Transformed Module Four Session OneTransformed Module Four Session One
Alternative To Rehab
Dave Cooper uses a vivid house metaphor to contrast everyday coping with a more spiritual "first floor" of identity and calling. The group discusses addiction, reverse addiction, inner parts and key scriptures, all aimed at helping people move towards a courageous, Christ-centred life after addiction.
1:40:07•18 Sept 2026
Building Your First Floor: Identity, Calling and Recovery with Dave Cooper
Episode Overview
- Recovery is pictured as building a house: preparation, foundation, ground floor coping, then a first floor of deeper spiritual life and calling.
- Addiction and reverse addiction are both seen as safety strategies, either by escaping responsibility or by over-shouldering it.
- Scriptures like John 15 and Galatians 6:3 are used to show that true spiritual "fruit" only comes from being rooted in Christ, not in self-effort.
- Identifying and gently working with inner parts – such as Julie’s timid "little lamb" – can reduce self-loathing and increase compassion in recovery.
- Moving from external concerns to an internal focus on the "things of God" is presented as a key step towards ministry and a clearer personal vision.
“It’s a courageous thing to do, because you’re allowing your life to be scrutinised… allowing that light to shine into some dark areas.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This session from *Alternative To Rehab* takes a very different tack, using a house-building metaphor to talk about recovery, Christian faith, and stepping into a personal calling. Dave Cooper guides a small group through "module four", described as the first floor of the house. The ground floor is about coping with everyday life; the first floor is where things get spiritual and much more personal.
It’s framed as a brave move: you’re no longer just functioning, you’re inviting scrutiny and asking God, as one participant puts it, "I really need to know who I am in Christ." You’ll hear about addiction and "reverse addiction" – the drive to over‑function, take responsibility for everyone else, and live as a constant fixer.
Dave links this to biblical stories and teachings, especially John 15: "No branch can bear fruit by itself…" and Galatians 6:3: "Anyone who thinks they are something they are not deceives themselves." He explains how this applies both to grandiosity in addiction and to feeling "less than" in reverse addiction. A big theme is "parts" work: recognising different inner parts that try to keep you safe, whether through chaos, people‑pleasing or self‑sacrifice.
Julie shares a moving moment of naming a timid inner part "little lamb" and feeling deep compassion for her, which Dave highlights as an example of Christ’s gentleness working within recovery. The tone stays informal and often humorous, with chat about staircases, bungalows and sitcoms, but it repeatedly returns to serious questions: Do you want to stay on the ground floor, or climb into the "upper room" of calling?
Are you ready to let go of false identities and let God show you who you really are? If you’re grappling with identity, purpose and faith after addiction, this session might prompt you to ask: what stairs are you ready to climb next?
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