In this powerful episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae expose the Big Fat Lies that keep betrayed partners trapped in pain and confusion after infidelity. From the cultural myths of "Good things happen to good people" to the heartbreaking belief that "Once a cheater, always a cheater," this conversation dismantles the false stories that sabotage healing.

Together, they share real-life examples and clinical insights on:

✅ Why we cling to lies like "If I were better, this wouldn't have happened." ✅ How shame, denial, and comparison keep you emotionally stuck. ✅ Why believing "People can't change" blocks recovery for both partners. ✅ How endurance and "being strong" can actually become a trauma response. ✅ What genuine healing looks like when truth replaces self-blame.

You'll also hear deeply personal reflections—from Sharon's story of objectification and "CEO-style" relationships to Rae's raw honesty about the panic, comparison, and self-loss that betrayal creates. This episode is a compassionate reminder that your pain matters, your boundaries are sacred, and your healing is possible.

💬 Key Takeaways: • Betrayal trauma thrives on false narratives—healing begins when you stop believing them. • You didn't cause the betrayal. • Strength isn't pretending you're fine—it's choosing truth over survival mode. • You can believe in change without abandoning your safety.

💡 Listen if you're ready to: ✔ Break free from self-blame ✔ Challenge the myths that keep you small ✔ Reclaim your voice and your truth after infidelity

💬 Please comment below if any of these 7 traps have appeared in your recovery - let the community know which ones, how they affected your recovery and if & how you have been able to move forward from them.

🔔 Please subscribe for more episodes of Ask the Betrayed and Ask the Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube) for weekly conversations that bring truth, guidance, and hope to couples navigating betrayal recovery.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

When infidelity shatters a relationship, recovery doesn't fail because of one event—it stops because of the traps that keep couples' relational recovery stuck.

In this powerful episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae expose the seven relational pitfalls that derail healing after betrayal.

They share raw personal stories, real client examples, and the emotional truth behind why so many couples can't move forward—even when they want to. 

Whether you're the betrayed partner trying to make sense of the chaos, or the unfaithful partner trying to rebuild trust, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a roadmap to relational recovery.

💬 You'll Learn: ✅ Why blame and resentment destroy recovery after infidelity ✅ How unfaithful partners unknowingly prolong their betrayed partner's trauma ✅ The truth about shame, defensiveness, and emotional abandonment ✅ How to recognize when you're sabotaging your own healing ✅ Practical steps for rebuilding relational trust and accountability

If you're ready to stop the cycle of pain and finally start healing—together—this episode will change how you see recovery after betrayal.

💬 Please comment below if any of these 7 traps have appeared in your recovery - let the community know which ones, how they affected your recovery and if & how you have been able to move forward from them.

🔔 Please subscribe for more episodes of Ask the Betrayed and Ask the Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube) for weekly conversations that bring truth, guidance, and hope to couples navigating betrayal recovery.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

Have you ever felt like no matter how loudly you speak, your unfaithful partner still doesn't hear you? In this episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore what it means for betrayed partners to find their voice after infidelity.

👉 Betrayal trauma often silences partners. Years of being dismissed, gaslit, or ignored leave many questioning whether their truth even matters. Healing begins when you learn to reclaim your voice, set boundaries, and trust your own reality again.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why betrayed partners often feel silenced or talked out of their truth

✅ The difference between just "being heard" and actually being understood

✅ How to use your voice in healthy, empowering ways during recovery

✅ Common pitfalls (like overexplaining, begging, or shutting down)

✅ Tools to build confidence, self-trust, and effective boundaries

Whether you're early in your healing or rebuilding long after discovery, this conversation offers hope, insight, and practical strategies for speaking your truth with strength and clarity.

💬 What about you? Have you struggled to be heard after betrayal? Comment below—we'd love to hear your story.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Ask the Betrayed and Ask the Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube) for weekly conversations that bring truth, guidance, and hope to couples navigating betrayal recovery.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

Are they truly sorry—or just sorry they got caught? In this powerful episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae unpack one of the most pressing questions betrayed partners ask after infidelity. Together, they explore how to recognize genuine remorse versus surface-level regret and why that distinction matters for recovery.

You'll learn:

✅ The difference between remorse (healing-focused) and regret (self-focused resentment). ✅ How betrayed partners can sense the difference between "I'm sorry for what I did to you" and "I'm sorry I feel bad." ✅ Why understanding betrayal trauma is essential for the unfaithful to rebuild trust. ✅ The role of transparency and living amends in proving change over time. ✅ Practical examples of what real accountability and empathy look like in daily life.

This episode blends professional insights, real client stories, and lived experience to give both betrayed and unfaithful partners a roadmap toward clarity, safety, and lasting repair.

💡 Key takeaway: Saying "I'm sorry" is not enough. True remorse is shown in action—through transparency, empathy, and a long-term commitment to healing both yourself and your relationship.

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

Feeling stuck after betrayal? You're not alone. In this episode of Ask the Betrayed, we unpack what it really means to feel "stuck" in your healing journey—why it happens, what it looks like, and most importantly, how to move forward.

We explore:

✅ The signs of being stuck (numbness, looping thoughts, discouragement, going through the motions) ✅ Why trauma can trap betrayed partners in cycles of sadness, worry, and hypervigilance ✅ Practical tools for getting unstuck, including the Feelings Body exercise, journaling prompts, body-based movement, and creative outlets ✅ How to shift from passively enduring emotions to actively using them as indicators of what needs attention ✅ The role of community, support groups, and therapy in helping you break out of isolation and reclaim your power

Whether you're early in recovery or later in the process, getting "unstuck" is possible. Healing after betrayal trauma takes awareness, action, and support—and we'll show you practical steps you can take today.

