The Healing Power of Honesty:

Trauma, Truth, and Relationship Repair

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis take a deep dive into the role of honesty in trauma recovery and relational healing. The conversation begins with MaryAnn recounting a personal traumatic experience of being held at gunpoint and how it changed her sense of safety and interaction with the world. Together, they explore how honesty with ourselves and others helps reprocess trauma, fosters emotional congruence, and sets the foundation for mental and relational well-being.

The discussion expands to topics such as the danger of minimizing experiences, the impact of secrets in relationships, the importance of safe disclosure, and the difference between radical honesty and emotionally responsible honesty. They address the nuances of when, how, and why to tell the truth—whether in moments of betrayal or in everyday interactions. Drawing from clinical experience and research, the hosts emphasize that honesty isn’t just about facts—it’s a healing process that reconnects us to ourselves and to those we love.

Key Themes Covered:

Trauma and the importance of finding safety after harm

Emotional congruence and the danger of self-deception

How dishonesty (even subtle) erodes trust and mental health

The role of disclosure in healing betrayal trauma

How to be honest without overwhelming or harming others

The neuroscience of honesty and emotional regulation

Rupture and repair as foundations for resilient relationships

Balancing rigorous honesty with emotional responsibility

Resources Mentioned:

Quote by David Viscott:

Book: Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody

Explores how early life experiences shape adult behavior and emotional health.

Book: Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

Highlights how honesty activates the prefrontal cortex, aiding in emotional regulation and reducing compulsive behavior.

12-Step Traditions:

Emphasis on "rigorous honesty" and the adage “We are as sick as our secrets.”

Peggy Vaughan’s Research on Disclosure:

Found that 86% of couples who openly talk about the details of betrayal stay together, compared to 55% who do not.

Clinical concept: Rupture and Repair

Healthy relationships aren't free of conflict; they thrive through honest repair.

Therapeutic concept: Congruence (from Carl Rogers)

Healing begins when our internal experience aligns with our external expression.

Story from Patrick Carnes:

A family laughing about a traumatic event illustrates the confusion caused by cognitive dissonance and emotional invalidation.

Call to Action:

Where might you be avoiding honesty with yourself or someone close to you?

Are there unspoken truths or emotions that need a safe space to be acknowledged?

Consider journaling or speaking with a trusted person or therapist about your experience.

Being honest doesn’t mean being harsh—it means being real. And in that reality, healing begins.