Rise: Hope and Healing Podcast

Boundaries, Bottom Lines and Triggers: What you Need to Know After Betrayal with Kris Cristiano (Rise Season 2, Episode 14)

Episode Summary
What are boundaries—really? And why do they feel so hard to get right after betrayal?
In this episode, Rise hostess MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT sits  down with Kristin Kristiano, LCSW, CSAT to unpack the confusion around boundaries—what they are, what they’re not, and why so many attempts at “setting boundaries” actually create more disconnection.
We explore the critical shift from trying to control someone else to creating safety within yourself, how to identify your bottom lines, and what it looks like to hold boundaries when you’re triggered.
This conversation brings clarity, validation, and a grounded path forward for anyone navigating betrayal trauma.
In This Episode they Address:
What boundaries actually are (and what they’re not)
The difference between requests vs. boundaries
Boundaries and child development
Differences between prescriptive vs. adaptive boundaries
Why control leads to resistance in relationships
How to shift from controlling behaviors → self-protection
Understanding bottom lines and non-negotiables
When a relationship may no longer feel safe to continue
The difference between being triggered vs. something being wrong
How to regulate before responding
Rebuilding self-trust by listening to your body
Key Takeaway
Boundaries are not about changing someone else—they are about creating safety for yourself and learning to trust your own voice again.
Listener Invitation
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who may need support in their healing journey.
Check us out @youtube.com/human-intimacy
Follow Rise: Hope & Healing After Sexual Betrayal for more conversations that help you rebuild trust, reclaim your voice, and find healing after betrayal.
Remember: Self-trust is rebuilt by listening inward, not controlling outward

Boundaries 101: From Chaos to Clarity with Jennifer Johnson (Rise Season 2, Episode 13)

Stepping into one of the most requested—and misunderstood—topics: Boundaries, in this episode, Jennifer Johnson CMHC, CSAT, CPTT and MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT break down what boundaries actually are, what they aren’t, and why they can feel so difficult—especially after betrayal.
What Boundaries Are (And Aren’t)
What Boundaries Are Not
Punishment
Control
Ultimatums
What Boundaries Actually Are
Boundaries are about creating emotional safety for you.
It’s not about controlling them—it’s about taking care of you.
Boundaries vs. Rules
Rules Focus on Them
“You need to stop…”“You have to…”
Boundaries Focus on You
“If this happens, this is what I will do.”
This shift moves you from:
Powerless → Empowered
Reactive → Grounded
Why Boundaries Feel So Hard
Common Trauma Responses
After betrayal, it’s normal to:
Feel frozen or powerless
Swing from no boundaries → extreme boundaries
Confuse control with safety
These are trauma responses—not failures.
The “All or Nothing” Trap
What Many People Assume
Boundaries only look like:
Separation
Sleeping apart
Divorce
What Boundaries Can Actually Look Like
Taking space
Going for a walk
Pausing before responding
Reaching out for support
Boundaries create safety—not punishment or forced distance.
The Key to Boundaries That Hold: Your “Why”
Without a Why
Boundaries feel inconsistent
You second-guess yourself
They often collapse
With a Clear Why
You feel grounded
You stay consistent
Communication becomes more effective
Understanding:
What triggered you
Why it matters
What you need
…creates sustainable boundaries.
Boundaries Are Internal Work
What Boundaries Really Do
Reclaim your voice
Clarify your needs
Restore a sense of control
After betrayal, boundaries become a way to say:
“I choose how I take care of me.”
If Boundaries Feel Hard
A Gentle Reminder
This is normal
This is a process
You don’t have to do it perfectly
Boundaries can feel especially difficult when you still want:
Connection
Safety
Repair
You’re not doing it wrong—you’re learning something new.
What’s Coming Next
This episode begins a deeper series on:
Bottom Lines and Safety vs. Punitive Control
Boundaries Abandonment and Attachment 
Holding Boundaries when the Other Person Pushes Back
When Boundaries Lead to Relationship Change
Share & Connect
If this episode helped you:
Share it with someone who needs support
Leave a review
Watch on our Human Intimacy YouTube channel
Our goal is to help as many people as possible find hope, clarity, and healing.

