Illuminate: Michelle Linford - Sexual Wholeness in Marriage - Episode 31

I interview Michelle Linford, the founder and administrator for LDS Hope and Healing, on the subject of sexual wholeness in marriage. Couples in recovery from pornography / sexual addiction and betrayal trauma often have questions and struggles around how to bring sexual wholeness to their marriages.

We discuss:
- How to seek true principles to guide the discussion as a couple
- How to spot counterfeit and harmful information about healthy sexuality
- How each person in the relationship is responsible for developing their own personal wholeness so they can offer themselves fully to their relationship.
- Understanding the difference between fragmentation of ourselves in the sexual relationship versus being a whole and complete person.

More on Michelle's background:

Michelle's online volunteer work took an unexpected turn in late 2011 when search engine data showed the desperate need many LDS women had for help and support because of the sexual addiction/compulsion of a loved one.

In response to that need, in January 2012, Michelle createdHopeandHealingLDS.com (a blog and private forum) with the belief that if women knew they weren't alone, had others with whom they could connect, and had resources and information available to them, real healing could begin. Her motto was: "Let's use the tool that has brought so much pain to bring hope and healing to people!"

In addition, inspired by her research about addiction recovery and the hope-filled stories of recovery from addicts and loved ones alike, Michelle chose to do 12-step work in her own life to find healing from shame, perfectionism, and fear-based living. She has been participating regularly in the Church’s 12-step program for six years, and is currently a facilitator in ARP.

Michelle has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and an MBA, with an emphasis in organizational behavior and change. She is the Executive Director of EPIK Deliberate Digital, and is a member of the prevention task force (the Safeguard Alliance) for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. Michelle and her husband, Matt, are the grateful parents of three, beginning the tender stage of launching their children into the world. In addition to being an ARP facilitator, Michelle also is grateful to serve as a facilitator in the Church's Self-Reliance Services program.

Additional Resources from Michelle

www.hopeandhealinglds.com/2017/02/14/o…e-resources/

Slides link (this was a presentation last February on dating in a pornified world at a BYU Women's Services conference last year): wsr.byu.edu/sites/default/files…wer%20-%20Final.pdf

This is a podcast with LDS Perspectives
www.ldsperspectives.com/tag/michelle-linford/

ldsmag.com/author/michelle-linford/

realintent.org/out-of-the-corner/

realintent.org/healing/

This is a compilation of thoughts and resources that assimilate learning from her role at EPIK, at HopeAndHealing (including all that research), and in her own personal experience in 12-step as a participant, sponsor, and facilitator.
docs.google.com/document/d/1dn9ny…/edit?usp=sharing

The Illuminate Podcast is hosted by Geoff Steurer, MS, LMFT and founder of LifeStar of St. George, Utah, a treatment program for couples healing from the impact of pornography and sexual addiction. Learn more at www.lifestarstgeorge.com

You can also purchase a six-hour audio course on healing your marriage from pornography ($29) here: geoff-steurer.mykajabi.com/p/marriage-recovery