Sexual Fantasies:

Healthy Intimacy or Hidden Escape?

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis take a deep dive into the complex and often misunderstood world of sexual fantasy. Together, they explore important questions: When are fantasies healthy? When do they become problematic?

Dr. Skinner explains that fantasy is a normal part of human sexuality and even essential for arousal, but emphasizes the importance of safety, trust, and presence in a relationship. MaryAnn highlights how childhood experiences, shame, and unmet needs can shape fantasies, sometimes leading them to serve as escapes from pain rather than tools for connection.

The conversation covers:

The difference between healthy and unhealthy fantasy.

How betrayal trauma complicates trust when it comes to fantasy.

Why understanding your “arousal template” matters.

How vulnerability and communication can turn fantasy into a tool for intimacy rather than a source of division.

The risks of sexual shame and the importance of creating safe, nonjudgmental dialogue.

Whether you’re curious about your own fantasies, navigating betrayal trauma, or seeking to strengthen intimacy with your partner, this episode provides a thoughtful, compassionate perspective on one of the most vulnerable aspects of human sexuality.

The Couple’s Guide to Intimacy: How Sexual Reintegration Therapy Can Help Your Relationship Heal – Drs. Bill & Ginger Bercaw

Mating in Captivity – Esther Perel

The Seven Types of Intimacy in Action (upcoming book) – Dr. Kevin Skinner

IITAP (International Institute of Trauma & Addiction Professionals) – https://www.iitap.com

For questions or topic suggestions: [email protected]

The Human Intimacy Podcast #80:

The Hidden Cost of Secrets in Relationships

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, unpack the complex world of secrecy in relationships—why we keep secrets, what it does to us internally, and how it affects intimacy with our partners.

They explore the hidden weight of secrecy and self-deception, showing how carrying secrets impacts not only relationships but also personal health, emotional well-being, and even the body. The conversation highlights:

The psychology of secrecy — why people hide, lie, or deceive in the name of "protection."

The toll on the body and mind — from anxiety and ulcers to exhaustion and emotional distance.

The role of shame and fear — how vulnerability and the fear of rejection fuel secrecy.

The ripple effects on intimacy — why hiding erodes trust and connection over time.

Steps toward healing — the importance of accountability, support networks, and learning to share in safe, structured ways.

Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn also discuss research insights (Pennebaker, Levine, Carnes, Lemke, Brown) and real-world examples, weaving in practical tools for couples and individuals navigating the painful terrain of secrecy and betrayal.

Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of why secrecy is so destructive—and hopeful strategies for stepping into authenticity, vulnerability, and healthier intimacy.

Dr. James Pennebaker – Research on expressive writing and the health costs of secrecy (Opening Up by Writing It Down).

Dr. Peter Levine – In an Unspoken Voice (on the physiology of unprocessed emotions).

Dr. Patrick Carnes – Foundational work on addiction and recovery; the impact of secrets and lack of structure in relapse.

Dr. Anna Lembke – Dopamine Nation (on honesty, vulnerability, and the risks of overexposure).

Dr. Brené Brown – Daring Greatly (on vulnerability, shame resilience, and “spotlighting”).

Thich Nhat Hanh – Teachings on deep listening and authentic presence in relationships.

It Didn’t Start With You:

Breaking Generational Patterns

and Healing the Past

Summary:

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the powerful concept of generational patterns and how our family history shapes our lives. Drawing on insights from Mark Wolynn’s book It Didn’t Start With You, they discuss the science of epigenetics, the influence of cellular memories, and how unresolved trauma, behaviors, and strengths can be passed down for generations. Through personal stories and client experiences, they show how mapping a genogram can reveal inherited patterns in health, relationships, addictions, and emotional responses. Most importantly, they share practical ways to break unhealthy cycles, embrace healthy habits, and become the “chain breaker” for future generations.