The Data of Devastation: Early Insights from the Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale (Rise Season 2, Episode 12)

The Data of Devastation: Early Insights from the GABIS
In this solo episode, betrayal trauma expert and host MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT,
 shares early findings from the Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale (GABIS)—drawing directly from the voices and lived experiences of listeners in this community.
This is the data of devastation.
Not just numbers—but real accounts of grief, identity loss, and the unraveling of reality after sexual betrayal.
Because research in this area is limited, these listener-informed insights offer a rare and powerful look at what betrayal trauma actually takes—from a person’s sense of self, safety, and connection.
Be sure to check out this episode @youtube.com/Human-Intimacy to view the data charts and slides.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
MaryAnn walks through key early insights from survey responses, including:
Why staggered disclosure is more common—and more damaging—than most people realize
The reality that many betrayed partners are left to discover the truth on their own
The sharp drop in identity and self-trust after betrayal
The most common and painful forms of grief reported by listeners
Why so many people are suffering in silence
Where support is helping—and where it’s falling short
The often-overlooked physical and health impacts of betrayal trauma
One of the Most Striking Patterns
Across responses, one theme rose above the rest:
Loss.
Not just loss of a relationship—but loss of:
identity
safety
trust
reality
and the future that once felt certain
As one listener shared:
“It’s the decades of never being truly known… the invisibility.”
Why This Conversation Matters
Grief after betrayal is often misunderstood—or missed entirely.
This episode brings language to that experience, helping listeners recognize:
This is grief
This is trauma
And this response makes sense
Listen If You’re…
Trying to make sense of your emotional response after betrayal
Feeling like you’ve “lost yourself”
Wondering why this feels so much bigger than just the betrayal
Looking for validation, language, and understanding
Explore the Full Data
This episode highlights key findings—but there is more to the story.
Watch the full podcast with visuals: YouTube.com/human-intimacy
Contribute your experience to the ongoing survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Grief-scale
Access the full presentation from the Human Intimacy Conference 
A Final Word
If this episode resonates with you:
You are not overreacting.You are not alone.
What you’re experiencing is real—and it deserves care, support, and understanding.
If this episode helped you, consider sharing it.Someone else may need to hear that they’re not alone in this.
And as always—take care of yourself.
 

Why Betrayal Gets Worse After Discovery (What No One Tells You) with Darrell Brazell (Rise Season 2, Episode 11)

Why Betrayal Gets Worse After Discovery (What No One Tells You)
What actually happens after betrayal is discovered?
In this episode of Rise: Hope & Healing After Sexual Betrayal, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, and expert Pastor Darrell Brazell, PSAP, unpack the exposure phase (D-Day) using Dr. Omar Minwalla’s 22 Rooms of Betrayal framework.
They discuss why many partners experience increased confusion, trauma, and emotional harm after discovery, not less—and how integrity abuse behaviors play a central role and can intensify during this time. 
 
This episode includes discussion of sexual betrayal, deception, intentional abuse behaiors and betrayal trauma, which may be activating for some listeners—especially those early in their healing journey. Please listen gently and take care of yourself as you go. You’re encouraged to pause, take breaks, or return at another time if needed. You are always in control of how and when you engage with this content.
 
What’s Discussed
This conversation walks through common dynamics that emerge after discovery, including patterns like gaslighting, minimization, blame-shifting, and ongoing deception. It also highlights the painful mismatch many couples experience—where one partner is just beginning to process the truth while the other may already be in a very different place emotionally.
The episode also touches on staggered disclosure (or “trickle truth”) and why it can be especially damaging, as well as the continued patterns that often show up even after recovery has begun.
Recovery Realities
MaryAnn and Darrell discuss why healing doesn’t end with discovery or even disclosure. Trust remains fragile, trauma responses can persist, and harmful patterns may continue without intentional change. The conversation emphasizes that healing takes time, and there is no quick or linear path forward.
Closing Perspective
For many betrayed partners, discovery can bring both pain and clarity—helping make sense of things that never quite added up before. This episode offers language and insight into these experiences, reminding listeners that what they’re feeling is valid and that they are not alone.
Key Takeaways
Betrayal trauma is complex and long-lasting
Integrity abuse behaviors often intensify after discovery
Staggered disclosure significantly increases trauma
Healing requires consistent accountability, not quick fixes
Safety and trust are rebuilt slowly over time
Resources
Human Intimacy Companion Course: humanintimacy.com
IAB Resource List
Dr. Omar Minwalla’s “22 Rooms of Betrayal” resources
The Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale (GABIS) survey
Listener Support
If this episode resonates with you:
Share it with someone who may feel alone
Follow the podcast for ongoing support
Reach out for professional or community care
 
