Understanding Your Attachment Style & Sexual Brokenness with Marc Cameron
📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩
Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes welcome back Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Marc Cameron, New Life LIVE co‑host and author of Understanding Your Attachment Style, for a powerful episode on how attachment styles shape sexual behavior and acting out.
In this first of a two‑part conversation, they focus on the Avoider and Pleaser (anxious) attachment styles and how these patterns—formed in your family of origin—often drive pornography use, affairs, sexual shutdown, and “people‑pleasing in the bedroom.”
In this episode, they:
Introduce Marc’s new book Understanding Your Attachment Style and how it equips individuals (not just couples) to “earn” a secure attachment in all relationships.
Unpack how Avoiders often use sex or pornography as a non‑relational stress reliever and why their sex life frequently feels disconnected from emotion.
Describe how Pleasers (anxious attachment) can lose their voice, over‑accommodate, and even agree to unwanted sexual acts just to keep the peace.
☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 & 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:
“Where did my attachment style come from?”
Marc explains that attachment is programming, not personality, formed in the home you grew up in—especially how your caregivers handled emotions, touch, and distress. Avoiders usually come from low‑affection, low‑emotion homes where feelings were minimized or dismissed; Pleasers grow up managing a parent’s mood (anger, anxiety, depression) by being the “good kid.”
“How does the Avoider attachment style play out sexually?”
Avoidant men often see sex as a non‑relational “event” rather than emotional connection, with little eye contact, comfort, or nurturing before or after sex. They are especially vulnerable to pornography, because porn offers intense bodily sensation, no emotional risk, no relational maintenance, and a script of hyper‑available, aggressive partners that distorts expectations for marriage.
“What about avoidant women?”
Avoidant women frequently dislike or even despise sex, experiencing it as something unnecessary or aversive rather than a place of connection. Some may offer sex only to “get it over with,” or even quietly tolerate their husband’s pornography use because it means less pressure on them—while still carrying buried resentment and unmet longing for true emotional connection.
“Why did porn and masturbation feel like such a perfect escape?”
JJ shares how growing up in an emotionally shut‑down, low‑affection home set him up to use pornography and masturbation as a stress reliever and escape from reality. Instead of risking rejection or learning to name feelings, sex became an internal coping mechanism that seemed to “fix” stress without requiring real relational risk.
“How does the Pleaser (anxious) attachment style act out sexually?”
Pleasers are wired to calm other people down; they’ve been managing a parent’s mood their whole life, and now they try to manage a spouse’s anger or anxiety through compliance. Pleaser wives may say yes to sexual acts they don’t want, just to avoid conflict, and pleaser husbands may pursue sex for reassurance (“If you’ll have sex with me, we must be okay”).
“What happens when a Pleaser finally hits a breaking point?”
Because Pleasers chronically ignore their own needs and voice, they often hit midlife with deep internal resentment and burnout. At that point, sex may be shut off completely—not because they “hate sex,” but because they no longer enjoy it in that relationship—making them especially vulnerable to emotional or sexual affairs where they finally feel seen, safe, and valued.
“Can an Avoider or Pleaser ever become secure?”
The good news: attachment styles are how you are, not who you are. Marc describes how research shows adults can earn secure attachment through intentional work—learning to name feelings, develop empathy (“I know what it feels like for me, so I can enter you”), set boundaries, and practice new relational patterns over time. His book lays out concrete steps for that process from a Christian worldview.
📚 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 & RELATED RESOURCES
(Consider linking these in your show notes/store.)
𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 – Marc Cameron
A practical guide to identifying your attachment style and learning how to “earn” secure attachment in your closest relationships.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 – Milan & Kay Yerkovich
The foundational attachment and “love styles” book (Avoider, Pleaser, Vacillator, Controller, Victim, Secure Connector) that shaped much of New Life’s teaching and inspired Marc’s follow‑up for individuals.
Sexual Integrity Resources – New Life
Articles, devotionals, and tools on breaking sexual strongholds, understanding root issues, and rebuilding intimacy.
🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄
Ready to address your attachment wounds and sexual integrity struggles in a shame‑free, Christ‑centered environment?
Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive to save on your tuition. This 3‑day workshop helps men break free from pornography, affairs, and sexual acting out, while also exploring deeper drivers like attachment, trauma, and family of origin.
If finances are a barrier, scholarships and financial assistance may be available—call 800‑NEW‑LIFE to ask about options.
📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 & 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.
Have a question or topic suggestion?
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info about workshops and groups?
👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com.
🎧 Discover more ways to listen & watch:
👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub:
https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/
👉 New Life LIVE & other podcasts:
https://newlife.com/podcasts/
#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #AttachmentStyles #Avoider #Pleaser #HowWeLove #UnderstandingYourAttachmentStyle #ChristianMen #FreedomFromPorn #RecoveryJourney #BiblicalManhood #BrothersInChrist #ChristianCounseling
Featured Offer
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. The Every Man’s Battle Workshop is the place where men engage in the battle to get back their sexual integrity. In this intensive three-day workshop you’ll work with licensed Christian counselors who will arm you with the weapons you need for victory. The enemy may have wounded you, but the battle is not over. Register today. Too much is at stake not to take action.
Featured Offer
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. The Every Man’s Battle Workshop is the place where men engage in the battle to get back their sexual integrity. In this intensive three-day workshop you’ll work with licensed Christian counselors who will arm you with the weapons you need for victory. The enemy may have wounded you, but the battle is not over. Register today. Too much is at stake not to take action.
About Every Man’s Battle Podcast
New Life has been helping thousands of men with their sexual integrity for over 3 decades. Every Man's Battle podcast discusses the topics that will help men understand their challenges, the pathway to Christlike character, and hope for recovery. Becoming a man of sexual integrity is an ongoing process, and we can help you on the journey. New Life's EVERY MAN’S BATTLE PODCAST can assist you on the pathway to becoming the man you hope to be. As all things sexual integrity, EVERY MAN’S BATTLE PODCAST is for EVERY MAN!
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive.
About New Life
JJ WEST
JJ is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Orlando. With a Master’s and Specialist degrees in Counselor Education, JJ began private practice after years of working with children, adolescents and families in outpatient settings. In 2009, he became an Every Man’s Battle Workshop facilitator, taking over as the main presenter in 2022. Before becoming a therapist, he worked for several years with college students in both Christian ministry and church settings. JJ is married with 2 adult children; and enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling to other cultures, good movies, and Florida State sports.
DOUG BARNES
Doug is a LifeCoach and Licensed Professional Counselor with Supervisor status working in private practice in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex; working primarily with men and couples in finding restoration and redemption from sexual brokenness. His journey into becoming a clinician began in his teens and cultivated into a road to healing in his early twenties after the death of his father. He has worked with Every Man’s Battle Intensive Workshops as a facilitator since 2006. His passion is to give other men what God has given him—freedom. Doug has been married for 31 years and has 2 sons. He is a rollercoaster junkie, runner, all around fitness gym rat, and sometimes even breaks out his guitars to play.
Contact Every Man’s Battle Podcast with New Life
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
http://everymansbattle.com/
New Life Ministries
PO Box 852347
Richardson, TX 75085-2347
Phone Number
(800) NEW-LIFE (639-5433)