matt Quackenbush and Bethany Tenney sit down and talk suffering. What is it? How do we deal with it? Bethany tells her incredible life story and shares how she uses suffering to find strength.