Listeners will come away with tools for self-discovery, compassion toward their family history, and actionable steps to transform inherited patterns into a healthier legacy.

Suggested Resources:

Book: It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle – Mark Wolynn

Book: The Body Keeps the Score – Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Website: FamilySearch.org – Free tool for building family trees and discovering ancestral stories

Article: “What is Epigenetics?” – CDC resource

Tool: Genogram templates (available through many therapy and family mapping resources)

Practice: Daily mindfulness or meditation for emotional regulation

Exercise: Create your own genogram noting health history, relationships, addictions, and major life events across at least three generations

Rebuilding Us: Turning Conflict into Connection

Podcast Summary:

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive deep into the essential relationship cycle of rupture, repair, responsibility, and rebuilding. Drawing from their personal experiences and clinical work, they explore how every relationship inevitably encounters conflict—not because something is wrong, but because two different people are sharing life together.

Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn emphasize that conflict is often not about the surface issue (like toothpaste or hair gel), but rather unmet expectations, unspoken needs, and internal narratives we build over time. Using real-life stories and examples, they explore how couples can move beyond blame and defensiveness by embracing self-awareness, honest communication, and compassion—for themselves and each other.

The episode also introduces the powerful concept of the “we problem,” encouraging couples to see relational issues as shared challenges rather than individual failures. Through intentional communication, ownership of feelings, and regular expressions of gratitude, couples can strengthen their bond and build a relationship that thrives—even after betrayal or rupture.

Whether you’re newly married or have been together for decades, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and hopefor anyone who wants deeper, healthier, more resilient intimacy.

Key Concepts Covered:

Rupture is inevitable, but repair is a learned skill.

What we fight about is often not the real issue—it’s unmet expectations or a need to feel heard and valued.

True intimacy requires vulnerability, humility, and responsibility.

“I” statements are powerful tools for conflict resolution.

Shifting from a “you vs. me” to a “we” mindset transforms how couples face challenges.

Emotional honesty means recognizing your own triggers before projecting onto your partner.

Gratitude and daily appreciation can reignite positive connection.

Healing after betrayal demands both partners do their inner work while also working on the relationship.

Recommended Resources Mentioned:

Books:

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman (Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse framework)

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss (Empathy in high-stakes communication)

Facing the Shadow by Dr. Patrick Carnes (betrayal and relationship recovery)

Courses & Tools:

HumanIntimacy.com — Online course: How to Communicate When You Don’t Know What to Say (Dr. Kevin Skinner)

Reclaim: Healing from Betrayal and Rebuilding Your Life – Podcast and course

Therapeutic Concepts Referenced:

Gottman’s Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, Stonewalling

Positive and Negative Sentiment Override (Dr. John Gottman)

“We problems” vs. individual blame

Emotional regulation and co-regulation

Self-awareness before communication

Reflection Questions for Listeners:

What’s a recurring conflict in your relationship that might be about something deeper than the surface issue?

How do you typically respond when you feel misunderstood—and what might a more self-aware response look like?

What are three things your partner has done this week that you could show appreciation for?

Finding the Why:

The Courage to Understand Betrayal

When betrayal strikes, one of the first—and most painful—questions we ask is: Why?

In this weeks episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the emotional terrain beneath the question “Why?”—from both sides of betrayal. Whether you're the partner who was betrayed or the one who acted out, this conversation invites you to pause, look inward, and begin to understand the deeper patterns, pain, and unmet needs that often lie beneath surface behaviors.

This episode is about more than answers. It’s about reclaiming clarity, self-awareness, and hope. It’s about finding the courage to ask honest questions—and the grace to explore them without judgment.

The “Why” Is Often Complex:

Understanding ≠ Justifying:

Betrayed Partners Need to Know Why:

Anger as a Messenger:

The Power of Insight:

The “Five Whys” Technique:

The Body Remembers:

Self-Compassion Matters:

Journaling Prompts for Insight:

“What was I feeling right before I acted out or shut down?”

