Living Fully After Addiction: Tim Gordon’s Guide to ACT

In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen are joined by Timothy Gordon, MSW, RSW, a social worker and expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to help you dig deep into how ACT can support recovery and mental health. Together, they’re here to help you understand how ACT can help you live a fuller, more present life, especially when facing tough emotions and the challenges of addiction.

Tim Gordon isn’t just your average therapist—he’s an ACT trainer, international presenter, and co-author of several therapy books, including The ACT Approach and The ACT Deck. He’s passionate about using therapy to help people move through trauma, attachment issues, and addiction to live more meaningful lives. Tim’s warm, down-to-earth style will make it easy to follow along, even if you're new to the world of therapy.

In this episode, you’ll hear Sonia and Kathleen chat with Tim about the basics of ACT, focusing on how it helps people break free from negative patterns and take action in their lives. They dig into key questions like: What is psychological flexibility, and how can it help with recovery? How can you stop running from your emotions and start dealing with them in a healthier way? This episode covers all that and more, so you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how ACT works in everyday life.

Tim also shares practical tips and personal stories about how ACT helped him in his own life, from overcoming his own doubts to finding balance as a father and therapist. Whether you’re in recovery or simply looking for better ways to handle life’s ups and downs, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective on how to navigate the hard stuff without feeling stuck.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. For more support, tips, and resources, be sure to check out our Substack.

Time-stamped Highlights:

[00:00] – Welcoming today’s guest, Timothy Gordon, and introducing the topic of ACT
[00:01] – Tim’s background and how he got into social work and ACT
[00:03] – Why ACT is different from other therapies and why it matters in recovery
[00:06] – Understanding psychological flexibility and how it can change your life
[00:09] – The role of trauma and attachment in addiction
[00:12] – How ACT helps you show up for your emotions instead of avoiding them
[00:16] – Breaking negative cycles and finding new ways to cope
[00:19] – Tim shares a personal story about overcoming doubts with ACT
[00:22] – Practical tools for being present and mindful in everyday life
[00:25] – The power of accepting your emotions and using them to grow
[00:28] – Tim explains how small changes can make a big difference in recovery
[00:30] – How to be more mindful and break free from old habits
[00:33] – Finding connection and meaning in relationships and life
[00:36] – Addressing loneliness and disconnection in today’s fast-paced world
[00:38] – Tim talks about his new projects and balancing work with fatherhood
[00:41] – Why secure attachment is so important for recovery and well-being
[00:44] – Closing thoughts on how ACT can transform your recovery journey

Links:

• Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community

• Sisters In Sobriety Email

• Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

• Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

• Kathleen’s Instagram