Podcast

In a world where there is so much noise and confusion about sexuality, Ultimate Escape offers a safe place to discuss the truth. With creative insights and engaging topics, Steve and Holly Holladay, founders of Ultimate Escape, break through the taboos and hesitation. They equip parents, teens, teachers and church leaders to have meaningful dialogue with each other about sexuality; sharing truth that brings freedom.

 

 

Holly Holladay

Holly Holladay is a writer/speaker with a gift for speaking truth and keeping it real. While navigating more than her share of challenges and disappointments, Holly has learned the value of faith, perseverance, and intimate relationships.

 

Holly has been a guest writer for Shannon Ethridge's blog, and excerpts from her series appear in Shannon's book, The Passion Principles. Holly also writes a Q&A Column for Mici Magizine, a quarterly publication for young women. 

 

Holly is the mother of four children ages 28, 25, 21 and 19.  Holly enjoys writing about intimacy and relationship issues.  She speaks internationally to teens and adults about her journey and lessons she has learned along the way.  Whether speaking at orphanages in Uganda, churches in Australia, or Christian universities in the United States, Holly's transparency and relaxed conversational style put people at ease while she shares from the heart.

 

Above all, Holly is a daughter of the King of Kings who desires for others to know their true value.

Sex and the Brain

Featured Video

You Can Learn a Lot About Sex from a Pool Stick

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Full Videos

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Comments

“I feel like you have opened a knowledge door to my life.”     17-year old male from Brentwood, Tennessee



"The most moving retreat I have ever been to.  -  Thank you, Steve, for everything."  16-year old male from Van Alstyne, Texas



"You did an amazing job!  Thanks a bunch   I gained a lot from this!"     16-year old female from McPherson, Kansas



"This is the best weekend of mylife. I could not thank you enough. God, through you, has given me the strength to overcome my greatest fears and my biggest struggles. Thank you again."  18-year old male from McKinney, Texas



"I liked the whole weekend. I've gone to this twice now, and each time I've learned something different."  16-year old female from Allen, Texas



"I love that you incorporated things that most people will not think about, like Play-doh, to demonstrate things. That really struck a chord with me. I really want to share it with peole that could not make it."  15-year old female from Prosper, Texas



“You are good! You are really, really good!"     16-year old male from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
 

Sample Schedule

Friday PM

6:00 – 6:20    Welcome & Introduction of Event
6:20 – 7:00    Session 1:  Ultimate Sexual Organ: The Brain
7:00 – 7:10    Break
7:10 – 8:10    Session 2:  Ultimate Illusion: Sex in Modern Culture
8:10 – 8:40    Break and snacks
8:40 – 9:40    Session 3:  Ultimate Sexual Experience: God’s Vision for Sexuality
9:40 – 10:00  Debrief
10:00             Head Home



Saturday (eat breakfast before you come)

10:00 – 10:10  Kickoff
10:10 – 10:30  Panel Group Processing
10:30 – 11:30  Session 4:  Ultimate Relationship: Friends w/ Benefits
11:30 – 12:30  Lunch break
12:30 – 1:30   “Sex Talk Live” Q & A time part 1
1:30 - 1:45      Break
1:45 – 2:30     Ultimate Interviews (panel of men and women)
2:30 – 3:00     Break (snacks provided)
3:00 – 4:15     Session 5:  Ultimate Trap: Understanding Addictive Sexual Behavior
4:15 – 5:15     Break/games
5:15 – 6:00    “Sex Talk Live” Q & A time part 2
6:00 – 7:00     Dinner
7:00 – 8:30     Session 6: Ultimate Reset: Starting Over
8:30 – 8:55     Processing/journaling
8:55 – 9:30     Evaluations & Remarks
9:30                Head Home
 

Topics Covered

Ultimate Illusion: Sex in Modern Culture

Ultimate Sexual Experience: God's Vision for Sexuality

Ultimate Relationship: Friends with Benefits

Ultimate Challenge: Barriers to Purity

Ultimate Confusion: Understanding Sexual Identity

Ultimate Reset: Healing from Brokenness

Sex Talk Live: Q & A with Steve Holladay

Ultimate Sex Organ: The Brain

Clinical

Spiritual

Ultimate Escape is guided by the following fundamental beliefs as we pursue our mission.

