Often Christians who struggle with sex addiction live the ultimate "Jekyll and Hyde" existence, being active in their church communities even as they hide their addiction. The Christian church, in general, struggles to address issues of sexuality in a non-shaming way, which further supports the hidden nature of the addiction. For these men and women, spirituality and sexuality have become compartmentalized. Recovery, then, must involve the integration of healthy spiritual beliefs and practices with healthy sexuality. Shadows of the Cross used in conjunction with Dr. Patrick Carnes's book Facing the Shadow will provide a roadmap for this healing journey.
Shadows of the Cross provides an early spiritual focus to recovery while addressing issues of sexuality in a non-shaming way using Biblical scripture to encourage long-term recovery. Shadows of the Cross offers unique guidance on spiritual practices such as Christian meditation, contemplative reading, solitude, confession, study, and prayer. This book was written specifically for the subset of those in recovery who self-identify as Christian.
Craig S. Cashwell, PhD, is a professor in the department of counseling and educational development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who maintains a part-time private practice focused on sex addiction and couples counseling.
Pennie K. Johnson, LPC, CSAT, is a clinical therapist who has a passion for working with congregations and their church members who are suffering with addiction, primarily sexual addiction.
Patrick Carnes, PhD, is an internationally known educator, researcher, author, and speaker on addiction and recovery issues.
Craig Cashwell: Craig S. Cashwell, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CSAT, ACS, is Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has over 100 publications on various topics with a primary focus on spirituality in counseling. He is the co-editor of Integrating Spirituality and Religion into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice, published by the American Counseling Association. Craig has received numerous awards, including outstanding mentor awards from UNCG and the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the Chi Sigma Iota International Thomas J. Sweeney Professional Leadership Award, and the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) Lifetime Service Award. In 2011, Craig received designation as an ACA Fellow. Additionally, Craig is a CSAT who maintains a part-time private practice focused on sex addiction and couple counseling.
Pennie Johnson: Pennie Johnson, LPC, LCDC, CSAT, CMAT, has a passion for working with congregations and their church members who are suffering with addiction, primarily sexual addiction. She is employed full time by New Freedom Holdings as a project manager and is currently a doctoral student at Walden University in the Counselor Education and Supervision program.
Patrick Carnes: Dr. Patrick J. Carnes is a nationally known speaker on addiction and recovery issues. He is author of Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction (1992), Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict (1989), The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships (1997), Open Hearts (1999), Facing the Shadow (2001), In the Shadows of the Net (2001), A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Principles (2012), A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps (1993)(2012), and Clinical Management of Sex Addiction (2002).
