Recovery Support

Recovery Support

By Kevin Bergen, MA, MFT
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Recovery Support episodes

  • 042 A Funny Thing Happened
    How often have you been so low that you've considered suicide? I know, that's a bold question. But for many in recovery, it's a real question, a serious question . . . because suicide is too often considered.
    Listen to Sam Grittner's blog post from two weeks after his last suicide attempt. I read the post and promptly contacted him for a delightful phone interview and permission to read these two pieces on Recovery Support with Kevin Bergen.
    You can find the original posts here: A Funny Thing Happened When I Was Typing My Suicide Note . . . and How Can I Help You Help YourselfBECOME A PATRON of Recovery Support. If we get enough patrons, I will release a new episode of Recovery Support at least once a month!

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling,

    Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

    Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano

    Music for this episode:

    “Broken Town” by Brad Senne

    “Out In The Open" by Brad Senne

    "Giving In" by Brad Senne

     

    33 min
  • 041 Recitation as Support
    Check out the Recovery Support PATREON site!
    Recitation as Support

    A very special edition of Recovery Support! Kevin takes you in a slightly different direction in this episode as he records during his walk at the beach with two purposes: 1) He shares a personal tool for immediate support whenever you're down or challenged, and 2) he makes a special announcement for the Recovery Support podcast.


    Clue: he keeps the recorder running after he signs off, so only keep listening to the last 14 minutes or so if you want to relax and walk back to the car with him and hear the people running along the strand, hear the people talking as they pass, hear the loud car that goes by after he climbs the ramp and walks along the Esplanade, hear the helicopter that flies past along the shoreline, hear the guy with the guitar singing, and hear the cordial g'morning to the man crossing the street just before he gets to his car.

    Resources mentioned in the showPoem: Bruce and the Spider by Bernard BartonThe Bergen Protocol by Kevin Bergen


    RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling, Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any 12-step fellowship.


    Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano
    43 min
  • 040 Self-care For Success

    Self-care For Success

     

    You’ve heard it many times, self-care is a crucial part of

    recovery. But just what IS self-care? In The
    Bergen Protocol, I lay out a clear explanation of self-care, and then I
    describe the structured, quantifiable protocol I devised to elevate your
    well-being in order to make you ready for the greatest success of your life!

    BECOME A PATRON of Recovery Support!

    Links mentioned in the show:

    Purchase The Bergen Protocol on Amazon (print, ebook, and audio book)

    Kevin's blog site: 

    TheActionCorps.com

    Get your S/R Ratio worksheet at BergenProtocol.com

     

    In this episode of RECOVERY SUPPORT, I share Chapter Two of The Bergen Protocol outlining just who

    benefits from this protocol.

     

    Readings from SEXAHOLICS ANONYMOUS (The White Book)

    Copyright © 1989-2008 SA Literature

    Used with permission of SA Literature

     

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling,

    Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

     

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any

    12-step fellowship

    22 min
  • 039 A Letter About Doubt

    BECOME A PATRON of the Recovery Support Podcast!

    A Letter About Doubt

    A letter written almost 70 years ago is just as relevant

    now. Doubt is one of the most dangerous detractors to recovery. In this
    episode, Kevin will share advice written in 1946 to a friend having a very
    personal crisis of faith. This may apply to your faith in your own self.

    See the first place this letter appeared online in May 2015. 

    Readings

    from SEXAHOLICS ANONYMOUS (The White Book) Copyright © 1989-2008 SA Literature. Used with permission of SA Literature

    Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano 


    18 min
  • 038 Love-Based Thinking
    Twice-monthly
    show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take
    the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

    Love-Based Thinking

    Criticizing or yelling at someone is a poor method of improving

    their behavior.  The same goes for you--negative self-talk will lower your
    sense of self-worth and likely increase your attempts to cope with addictive
    behavior.  This episode of RECOVERY SUPPORT will help you identify harmful
    thinking patterns you've adopted and offer alternatives that you can practice
    and master.  Today, Kevin Bergen shares part of Healing the Addictive Mind by Lee L.
    Jampolsky, Ph.D.

    Call now to leave your question to be answered on a future episode

    of RECOVERY SUPPORT with Kevin Bergen: (310) 697-8893 (international callers,
    dial 00 1 310-697-8893)

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling, Recovery, &

    Growth and by Guy
    Stuff at CCRG

    Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano 

    Incidental music for this episode by Chad

    Lawson from the albums, Set on Hill and The Piano

    27 min
  • 037 RSKB Think vs. Observe

    Twice-monthly show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

    Think vs. Observe

    Do thoughts ever “hook” you and not let go?  Many people (including addicts) find that negative-sounding tapes run in their heads, and they don’t know how to control them.  This episode of RECOVERY SUPPORT includes chapter seven of Russ Harris’ book, The Happiness Trap.  While many of you listen to the podcast in the car or at the gym, I think this episode bears listening again through headphones in a quiet space so you can do the exercises.  This is the episode I’m most pleased with to date!