Primary Keywords:betrayal trauma, sexual betrayal recovery, integrity abuse, gaslighting in relationships, D-Day discovery, partner betrayal healing, disclosure trauma, emotional abuse patterns, relationship recovery after infidelity, Dr. Omar Minwalla, 

Grieving Lost Reality:Gaslighting, Abuse, and Intentional Deception with Darrell Brazell (Rise Season 2, Episode 10)

In this powerful continuation of last week’s conversation, MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT is joined again by Pastor Daryl Brazell, PSAP  where they unpack the deeper dynamics of deception in sexual betrayal, based on Darrell's work with Dr. Omar Minwalla. 
Together they expand on Minwalla's secret sexual basement metaphor, explore how secrecy, shame, and manipulation create an “intentionally manipulated reality”—a gaslighting dynamic that can leave partners questioning their instincts, their memories, and even their connection to their own intuition.
Daryl shares a visual model originally developed by Dr. Omar Minwalla, which illustrates the painful forced choice many betrayed partners experience: believing their partner’s words or trusting what their body and gut already know.
The conversation also introduces the concept of Integrity Abuse Behaviors—patterns of deception and manipulation that maintain the secret sexual life at the expense of the partner’s emotional and psychological safety.
Listeners will hear:
How gaslighting and manipulated reality erode a partner’s trust in their own instincts
The “Zero Factor”: how toxic shame and hidden secrets undermine intimacy and connection
Why betrayed partners often feel trapped between their gut intuition and attachment bond
The three phases of deceptive sexuality as identified by Dr. Omar Minwalla
Covert Phase – when the secret life is hidden
Exposure Phase – discovery and disclosure
Symptom Progression Phase – the long aftermath after discovery
Common Integrity Abuse behaviors such as lying by omission, blame shifting, manipulation, and withholding critical information
Why many betrayed partners feel isolated, confused, and unsure who or what to trust
How naming and understanding these patterns helps begin the grief and healing process
MayAnn also discusses why grief is an essential part of recovery. When we finally have language for what happened, the brain can begin integrating the emotional experience with a coherent story—allowing healing to begin.
If this conversation brings up strong emotions, we encourage you to pause, journal, or reach out to a trusted support person. Naming these experiences can be painful—but it is also an important step toward reclaiming clarity and healing.
Resources Mentioned
The Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale (GABIS) survey
Human Intimacy Conference recordings available at HumanIntimacy.com
Integrity Abuse Behavior lists and recovery resources referenced by Pastor Brazell
Share the Podcast
If this episode resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support on their healing journey. No one should have to navigate betrayal trauma alone.

The Hidden Damage of Betrayal: The Secret Sexual Basement & the Grief We Don’t See with Pastor Darrell Brazell (Rise Season 2, Episode 9)