•  God, as creator of the universe, is the author of sexuality.  As such, He is the authority regarding appropriate and fulfilling sexual expression, and best knows how sexuality should be experienced and managed.
 
•  God's word, the Bible, describes sexual behavior in the context of marriage between a husband and wife as good, exciting, pleasurable, and part of God's design for the human experience.
 
•  God's word also places boundaries around sexual behavior.  Erotic sexual behavior between individuals outside the context of marriage is not consistent with God's purpose for sexual expression as described in the Bible.
 
•  All people are created in the image of God and should be deeply valued.  Regardless of one's sexual behavior, beliefs, values or history, all people are worthy of respect and should be treated with the love, compassion and kindness modeled by Jesus.
 
•  God is the source of hope, healing and redemption.  God can heal the pain of sexual trauma and abuse, bring freedom to those enslaved by addiction, bring order from the chaos of sexual confusion and brokenness, and restore what has been destroyed by destructive behavior.  God's grace and forgiveness are available to all and needed by all.

 

Steve Holladay

Steve Holladay is an international speaker, therapist and founder of Ultimate Escape.  From 2006 to 2009 Steve also worked as a Life Coach/Consultant at the Center for Relational Healing in Brentwood, TN.

Steve has an M.A. in Human Services Counseling from Regent University and a B.S. in Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences from Freed-Hardeman University.  Steve's undergraduate minors are in Bible and Philosophy.

Steve is a student in the sex therapy program at the Institute for Sexual Wholeness in Atlanta, GA.  He has specialized graduate level training in Human Sexuality, Sexual Addiction, Sexual Identity, Sexual Abuse and Advanced Sexual Trauma.

 

Steve’s area of professional focus is sexual issues among teens and young adults. Steve developed an adolescent version of the Sexual Addiction Screening Tool (SAST) with the approval of Dr. Patrick Carnes.  Steve frequently speaks about sexuality, relationships and recovery issues at churches and schools.

In addition to his passion for sharing God’s vision for healthy sexuality, Steve enjoys working with his rottweilers, weightlifting, and spending time with his family.  Steve and his wife, Holly, have been married 23 years and have four children.

Media

Ultimate Escape hosts an expanding library of video clips that present truth about sex from a solid clinical and Biblical foundation.  Topics covered include healthy sexuality, addiction, sexual identity, sex and the brain, sex in culture, and FAQ. 

Contact Us

UltimateESCAPE
PO Box 1047
West Monroe, LA 71294
(214) 620-1787

 

Name:

Email:

Questions or Comments:

Resources

Ultimate Escape offers information and links to books, videos, and additional websites which are useful resources for healthy sexuality, sexual identity, sexual addictions, and recovery from sexual trauma and abuse.

 

Websites

BETHESDA WORKSHOPS

One of the top programs providing clinical treatment of sexual addiction from a Christian perspective. Provides separate sessions for adult males, adult females, spouses of addicts, and couples recovery.  The workshop director, Marnie Ferree, specializes in treatment of sexual addiction among females.

 

CENTER FOR RELATIONAL HEALING

A private, Christ-centered counseling service in Brentwood, TN that specializes in providing individual and group therapy experiences to promote healing from sexual addiction, codependency, unwanted same-sex attractions, and other intimacy disorders.

SOUL VIRGINS

Soul Virgins is a site dedicated to helping Christian single adults pursue God's heart about their sexuality and challenges them to be all God has called them to be.

FAITHFUL AND TRUE MINISTRIES

Ministry offering Christ-centered clinical treatment for sexual addiction for men and couples.  Founder and workshop leader, Dr. Mark Laaser, is one of the top recognized leaders in Christian treatment of sexual addiction.