    Call now to leave your question to be answered on a future episode of RECOVERY SUPPORT with Kevin Bergen: (310) 697-8893 (international callers, dial 00 1 310-697-8893)

    RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling, Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

    Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano www.linkedin.com/pub/dana-bisignano/6/a91/b54/

    Music for this episode:

    • “Good Morning” from Relax With Forest by Satori
    • “River Widens and Calms” from Calm by Kourosh Dini
    • “Passion” from Timeless by David Modica
    • “Muse” from Timeless by David Modica
    • “Field” from Sun and Earth by Kourosh Dini

      • 29 min
    • 036 RSKB Healthier Sexuality

      Twice-monthly show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

      Healthier Sexuality

      The International Service Organization of Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) has given me permission to share portions of their Green Book with you on RECOVERY SUPPORT.  Today I share the section called, Healthier Sexuality, followed up with a section on the benefits of "Outside Help."  Since sexuality is a part of life, those with other addictions and even non-addicts will benefit from the wisdom of this section in The Green Book.

      Call now to leave your question to be answered on a future episode of RECOVERY SUPPORT with Kevin Bergen: (310) 697-8893 (international callers, dial 00 1 310-697-8893)

      Readings from SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (The Green Book) Copyright © 2005 International Service Organization of  SAA, Inc.  Used with permission  SAA does not endorse RECOVERY SUPPORT with Kevin Bergen

      RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling, Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

      RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any 12-step fellowship

      Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano www.linkedin.com/pub/dana-bisignano/6/a91/b54/

      Music for this episode from the Album, The Cat’s Whiskers by Geoff Cawthorn

      22 min
    • 035 RSKB Not Just Sobriety (classic)

      Twice-monthly show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

      Not Just Sobriety (classic episode revisited)

      We are revisiting a classic episode of Recovery Support that was part of the first three shows I launched the podcast with.  This was called Not Just Sobriety, and it covered many of the basics about the 12-steps and how I believe that program can be beneficial for even non-addicts.  Sit back and enjoy this classic episode that I've updated for rebroadcast.

      RECOVERY SUPPORT is brought to you by The Center for Counseling, Recovery, & Growth and by Guy Stuff at CCRG

      RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any 12-step fellowship

      Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano

      Other music featured in this episode:

      • Jumping In – Michael Tiernan
      • Quieting – Lydia McCauley
      • The Other Side of the World – Michael Tiernan
      • Turning of the Tide – Matt Rusin
      • Hawthorne – Lydia McCauley
        • 27 min
      • 034 RSKB Fear in Recovery

        Twice-monthly show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

        Fear in Recovery

        In episode #34, Kevin shares a blog post from Marc & Angel (www.marcandangel.com), "5 Way To Step Forward When You're Scared to Death." Fear paralyzes many in recovery.  Here is some terrific advice and motivation for anyone living life, especially those working through an addiction.

        RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any 12-step fellowship

        Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano www.linkedin.com/pub/dana-bisignano/6/a91/b54/

        Other music featured in this episode:

        • "Interlude" on Temptation by Emma Wallace
        • "Skin" on Mews by Jasmine Brunch
        • "Feel Free Plastic Surgery" on Guess Who's a Mess by Brad Sucks
        • "Perpetual Motion" on Mews by Jasmine Brunch
        • "Do It For Me" on Bright by Chiwawa
        • "Nothing Special" on Bright by Chiwawa

          • 13 min
        • 033 RSKB Self Destructiveness

          Twice-monthly show offering you support in your recovery from addiction—NOT intended to take the place of a 12-step program or your individual therapy.

          Self Destructiveness

          Relapse is a direct result of our self-destructiveness.  Allen Berger, Ph.D. tells us about four causes of self-destructiveness in his book, 12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery.  Dr. Berger's newest book, 12 Hidden Rewards of Making Amends is due out in late May 2013.  For more information, go to his website: abphd.com

          RECOVERY SUPPORT is not endorsed or pre-approved by any 12-step fellowship

          Special music for this episode by Gillicuddy.  Find all the music used for this episode at Gillicuddy: ...Plays Guitar

          Theme music: Recovery Support theme music by Dana Bisignano www.linkedin.com/pub/dana-bisignano/6/a91/b54/

          28 min

        About Recovery Support

        From the publisher's feed

        Support for those in recovery from addiction. Weekly show with psychotherapist, Kevin Bergen, MA, MFT