Episode 300 highlights the raw submission of a betrayed partner struggling with a husband who pressures her sexually despite her clear “not yet.” He gawked, grabbed, and dismissed her boundaries while excusing his behavior as a “high sex drive.” His minimization left her doubting herself, wondering if she was the problem. This dynamic illustrates how gaslighting erodes self-trust and places partners in a painful double bind: desiring genuine intimacy but being bombarded by objectification and entitlement.

We define the difference between healthy touch and hyper-sexualization. Healthy touch always begins with safety and consent; it grows out of affection, connection, and respect. Hyper-sexualization, by contrast, is compulsive and dismissive of boundaries, reducing a partner to body parts and creating an environment of pressure and fear. True intimacy is never about entitlement—it’s about connection, balance, and honoring the partner’s voice.

For betrayed partners, the call is to trust your body, your instincts, and your discomfort—it is valid and it is telling you something. For porn/sex addicts as well as partners with a sexual entitlement mindset and behaviors, the message is equally clear: recovery cannot be paused, trauma is not a free pass, and love means relinquishing control and honoring boundaries. Healing is possible, but it begins when both partners reject coercion and embrace the hard work of building safety first.

For a full transcript of this podcast in article format, go to: When Touch Feels Like Pressure: Breaking Free from Over-Sexualization

Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program at—daretoconnectnow.com

Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension Counseling

Learn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling Services

In this episode (#299), Mark and Steve respond to a betrayed partner’s story of exhaustion after five years of broken promises from her addict spouse. Despite his grand gestures—weekly check-ins, new hobbies, and podcast listening—he repeatedly relapses and becomes defensive when confronted. This cycle leaves her hyper-vigilant, carrying the weight of the household, and feeling unseen and dismissed. The hosts emphasize that her pain and misery are valid and reflect the natural toll of betrayal trauma.

From the addict perspective, they explore why big gestures rarely last: they are usually attempts at damage control rather than authentic recovery. Addicts often react with defensiveness and irritability, avoiding accountability because of shame, fear, and resistance to change. This defensiveness poisons intimacy, keeping the relationship stuck in a pattern of false starts and inevitable disappointment.

The path forward lies not in more monitoring or empty promises, but in authentic change. For partners, that means setting clear boundaries that reclaim agency and stop enabling the cycle. For addicts, it requires leaving behind reactivity and committing to proactive, consistent recovery practices. Healing is possible, but only when both partners step out of the destructive cycle and choose honesty, vulnerability, and daily integrity over grand but fleeting gestures.

For a full transcript of this podcast in article format, go to: Big Gestures, Broken Trust—Living in the Cycle of Empty Commitments

Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program at—daretoconnectnow.com

Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension Counseling

Learn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling Services

In this powerful PBSE conversation (Episode 298), we respond to a listener who vulnerably asked whether he is staying in his marriage out of love—or out of fear and obligation. Three and a half months into the space between Discovery Day and full therapeutic disclosure, he wonders if he can truly love his wife, or if he is staying simply because of the kids, his reputation, or fear of being alone. Mark and Steve normalize these questions and share how fear-based thinking dominates the early stages of recovery, often leaving addicts panicked, frozen, and driven by “shoulds” instead of authentic desire.

We discuss how these questions often reflect growth, not failure. Moving from a “me” mindset to a “we” mindset can feel foreign and terrifying, but it is a critical milestone in recovery. We encourage addicts to avoid “future tripping”—trying to predict where they’ll be in five, ten, or twenty years—and instead focus on the next right step. We also reframe the partner’s question, “Do you really want me?” as a bid for connection and safety, not a demand for a lifetime guarantee.

Ultimately, recovery is about gradually putting down the masks, moving out of obligation, and stepping into authentic choice. Relationships will always involve risk, but we are wired for connection, not disconnection. As addicts and partners commit to healing, they return to their natural state of love, intimacy, and collaboration. There are no guarantees about the future, but by staying present, honest, and connected, couples can rebuild a marriage that is chosen—not just endured.

For a full transcript of this podcast in article format, go to: As a Recovering Porn & Sex Addict, What is Keeping Me in My Marriage?

Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program at—daretoconnectnow.com

Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension Counseling

Learn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling Services