“What does this experience say about me—and is that really true?”

“What need was I trying to meet?”

The 5 Whys Exercise (inspired by Toyota problem-solving method)

Morning Pages – from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Books Referenced:

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Willpower by Dr. Roy Baumeister

Mindsight by Dr. Daniel Siegel

Understanding your why—whether you’re the one healing from betrayal or the one seeking to make things right—is an act of courage. It’s not about blame. It’s about seeing clearly, feeling deeply, and choosing to heal with intention.

For more information about Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn’s work please visit HumanIntimacy.com

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.

Facing Fear:

What’s Holding You Back from Healing and Connection?

In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn discuss a powerful and universal emotion—fear—and how it shapes our decisions, relationships, and personal growth. From the fear of being seen, rejected, or betrayed, to the fear of facing consequences or being alone, fear often acts as both a protector and a prison.

Dr. Skinner opens with a personal story from his teenage years rogueing potatoes—a vivid metaphor for rooting out danger before it spreads. Together, he and MaryAnn explore how fear manifests physiologically through the autonomic nervous system, how it can become embedded through trauma or cultural messaging, and how it often drives behavior unconsciously.

The episode dives into:

How fear shows up in relationships after betrayal

Why deception, gaslighting, and shame are often rooted in fear

How childhood and intergenerational fear shape our worldview

The difference between healthy fear and chronic fear

The importance of boundaries as a path to safety and freedom

A practical process for confronting fear: Find it, Face it, Flip it

The value of fear as a gift that invites curiosity and awareness

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own fears, identify where they might be living in survival mode, and consider what conversations or choices fear might be preventing them from having.

Polyvagal Theory – Dr. Stephen Porges: Understanding how the autonomic nervous system influences our sense of safety and connection.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Dr. Richard Schwartz: Fear as a protector part within us that seeks to avoid pain or danger.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – Dr. Sue Johnson: How anxiety and fear impact attachment bonds and communication.

Survivor’s Club by Ben Sherwood – A book on resilience and how people survive traumatic events like plane crashes.

Recovery Capital Framework – Key elements for long-term recovery from addiction and compulsive behaviors.

12-Step Groups – The value of community, accountability, and confronting fear in healing from addiction or betrayal.

Trauma-Informed Therapy – When fear is rooted in unresolved trauma, professional support can be vital for recovery.

The Mask and the Mirror:

Seeing Yourself Clearly After Betrayal

In this raw and revealing conversation, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore what happens when betrayal, addiction, secrecy, or early trauma fracture your sense of identity. Whether you’re a betrayed partner or someone who has acted out, this episode is an invitation to step out from behind the mask and face the mirror—to look honestly and compassionately at who you are, how you’ve been shaped, and who you’re becoming.

Together, Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn unpack how false identities are built from shame, secrecy, survival roles, or social expectations—and how reclaiming your identity starts by connecting with your core worth. They explore how trauma disrupts identity formation, why authenticity is essential for intimacy, and how rediscovering your core self is key to lasting healing.

You’ll hear personal stories, including a moment of vulnerability from MaryAnn about holding a sign that read “Porn hurt me,” and reflections on what it means to be seen, valued, and known—without hiding.

Whether you feel lost in who you’ve become or you’re just beginning to rediscover who you really are, this episode is a guidepost to help you move forward with clarity, courage, and compassion.

Identity loss after secrecy, betrayal, or compulsive behaviors

How early trauma and sexual exposure can disrupt self-identity

The difference between false self and authentic self

Why intimacy requires honesty and congruence

Coupleship identity before and after betrayal

Core beliefs like “I’m not enough” and their influence on behavior

The role of neuroplasticity in healing identity (Joe Dispenza)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the concept of core self

The challenge of letting go of survival-based roles or secondary gains

How to begin reclaiming and rewriting your identity

A practical reflection exercise to uncover who you are today

Joe Dispenza – On autopilot living and the science of change

Quote referenced: “90 to 95% of what we do is on autopilot.”