✨ Download the "Feelings Body" diagram at www.HopeForUs.com/Downloads

👉 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Ask the Betrayed.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore a new skill in betrayal recovery — compartmentalization. While extremely harmful to the Betrayed when used by the Unfaithful, compartmentalization can also become a powerful ally in healing when a Betrayed Partner uses it in an intentional way.

You'll discover:

• The difference between healthy compartmentalization and harmful  avoidance • How to use compartmentalization to regulate emotions and show up as your best self, for yourself and your relationship • Practical and powerful strategies  to calm your trauma brain • How compartmentalization can protect both your well-being and your relationships after betrayal

Whether you're a betrayed partner or supporting someone through betrayal trauma, this episode offers compassionate, real-life examples and actionable tools to reclaim your mental space and emotional balance.

Timestamps: 0:00 – Redefining compartmentalization 4:12 – How betrayal shapes our view of compartmentalization 9:05 – Emotional regulation tools to pair with compartmentalization 14:45 – Practical exercises to set worries aside 20:30 – Reducing relationship anxiety through mindful choices 28:10 – Compartmentalization vs. avoidance: knowing the difference

🎧 Listen now and learn how to make compartmentalization your superpower in the journey toward healing!

💬 👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below! 👍 If this episode resonates, like and subscribe for more support on your healing journey. 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae share a powerful new approach to boundaries—one that moves beyond rules and lines in the sand.

Instead of focusing on "do this, don't do that," this episode helps betrayed partners: ✅ Reclaim their power and choice after betrayal ✅ Create boundaries that protect and empower ✅ Learn how to respond instead of react to triggers ✅ Understand the difference between values-aligned boundaries and reactive "walls" ✅ Break free from settling for crumbs and start designing the life they truly want

You'll hear real stories, practical exercises, and the "hedge of thorns" visualization that has transformed recovery for betrayed partners everywhere.

You can download the Trigger Resolution / Boundary Setting Process here: https://www.askthebetrayed.com/downloads Or go to AskTheBetrayed.com and click on the "Downloads" menu.

💬 Please leave a Comment below: Which boundary has been most life-changing for you? 👍 If this episode resonates, like and subscribe for more support on your healing journey. 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected])

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore the hidden triggers that blindside betrayed partners during recovery. From weddings and social gatherings to seemingly small moments like TV shows, public spaces, and holidays—unexpected triggers can shake your sense of stability.

They don't just talk about the problems—they give you practical tools and real-life strategies to help you reclaim your power in these moments.

🔎 In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✅ How to build your own "emotional first aid kit" for challenging events ✅ The importance of anchor statements and somatic tools ✅ How to create exit strategies for triggering environments ✅ Ways to reframe Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and more ✅ Healthy ways to process anger without harming yourself or others ✅ Tips for managing common relational triggers like phones, alcohol, and public settings

This conversation is packed with real stories, practical interventions, and compassionate guidance to help you stay grounded—especially when life throws the unexpected your way.

💬 In the Comments, please tell us what hidden triggers surprised you in your healing journey?

🔔 Please subscribe for new episodes

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae dive into the third stage of betrayal trauma recovery: Post-Traumatic Growth - also known as the Reconnection Phase.

This is the season when survivors begin shifting from survival to strength. Sharon and Rae unpack what it means to reconnect not only with others - but also with your truest self. You'll hear personal stories, insights, and practical encouragement for stepping out of safety - your "protection mode" - and into empowered living.

Together, they explore:

• What post-traumatic growth really looks like • How to move from "functional dissociation" to embodied living • Why reconnecting with yourself is essential (even if reconnection with your partner isn't possible) • How your personal boundaries free you to connect with yourself again • How to do this bravely and within your own values • How anniversaries can mark transformational milestones

This stage is about moving forward with clarity, courage, and renewed purpose. Whether you're months or years into your healing, this conversation will inspire you to claim your voice and re-enter the story of your own life.

🔔 Please subscribe for new episodes

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please press the Like button and Leave Your Comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: [email protected] ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: [email protected] )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

Grief after infidelity isn't just about the loss of trust—it's about mourning the relationship you thought you had.

In this powerful episode, we explore the hidden terrain of betrayal trauma grief and mourning that betrayed partners navigate as they continue their journey toward healing and wholeness. For many betrayed partners, the emotional pain is disorienting, isolating, and often invisible to others. And for unfaithful partners, understanding their Betrayed's grief is essential if real healing is ever going to happen.

This episode will help you identify the stages of grief that follow betrayal, understand why they matter, and begin to make sense of your emotional landscape.   In this episode, you'll learn: • Why grief is a normal and necessary response to betrayal trauma • How mourning the loss of what you believed was true is part of healing • What "ambiguous grief" is and what that means for your healing • The ways unacknowledged grief can sabotage relational repair • What both partners can do to make space for grieving without getting    stuck • How to begin healing in a way that honors—not bypasses—your pain   🔔 Please subscribe for new episodes

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

📺 For more helpful content, we invite you to explore our companion show: Ask The Unfaithful (@AskTheUnfaithful on YouTube)

👇 We'd love to hear what resonated most for you - or you can ask your question for a future episode. Please leave your comment below!

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.