SASH

Official site for The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH).  Provides information and resources specifically related to sexual addiction.

AACC

Site for the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). The AACC provides several resources for Christian professionals and laypersons relating to understanding sexual addiction and helping those affected by it.

FREEDOM EVERYDAY

Site hosted by L.I.F.E. Ministries that provides information and resources for those struggling with sexual addiction. Resources include recovery workbooks and contact information for recovery groups across the US.

EXODUS YOUTH

Christian site dedicated to helping young people struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction. Resources include conferences, curriculum, videos, books and more. This site is an excellent resource to expose young people to accurate information about homosexuality.

NCMEC

Site hosted by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Provides resources related to internet safety and clinical research related to online sexual abuse.

Reading

Healthy Sexuality

Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting our Children
by Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D. and Freda McKissic Bush, M.D.

Soul Virgins: Redefining Single Sexuality
by Doug Rosenau and Michael Todd Wilson

When Two Become One: Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage
by Christopher and Rachel McCluskey
 

Same-Sex Attractions

Sexual Identity: A Guide to Living in the Time Between the Times
by Mark A. Yarhouse and Lori A. Burkett



Sexual Addiction

Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction
by Dr. Mark Laaser

No Stones: Redeeming Women from Sexual Shame
by Marnie C. Ferree
 

Video Resources

UE Bookstore

Partners

Ministries

 

Healthy Sexuality

Institute for Sexual Wholeness
www.sexualwholeness.com

Shannon Ethridge Ministries
www.shannonethridge.com


Same-sex Attractions

Exodus International
www.exodusinternational.org

Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity
www.sexualidentityinstitute.org


Sexual Addiction

Bethesda Workshops
www.bethesdaworkshops.org

Faithful and True Ministries
www.faithfulandtrueministries.com

Professional Counseling

Organizations

Addictive Sexual Behavior

Transformation

Talking to Children About Sex

Theology of Sex

Understanding Sexual Identity

Events

Ultimate Escape offers the following types of events which can be customized to fit the needs of the group:

 

Church seminars and presentations

Parent education classes

Coaching services

School assemblies

Staff training

Video resources

Contact Ultimate Escape to find out how we can put together events and programs to meet your needs.

Where We’ve Been

2011 - Steve Holladay

Crittenden Drive Church of Christ
Russellville, KY
November 13

Truth About Sex
Russellville, KY
November 11-12

Continent Care Connection
Sao Paulo, Brazil
October 3-7

Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church
Allen, TX
September 25

Dallas Area Youth Fellowship, Preston Road Church of Christ
Dallas, TX
September 18

Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church
Allen, TX
September 11

First Baptist Church
Allen, TX
September 7 & 21

Singing Oaks Church
Denton, TX
July 24, August 7, 14 & 28

Wilkesboro Church of Christ
Wilkesboro, NC
July 17

Area Youth Fellowship
Mattituck, NY
July 9

Timothy Hill Children's Ranch
Riverhead, NY
July 5, 6 & 7

East End Church of Christ
East Hampton, NY
July 3

Area Youth Fellowship
Smyrna, TN
June 15

Kadesh - Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX
June 8

Memorial Road Church of Christ
Edmond, OK
May 4 & 5

Purity Retreat - Greenville Oaks Church
Allen, TX
February 25 & 26

Men of Valor - Dallas
Plano, TX
February 19

Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
February 15 & 17
 

Services

Ultimate Escape offers the following services which can be customized to fit the needs of the group:



Church seminars and presentations

Parent education

Coaching services

School assemblies

Staff training

Video resources



Contact Ultimate Escape to find out how we can put together programs and services to meet your needs.
 

Presentations

Specialty Presentations

Ultimate Sex Organ: The Brain                                                                       

Contrary to the myths of modern culture, the most important sexual organ is the brain.  Learn how brain structures and neurochemicals interact to make sex incredibly powerful and captivating.  Discover the connection between sex and emotional bonding.  You will understand “hotness” much better once you see what you can learn about sex from a branding iron.
 