Key concept: neuroplasticity and habit stacking in identity transformation

Brené Brown – On shame, secrecy, and vulnerability

Quote: “Shame thrives in secrecy, silence, and judgment.”

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Exploring the parts of self

Discussion of “core self” vs. protective parts shaped by trauma

Barna Research (2016) – On changing cultural attitudes toward pornography

Mentioned study: Teens reported it was more morally wrong to not recycle than to watch porn

Patrick Carnes, Don’t Call It Love

Cited research on identity shifts post-recovery

Key insight: Sober individuals often look back on their past selves with disdain due to identity incongruence

Title: "The Mask and the Mirror"

Draw or describe two masks:

The mask you show the world

The mask you wear internally

If you’re spiritually inclined, consider a third:

How does your Higher Power see you?

Journal Prompt:

Who am I without secrecy or shame?

What is one belief I’ve carried about myself that no longer serves me?

If I fully embraced my worth, how would I see myself differently?

Bonus Question:

How did betrayal or secrecy shift my identity—and how do I want to reclaim it?

In this powerful and emotionally rich episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis shift the focus from trauma to transformation. While past episodes have explored the symptoms of post-traumatic stress following betrayal, this conversation is all about post-traumatic growth—the process of finding meaning, strength, and purpose through adversity.

MaryAnn shares her personal journey from betrayal and pain to advocacy and healing, culminating in a major Supreme Court ruling protecting children online—an experience that represents a full-circle moment in her growth process. The discussion weaves in key psychological theories, including Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, and Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset, all while grounding the conversation in the realities of lived experience.

Listeners will be inspired to see their own hardships not as dead ends but as turning points—opportunities to grow, to give back, and to reclaim a sense of self and connection.

Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Window of Tolerance by Dr. Dan Siegel

12-Step Programs

Crumbaugh and Maholick’s Work on Existential Meaning

Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton

Learn more @ https://www.humanintimacy.com/pages/home?preview=true

The Disclosure Process:

When Honesty Opens the Door to Healing

Episode Summary:

In this deeply compassionate and informative episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore one of the most difficult but essential stages in healing from betrayal trauma—the disclosure process. Beginning with the devastation of discovery (D-Day), they walk listeners through the emotional aftermath, the common patterns of staggered and trickle disclosure, and the powerful, structured process of a formal therapeutic disclosure. They explain how this process—consisting of a disclosure statement, an impact letter, and an emotional restitution letter—can move couples toward clarity, trust, and reconnection when handled with care and preparation.

Dr. Skinner shares research insights from Jennifer Schneider and Peggy Vaughan, emphasizing the high percentage of couples who found healing and stability after going through a formal disclosure. The conversation also highlights when disclosure is not appropriate—particularly when divorce is imminent or used for legal leverage.

Whether you’re navigating betrayal trauma or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation, hope, and practical guidance for one of the hardest conversations a couple can have.

Resources Mentioned:

Formal Therapeutic Disclosure Process

Step 1: Full behavioral disclosure facilitated by therapists

Step 2: Impact Letter from the betrayed partner

Step 3: Emotional Restitution Letter from the partner who acted out

Research Cited:

Dr. Jennifer Schneider – Found 90–93% of participants who completed a disclosure were glad they did

Dr. Peggy Vaughan – Found 86% of couples who discussed the details of infidelity were still together, compared to 55% who did not

Key Terms Defined:

Staggered Disclosure

Trickle Disclosure

Shock vs. Stealth Discovery

Safety Seeking Behavior

Locus of Control

Zeigarnik Effect (the mind’s tendency to fixate on incomplete stories)

Related Courses by Dr. Skinner at Human Intimacy:

Building Boundaries After Betrayal

Couple Communication and Reflective Listening

How to Communicate When You Don’t Know What to Say