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Author: Teresa McBean

Teresa is co-pastor of Northstar Community, a church that exists to serve those struggling in various ways with issues associated with substance use disorder and its various associations - trauma, mental health issues, etc.  She also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Christian Recovery, an organization created to support other faith communities around the country provide more effective care and support for recovery in their local community.  She has authored several books, including:  Bridges to Grace, Transformational Steps for Ordinary People and Forgiving in a World that Loves to Hate. Blog: http://www.northstarcommunity.com/devotionals/

If my loved one stops doing X and starts doing Y, all will be well

by Teresa McBean

#MythBustingMondays – Watching someone die a slow death as a result of an unremitting and cruel condition like untreated Substance Use Disorder is the WORST.  It is frustrating, frightening, and trauma inducing. 

All sorts of pro-addictive and anti-recovery thoughts will enter into the mind of loved ones. This is normal and expected but it cannot go unaddressed without serious consequences for all involved.

“If only she/he would stop using!” is an example of pro-addictive thinking that creates a certain mythology around how to deal with the disease.  The myth is this:  If my loved one stops doing … Read more...

There is nothing you can do until they ‘hit bottom’ #MythBustingMondays

by Teresa McBean

I have few commitments; I have a host of good intentions.  One of my commitments is weekly attendance at our Family Education Program on Thursday nights. I attend unless I am out of town or sick enough to require an IV and suffer from a fearful expectation that I should be getting my affairs in order.  This is how committed I am to busting myths about Substance Use Disorder and providing hope and healing for families struggling with this dread disease.

These educational meetings support recovery by educating family members and loved ones of folks who have … Read more...

I don’t know how you can do this!

Teresa McBean

This is absolutely, hands down, the most common thing people ever say to me about my job as a pastor of a recovery church.

Most common question: “What in the world compelled you to THIS?”  I get it.  Recovery is hard.

The easy response to both the statement and question is to tell the truth:  my DNA led me here.  I didn’t come to this via an academic route or a passion for social justice; I crashed into recovery the way most do – through the door of desperation.  I know what it is like to live in … Read more...