Ultimate Illusion: Sex in Modern Culture

Images and messages about sexuality are impossible to escape.  But just what are we learning about sex from our environment, and do we even realize the beliefs we are forming?  This presentation honestly explores how culture views sex, and reveals the raw consequences.  It doesn’t get more real than this.  Find out what you can learn about sex from a can of Diet Dr. Pepper.

Ultimate Sexual Experience: God's Vision for Sexuality

You can learn a lot about sex from a chocolate bunny, and from scripture.  God's word provides much more than a set of rules for sex.  It describes sex as an exciting, pleasurable and fulfilling part of the human experience.  Catch God’s vision for truly great sex.  Discover how to have the ultimate sexual experience.

Ultimate Trap: Understanding Addictive Behavior                                                          

Countless individuals are trapped in a cycle of sexual behavior they don’t understand.  They want desperately to stop, but they feel hopeless.  Why do people keep doing it, and what is the real problem?  Experience the truth about addiction and see what drives the cycle.  Looking for freedom?  Discover how a noodle might be getting in the way.

 

Ultimate Reset: Start Over

Brokenness is part of life in a fallen world and occurs in relationships.  In our over-sexualized culture, many people experience sexual brokenness.  Whether it involves a struggle with pornography, inappropriate sexual behaviors, or painful emotions attached to sexuality or relationships (shame, fear, guilt, hurt, lonely, etc.), the healing process is similar.  God is the God of second chances!  Learn how to start over, or help someone else start over.  After all, you can learn a lot about sex from roller blades. 
 

General Presentations (These are not about sex)

Ultimate Value: You are Special to God

You’ve heard that God loves everyone.  But do you feel like God loves you?  There are common core beliefs that prevent many people from feeling special to God.  These beliefs go back to the beginning of time; they were planted in the first garden.  Hear the dirt about faulty beliefs and how to bridge the gap between the head and the heart.  After all, you can learn a lot about God from a dog.

Ultimate Grip: He’ll Never Let Go

Ever felt like you messed up so bad that God can’t use you?  Perhaps you’ve been so burdened by guilt and shame that being in God’s presence feels uncomfortable.  In this insightful, dramatic portrayal of Peter, Steve Holladay explores the thoughts and feelings that led Peter to pledge his devotion to the Savior, then deny even knowing Him.  Experience the emotional rollercoaster that took Peter to the edge, and discover the truth; Jesus’ grip is strong and He’ll never let go.

Ultimate Vision: Seeing Reality

Spiritual warfare surrounds us every moment, but most people seem oblivious to the fighting.   We are all influenced by forces not visible to the human eye, and it’s what you don’t see that can really hurt you.  Think The Matrix on steroids!  Explore what is really going on around you, and uncover a little-known truth about Earth buried in scripture.  You will never see a cake the same way again!



Adult Presentations

Ultimate Intimacy: Finding the Relationship of Your Dreams                                      

They were nine years into a marriage void of intimacy and on the brink of divorce.  Now Steve and Holly are in their 21st year of marriage, celebrating God’s gift of a relationship they never thought possible.  Hear their story as they discuss dynamics that prevent emotional connection and describe a lifestyle that promotes genuine intimacy.  Steve and Holly’s story of transformation will educate you and encourage you to develop the relationship of your dreams

Ultimate Preparation: Talking to Your Kids about Sex

One of the most difficult challenges for parents is talking with their children about sex.  Yet, it is one of the most important topics to address in a hyper-sexual culture, and the process should begin at an early age.  What can parents learn about sex from a pistol?  And what can happen if parents fail to teach truth about sex?  Steve Holladay offers insight into these questions and equips parents to begin early, consistent dialogue with children, preparing them for a lifetime of healthy sexuality.
 

Upcoming Events

Counseling

Ultimate Escape provides counseling services for individuals and families dealing with intimacy, relationship, and sexual issues.  Steve Holladay holds a master's degree in counseling and is a Certified Pastoral Sexual Addiction Specialist.  Steve also is a student in the sex therapy program at the Institute for Sexual Wholeness in Atlanta, GA. 

