What is an Addiction, How Addictions are Formed, Tools to Stop Addiction | Dr. Mario Sacasa | Ep. 12

Mario Sacasa, @drmariosacasa on YouTube , is a licensed marriage and family therapist and operates a private counseling practice in Charlotte, NC. He earned a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, LA. He also holds a combined M.S./ Ed.S. in marriage and family counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is married and has four sons.

The focus of his career is finding the points of integration between the Catholic-Christian faith and sound counseling practices. This integrated perspective informs all his professional endeavors.

Dr. Sacasa hosts the Always Hope Podcast, which provides solutions to life’s challenges that are anchored in faith and science. The show has over 200,000 downloads and amassed a worldwide audience. It is a long-form interview show and he has interviewed notable guests such as Fr. Josh Johnson, Jason Evert, Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Sr. Josephine Garrett, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Bishop Bill Wack, Dr. Brant Pitre, Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford, Dr. Gregory Bottaro, Art and Laraine Bennett, and many others.

Dr. Sacasa has created two online courses. Dating Well takes young adults by the hand guides them through the challenges of the modern dating scene. Overcoming Stress and Anxiety, produced by Good Catholic Media, offers information and skills to beat anxious thoughts.

Dr. Sacasa travels the country offering lectures to dioceses, parishes, seminaries, and college campuses on the themes of dating, marriage, sexuality, and the misunderstood virtue of hope. He has served on faculty at Notre Dame Seminary, Divine Mercy University, and the Institute for Priestly Formation. He has lectured for national organizations, such as: SEEK, the Theology of the Body Institute, The National Catholic Singles Conference, CatholicMatch, and Together in Holiness Marriage Conference. His work has been featured on The Pillar, Relevant Radio, Good Catholic, Simply Catholic, Ask Fr. Josh podcast, Lust is Boring podcast, Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women), and The Gloria Purvis Podcast. He is active on his social media platforms.

For leisure, Dr. Sacasa is an avid runner and hiker. His heart comes alive exploring mountains and national parks with his family. He watches way too many movies and spends way too much time thinking and talking about them with his kids. He enjoys watching his sons compete on the field or perform on the stage and cheering on his Florida State Seminoles.

Timestamps:
0:00- Dr. Mario Sacasa Introduces Himself
2:23- Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist vs. Counseling/License Marriage & Family Therapist/Social Worker
6:55- What is the role of therapy
9:24- What is an addiction?
14:10- Withdrawal Symptoms from Addictions
15:58- How a Person Forms an Addiction
18:36- Interventions to Stop Addictions
22:12- Surrender, Radical Honesty, Mentorship, Growing in Self Awareness, Making Amends
26:42- Rehab Programs
27:42- Importance of Discipline
30:39- Finding the Right Therapist
31:42- Tools for Family Members of an Addict
32:42- Role of God in overcoming addiction
35:20- Resources for Overcoming Addiction
36: 36- Finding a Catholic Therapist
38:34- Dr. Mario’s Podcast, Website
39:41- Outro

Music by Oleksii Holubiev
Thumbnail Picture: Canva