Parent Guide for Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction

Episode 13: Stuck on Repeat-Understanding the Cycle of Pornography Addiction

In this episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, psychotherapist Matt Bulkley dives deep into the five-stage cycle of pornography addiction—emotional triggers, cravings, acting out, temporary relief, and regret. Through real-life stories like Michael’s and Ian’s, Matt breaks down how this cycle grips teens and shares practical, research-backed steps to help parents guide their teens toward recovery. Learn how to help your teen name triggers, redirect cravings, and combat shame, plus get additional strategies to create a supportive home environment.
Resources:
Recovery Toolbox for Teens: therapyassociates.net/pornographyaddiction/recoverytoolboxforteens
Therapy Associates: therapyassociates.net
Star Guides: starguides.net
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Action:Subscribe for more episodes, leave a review if this helped, and share with other parents. Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments on our website!

Episode 12: The Power of a Recovery Group: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction:

In this episode of the Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction podcast, psychotherapist and co-founder of Therapy Associates and Star Guides, Matt Bulkley, dives into the transformative power of recovery groups for teens struggling with pornography addiction. Discover why group therapy is a game-changer, offering community, accountability, and practical skills to help teens break free from addiction. Matt shares research-backed insights, real-world success stories, and actionable strategies, including tech management, emotional regulation, and building healthy relationships. Learn how parents can reinforce recovery at home and explore resources like the Recovery Toolbox for Teens available at therapyassociates.net. Whether you’re local to St. George, Utah, or joining virtually via Zoom, this episode offers hope and tools for navigating your teen’s journey to recovery. Tune in for practical advice and encouragement to support your teen’s path to a healthier future.
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Episode 11: "Rewiring the Teen Brain-Understanding the Science: Breaking Free from Pornography Addiction"

In this compelling episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, psychotherapist Matt Bulkley, with over 25 years of experience, dives into the science behind pornography addiction and its profound impact on the teen brain. Learn how pornography hijacks reward pathways, impairs impulse control, and alters brain chemistry through dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Matt breaks down why teens are uniquely vulnerable due to their developing brains and offers hope through neuroplasticity, showing how recovery is not only possible but achievable. Packed with real-life stories, actionable steps for parents, and expert insights, this episode equips you to guide your teen toward healing without shame or blame. Discover practical strategies to replace harmful habits with healthy alternatives and empower your teen with knowledge to rewire their brain for a brighter future. Subscribe, share, and visit therapyassociates.net or starguides.net for more resources
Takeaways
Pornography alters the reward pathways of the brain.
Teen brains are still developing, making them vulnerable.
Knowledge about brain function can empower recovery.
Dopamine surges from porn can mimic drug addiction.
Teens often use porn to cope with stress and anxiety.
Heavy porn use can lead to desensitization to pleasure.
Oxytocin release from porn can stunt real intimacy.
Teens may develop unrealistic sexual expectations from early exposure.
Recovery is possible through understanding and support.
Encouraging healthy activities can help rewire the brain.
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Episode 10: Unlock Recovery: Maximize the Recovery Toolbox for Teens Overcoming Porn Addiction

In Episode 10, psychotherapist Matt Bulkley guides parents and professionals on how to effectively use the Recovery Toolbox to help teens overcome pornography addiction. Learn how to leverage the three workbooks—Breaking Free for Teens, Breaking Free Parent Guide, and 101 Tips for Quitting Porn—to disrupt addictive cycles, foster accountability, and build lasting coping skills. From pre-treatment questionnaires to relapse trackers, Matt shares practical strategies for parent-led efforts, outpatient therapy, or intensive programs like Star Guides. Discover how to navigate relapses with hope, create meaningful conversations, and support your teen’s long-term recovery. Get the workbooks at www.therapyassociates.net and start your teen’s journey to freedom today!
 

Episode 9: "Navigating Teen Pornography Addiction: Using the YPAST (Youth Pornography Addiction Screening Tool) to Guide Your Teen to Recovery"

In this heartfelt episode of The Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, psychotherapist Matt Bulkley offers parents practical tools to support teens struggling with pornography addiction. If you’re wondering whether your teen’s porn use is a phase, a habit, or something more serious, this episode is for you. Matt introduces the Youth Pornography Addiction Screening Tool (YPAST), a teen-friendly, 25-question assessment designed to measure the impact of pornography on your teen’s life. Learn how to use the YPAST, available at www.therapyassociates.net, to spark honest conversations and guide your teen toward healing without judgment. Over 30 minutes, Matt breaks down the YPAST’s scoring system, from “Healthy Curiosity” to “Significant Struggle,” and shares actionable steps tailored to each level. He addresses common challenges, like teen resistance to taking the YPAST, and offers empathetic strategies to foster open communication. A real-life example highlights how one family used the YPAST to start their teen’s recovery journey. Matt also answers a listener’s question about assessing addiction when a teen refuses to engage, providing alternative approaches like observing behavioral patterns and monitoring digital activity. Whether you’re seeking parent-led interventions, outpatient therapy, or intensive programs like Star Guides, this episode equips you with knowledge and hope. Visit www.therapyassociates.net to access the YPAST and explore the Recovery Toolbox for Teens Recovery Toolbox For Teens | Therapyassociates J
oin Matt to learn how to support your teen with compassion and confidence on their path to recovery. Subscribe and share to help other parents navigate this challenging journey.
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Episode 8: The Power of Parental Self-Reflection in Supporting Your Teen’s Recovery from Pornography Addiction

Join host Matt Bulkley in this insightful episode of the Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction podcast. Discover why self-reflection is a game-changer for parents supporting their teen’s recovery from pornography addiction. We explore how your experiences, biases, and emotions shape your response to your teen’s struggle and offer practical steps to create a safe, empathetic environment for healing. From understanding the teen brain to setting shame-free boundaries, this episode equips you with tools to guide your teen with compassion. Plus, we answer listener questions about sharing personal struggles and handling relapses. Tune in for hope, guidance, and actionable advice to strengthen your relationship with your teen.
 