The Hidden Damage of Betrayal: The Secret Sexual Basement & the Grief We Don’t See with Darrell Brazell, PSAP (Rise Season 2, Episode 9)
Show Notes
In this powerful conversation, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, welcomes pastor, recovery leader, and longtime colleague Darrel Brazell PSAP, to explore one of the most validating frameworks for understanding betrayal trauma: Dr. Omar Minwalla’s “Secret Sexual Basement.”
Many betrayed partners sense that something is wrong long before the truth is revealed. They smell the “toxic fumes,” feel the disconnection, and question their own instincts—often because years of gaslighting have forced them to doubt what their body and intuition already know.
In this episode, MaryAnn and Darrel unpack why betrayal trauma creates such profound grief—and why that grief often extends far beyond the behaviors themselves.
Together they explore how deception erodes trust not only in a partner, but in one’s own gut, voice, health, identity, and even faith.
If you’ve ever wondered why betrayal feels so disorienting and devastating, this conversation will help put words to experiences many partners struggle to explain.
In This Episode
The Secret Sexual Basement metaphorHow hidden sexual behavior creates a toxic relational environment long before discovery.
 Intentionally Manipulated Reality (IMR)Why gaslighting forces partners into an impossible “lose–lose” decision between trusting their gut or trusting their partner.
 The “Second Brain” InjuryHow chronic deception damages the gut-brain connection and leads many partners to lose trust in their own instincts.
 Betrayal Blindness and Self-AbandonmentWhy partners often suppress what they know internally in order to maintain attachment and emotional survival.
 The physical toll of betrayal traumaHow chronic stress, suppression of emotions, and relational trauma may contribute to health issues.
 Faith and spiritual wounding after betrayalWhy many partners experience deep spiritual grief when betrayal intersects with faith, marriage covenants, and religious communities.
 Why grief work is essential for healingDarrel shares a powerful truth: those who heal well are often those who learn to grieve well.
Resources Mentioned
Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale (Survey) If you haven’t yet taken the survey, you can access the updated working link in the show notes. Your participation helps expand research on the real impacts of betrayal trauma.
Human Intimacy Conference📅 March 13–14Join clinicians with over 200 years of combined experience working with individuals struggling with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma.Use promo code 30OFF for 30% off registration.
Take Care of Yourself
This episode discusses heavy topics including trauma, gaslighting, and spiritual wounds. If this conversation stirred something inside you, consider taking a moment to care for yourself:
Drink some water Step outside, breathe deeply, take a short walkReach out for connection
Healing after betrayal is possible—and you don’t have to walk the path alone.
If this episode helped you, please:
Follow the podcast
Share it with someone who may need it
Subscribe and like on YouTube to help more partners find these resources
Together, we can continue bringing hope, validation, and healing to those navigating life after sexual betrayal.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Grief, Choice and Healing After Sexual Betrayal with Dr. Karen Strange (Rise Season 2, Episode 8)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Grief, Choice, and Healing After Sexual Betrayal with Dr. Karen Strange
Host: MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT Guest: Dr. Karen Strange, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT
MaryAnn welcomes Dr. Strange back to conclude the grief and loss series, focusing on the deeply personal and complex decision many betrayed partners face: Should I stay or should I go?, offering validation, practical guidance, and reassurance that healing is nonlinear — and that hope grows when individuals reclaim choice, safety, and support.
The episode also includes a link to a recording of the Human Intimacy Pre-Conference Q&A with Dr. Kevin Skinner, Michelle Mays, Darrell Brazell, Dr. Strange and MaryAnn as they field questions from viewers, an invitation to participate in a grief-and-loss survey addressing the limited research in this area and a preview of the upcoming Human Intimacy Conference (March 13–14, 2026).
Topics Covered
The “Stay or Go” Decision
Why this question feels urgent after betrayal
The importance of slowing down before making permanent decisions
Exceptions when immediate safety (e.g., domestic violence) requires swift action
Nervous System Regulation
Shock, rage, confusion, and disorientation as normal trauma responses
Regulating the nervous system to support rational, grounded decision-making
The Power of Choice
Reclaiming agency after betrayal
The right to choose — and the right to change your mind
Empowerment through informed, intentional decisions
Betrayal Grief vs. Death Grief
The complexity of grieving someone who is still alive
Ongoing relational ambiguity
How unresolved betrayal grief can resurface after divorce or remarriage
The Importance of Witnessing
Why grief needs compassionate support
The healing power of peer connection
The scarcity of structured resources for betrayal grief
Research on Betrayed Men
Dr. Strange’s doctoral research interviewing 11 betrayed men
The lack of research and support specifically for men
The value of creating space for underrepresented voices
Sexual Reintegration
Barriers couples face when attempting to rebuild intimacy
Emotional, relational, and trauma-related obstacles
Hope for renewed connection when healing work is intentional
Grief Exercise: Expectations vs. Reality
Identifying the gap between what was hoped for and what occurred
Naming losses clearly and concretely
Reframing hope as agency — having plans, options, and forward movement
 
ResourcesHuman Intimacy Conference Pre-Session Q&A 2/26/26
2nd Annual Online Human Intimacy ConferenceGrief After Betrayal Impact Scale
Men's Betrayal Group - send email to info@humanintimacy.com
 
 

Loss Before Grief: Rebuilding After Betrayal with Dr. Kevin Skinner (Rise Season 2, Episode 7)