Steve's relaxed, compassionate personality helps clients feel safe and comfortable as they work through difficult issues like addictive behavior, trauma/abuse, and same-sex attractions.  Steve's specialty is working with teens and young adults ages 12-30, but he also works with couples and adults of all ages.

Steve approaches therapy from a pastoral counseling role, combining clinical theory and Biblical truth to help clients move toward their goals.  Steve operates from a cognitive behavioral therapy model, exploring with clients the dynamics of thoughts, feelings and behaviors as shaped by core beliefs about self, others and God.  Additionally, becoming a more healthy relationship partner (spouse, parent, child, etc.) is a focus of the healing process.

Steve offers multi-session intensives for clients traveling long distances or those desiring to progress at a faster pace.  Half-day, full-day, and two-day formats can be tailored to meet specific needs.

Steve's additional experience includes working as a Life Coach/Consultant at the Center for Relational Healing in Brentwood, TN from 2006-2009.  He also consulted as a sexual addiction specialist for the Center for Professional Excellence in Nashville, TN.  Steve's most recent consulting role has been with a movie production company as a co-creator of a script.  The project is currently in pre-production.

About

 

 

Ultimate Escape is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps people follow God's vision for sexuality.  Based in West Monroe, LA, Ultimate Escape provides Christian counseling for teens and adults looking for help with sexual issues including sexual addiction, sexual identity, sexual trauma/abuse, or relationship and intimacy concerns.  Ultimate Escape also provides presentations to churches and schools addressing these topics.

Please use the drop-down menu by moving your mouse over the "about" tab to learn more about Ultimate Escape.

Purity Events

Ultimate Escape offers a 2-day Purity Event for teens. You can learn more about these Purity Events including topics covered, a sample schedule, or what other teens have to say about it.  Contact Ultimate Escape to schedule a Purity Event at your church or school.

 

703 S. Greenville Ave.
Allen, TX 75002
(214) 620-1787
 

Steve Holladay, M.A.
Director of Ministry Operations
(214) 620-1787

What People Are Saying

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Introducing Ultimate Escape

 

 

 

 

Board Members

President
Gerry Smith, MSA
Retired
Richardson, TX

 

Secretary
Jan Moore
Program Specialist, National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE
Greensboro, NC

 

Treasurer
Carolyn Huskins
Proposals Engineer, NC Department of Transportation
Greensboro, NC

 

Medical Advisor
Gil Ezell, M.D.
Urologist, Urology Associates
Nashville, TN

 

Clinical Advisor
Marnie Ferree, LMFT, CSAT
Director, Bethesda Workshops
Nashville, TN

 

David Bruce
President, Alliance Recruiting Resources
McKinney, TX

History

Ultimate Escape was founded in 2004 by Steve and Holly Holladay.  It initially operated as a ministry overseen by the Friendly Avenue Church in Greensboro, NC where Steve had served for 6 years as a youth minister.

As Steve was pursuing his master's degree in counsleing at Regent University, Ultimate Escape was organized as a not-for-profit corporation in Virginia Beach, VA in March of 2005. 

In the fall of 2006, Ultimate Escape relocated to Nashville, TN where Steve Holladay began working with the Center for Relational Healing, providing life coaching services for adolescents dealing with sexual issues. 

In August of 2009, Ultimate Escape formed a partnership with the Greenville Oaks Church in Allen, TX and moved its operations to the Dallas metroplex.  Ultimate Escape continues to operate as a board-directed, not-for-profit corporation and is recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) public charity. 

Steve Holladay, Founder and Director, provides Ultimate Escape's counseling services in Allen, TX,  Steve and his wife, Holly, speak internationally to teens and adults.  For information about the Ultimate Escape board, see the Board Members page in the "About" section of this website.
 

Speakers

Beliefs

Mission

Help young people pursue healthy sexuality and overcome addictive sexual behavior.