Recovery Toolbox for Teens
www.therapyassociates.net/pornographyaddiction/recoverytoolboxforteens
 
Therapy Associates-Outpatient services
www.therapyassociates.net
 
Star Guides-Intensive Residential Level Treatment
www.starguides.net 
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Episode 7: "You can't work harder at their recovery than they are": Supporting Your Teen’s Recovery from Pornography Addiction.

In this episode of the Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction podcast, host Matt Bulkley addresses a vital topic for parents: how to support your teen in overcoming pornography addiction without carrying the full weight of their recovery. Using the Stages of Change model, Matt provides a roadmap to understand your teen’s readiness to change and offers practical strategies to guide them effectively.
 
Key Segments:
The Bicycle Analogy and Stages of Change: Matt introduces the idea that parents can guide but not control their teen’s recovery, likening it to teaching a child to ride a bike. He explains the Stages of Change model (Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance) to help parents align their support with their teen’s current stage.
Breaking Down the Five Stages: Each stage is explored in detail, from denial in Precontemplation to sustaining progress in Maintenance. Matt offers insights on how to respond appropriately, whether it’s planting seeds of doubt or celebrating active recovery efforts.
Practical Ways to Support Your Teen: Six actionable tips are shared, including fostering non-judgmental communication, modeling healthy coping mechanisms, and setting flexible boundaries to encourage autonomy and progress.
Q&A - Gauging Your Teen’s Motivation: Matt answers two key questions: how to tell if you’re working harder than your teen on their recovery and how to measure their motivation to change, with clear indicators for each.
When to Seek Additional Help: Guidance on recognizing when outpatient therapy or a residential program like Star Guides is necessary, especially if safety concerns or persistent resistance arise.
Conclusion: Matt emphasizes that helping your teen is a marathon, not a sprint. By meeting them where they are and fostering an environment for growth, parents can guide their teens toward lasting recovery.
 
Resources: Visit therapyassociates.net for the Recovery Toolbox for Teens, outpatient treatment options, and details on the Star Guides Residential Program at starguides.net.
 
Subscribe to the podcast and check out the YouTube channel for more resources.
 
Call to Action: Share your thoughts or questions, and join us for the next episode to continue supporting your teen’s journey to recovery.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Episode 6: Keeping Score-How Tracking Progress Helps Your Teen Beat Pornography Addiction

In this empowering episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, host Matt Bulkley dives into a game-changing strategy: tracking progress to help teens break free from pornography addiction. Discover how tools like streaks (consecutive porn-free days) and total scores (wins vs. losses over time) can shift your teen’s focus from perfection to progress, fostering motivation and resilience. Matt explores why recovery isn’t just about abstinence but building a fulfilling life, backed by research showing tracking boosts success rates by up to 18%. Learn practical ways to implement these tools, pitfalls to avoid (like the shame spiral after a broken streak), and five actionable tips to keep your teen on track. Through real stories like Sam’s, Matt illustrates how tracking builds confidence and momentum. Parents, you’ll walk away with clear strategies to support your teen’s journey without judgment. Tune in for research-backed insights, heartfelt encouragement, and resources like The Recovery Toolbox for Teens, Therapy Associates, and Star Guides to help your teen thrive. Share, review, and join the conversation to support your teen’s recovery!
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Episode 5:Unlocking Recovery-Open Communication to Help Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction

In this episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, licensed therapist Matt Bulkley, co-founder of Therapy Associates and Star Guides in St. George, Utah, dives into the critical role of open communication in helping teens recover from pornography addiction. Discover why secrecy fuels addiction and how non-judgmental conversations can build trust, reduce shame, and foster accountability. Matt introduces the powerful Color-Code Status Board, a simple tool to encourage teens to share their emotional state without pressure, paving the way for honest dialogue. Learn what not to do—like avoiding harsh reactions that push teens into isolation—and explore practical strategies to strengthen your relationship, including empathetic listening and modeling vulnerability. Matt also shares insights on when to seek professional support and highlights resources like the Breaking Free Workbooks and 101 Tips for Quitting Porn from Therapy Associates. Tune in for actionable steps to support your teen’s recovery journey with compassion and connection. Visit therapyassociates.net and starguides.net for more tools and resources.
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Episode 4: When Is It Time for Intensive Intervention? Exploring Star Guides

In this episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, host Matt Bulkley, a psychotherapist with 25 years of experience, tackles a critical question: when does your teen’s struggle with pornography addiction require intensive intervention, like a residential program? Drawing from his 12 years working with Star Guides, a premier wilderness therapy program, Matt outlines key signs that outpatient efforts may not be enough, including persistent relapses, safety risks, parental loss of influence, and a teen’s lack of motivation to change. Discover what makes Star Guides unique—a technology-free, 120-day wilderness experience in Southwest Utah, blending intensive therapy, family involvement, and practical skill-building to disrupt addiction cycles and foster lasting recovery. Matt shares compelling data, real-world insights, and practical steps for parents feeling overwhelmed or unsure. If you’re wondering whether your teen needs more intensive support, this 30-minute episode offers hope, clarity, and actionable guidance. Learn more at www.starguides.net or www.therapyassociates.net. Share this episode with parents seeking answers, and join us next time for more tools to support your teen’s journey to healing.
 
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