Is addiction a disease, a decision, or something far more complicated? What often begins as an attempt to escape pain can become a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior, fundamentally changing the way our brains respond to stress, reward, and dependency. In this powerful episode of the Built Different Podcast, Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Zach Clinton sit down with Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, to unpack the neuroscience of addiction, the connection between childhood trauma and chemical dependency, and why overcoming addiction requires far more than simply telling someone to stop. Drawing from his own remarkable journey through abuse, addiction, homelessness, and ultimately redemption, Rodney shares how the very things we turn to for temporary relief can eventually become the things that hold us captive—and how genuine recovery begins with honesty, surrender, and a willingness to address the wounds beneath our behaviors. Together, they explore what it means to shift our dependency from destructive coping mechanisms toward a deeper dependence on Jesus Christ, while emphasizing the life-changing importance of compassionate care, supportive community, and the transformative work of Celebrate Recovery. They also highlight the exciting new partnership between the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and Celebrate Recovery to equip and mobilize an army of compassionate people helpers through their new Addiction & Mental Health Recovery Coaching training program, empowering individuals and churches to confront the addiction epidemic with biblical truth, practical tools, and Christ-centered care. Whether you're personally battling addiction, supporting someone who is struggling, or carrying wounds from your past, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your past may help explain your pain, but it doesn't have to determine your future; your struggles do not disqualify you from God's love; and freedom is possible when we stop trying to heal ourselves alone and begin inviting God and others into the recovery process.

Links:

Earn Your Certificate in Addiction & Mental Health Recovery Coaching: https://lightuniversity.com/addiction-and-mental-health-recovery-coaching/

Find Out More About Celebrate Recovery: https://celebraterecovery.com/

Find a CR Group Today: https://crlocator.com/

Find Clinically Excellent, Distinctively Christian Care & Counsel Today: Find a Christian Counselor, Coach, or Therapist | Christian Care Connect

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