Loss Before Grief: Rebuilding After BetrayalTake the Grief After Betrayal Scale
We often say “grief and loss.”
But what if it’s actually loss first — then grief?
In this episode, MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT and Dr. Kevin Skinner, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT explore the profound and often unnamed experience of loss after betrayal — and how grief emerges only after we cognitively realize what has actually been taken from us.
Because betrayal is not just trauma.
It is the loss of:
The reality you thought you were living
The identity you believed you held
Your sense of stability
Your worth
Your attachment security
The future you imagined
At first, there is shock. Survival. Chaos.
It may take months — sometimes a year or more — before the mind can say:
“This is grief.”
That cognitive realization changes everything.
Betrayal involves the loss of:
The reality you believed you were living
The partner you thought you knew
Your internal stability
Your identity
Your sense of worth
Only when the loss is named can grief begin to organize.
Naming the Pain
Without language, pain remains chaotic.MaryAnn references the German word Schmerz — deep emotional and mental anguish — capturing the soul-level rupture many betrayed partners experience.
When we can say, “I am grieving,” healing begins.
Identity Collapse & Secure Self-Attachment
Betrayal often destabilizes self-trust and worth. Healing requires:
Re-identifying personal value
Validating your emotional experience
Rebuilding trust with yourself
Securely attaching to yourself
Attachment research (Bowlby; Mikulincer & Shaver) supports this internal reorganization as part of recovery.
The Power of Trauma Narratives
Telling your story helps the brain reorganize trauma. Research by James Pennebaker shows that expressive writing reduces depressive symptoms and improves emotional integration.
Each time the story is told:
Meaning deepens
Emotional intensity shifts
Integration strengthens
The story changes because healing is occurring.
From Grief to Resilience
Grief is not a stage to bypass — it is a process to move through.
As described in grief research (Worden), healing involves:
Acknowledging the loss
Feeling the pain
Adjusting to a new reality
Reinvesting in life with meaning
Resilience grows when grief is honored — not rushed.
Resources
Grief After Betrayal Scale
Rise: Online Course 
Human Intimacy Conference (Online March 13–14) Feb Promo 30OFF, March 20OFF
https://www.humanintimacy.com
Selected References
Bowlby, Loss: Sadness and Depression
Mikulincer & Shaver, Attachment in Adulthood
Worden, Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy
Pennebaker, Opening Up
If you are navigating betrayal:
You are not weak.You are not overreacting.You are grieving.
And grief honored becomes strength reclaimed.

Grieving through Burbles, Triggers, and Trauma-Anniversaries, with Dr. Karen Strange (Rise Season 2, Episode 6)

Grieving through Burbles, Triggers, and Trauma-Anniversaries,
with Dr. Karen Strange 
Episode Summary
Grief is something every human experiences—but grief after betrayal trauma carries a unique kind of pain. In this episode, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT and Dr. Karen Strange PhD, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT continue their powerful series on grief and betrayal, exploring why healing feels messy, unpredictable, and often overwhelming.
If you’ve ever wondered why emotions hit you out of nowhere, sometimes even decades later… why you feel numb one day and furious the next… or why your body seems to remember things your mind tries to forget—this conversation will help you feel seen, validated, and less alone.
Together, they discuss the truth many betrayed partners discover: betrayal can feel like a death—not only of a relationship, but of identity, safety, and the future you thought you were building.
This episode is compassionate, raw, and deeply grounding for anyone navigating the emotional aftermath of sexual betrayal.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why grief is not linear—and why it often feels like a “squiggly mess”
How betrayal trauma mirrors the death of a relationship and the loss of reality
Why people often experience grief as confusion, powerlessness, and loss of self
What “delayed grief” is and why emotions can resurface years later
Why numbness is a normal survival response (and not a sign you’re broken)
How “trauma-versaries” can affect the body even when you don’t realize it
The importance of having your story witnessed—without someone trying to “silver line” your pain
How anger and rage can show up in grief, and how to safely discharge that energy through the body
Why acceptance is often the moment emotions begin to intensify—not disappear
A Powerful Reminder:
Grief doesn’t end. It evolves.
And healing doesn’t mean you never feel pain again—it means learning how to honor what you’ve lost, hold compassion for yourself, and create space for your story to land.
If This Episode Resonated With You…
Please like and share it with someone who may be silently carrying grief after betrayal. You are not alone, and you were never meant to heal alone.
🔗 Companion Course:
Find support and resources at humanintimacy.com
If this podcast helps you, please consider leaving a review—it helps other hurting hearts find support._________________________________________________________________________
Join Us!
Human Intimacy Conference, Online March 13 & 14, 2026 use Promo 30OFF
Check out our new Youtube channel to access all of Human Intimacy's podcasts:youtube.com/@human-intimacy________________________________________________________________________
Resources and References
Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On Death and Dying.
Kessler, D. (2019). Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief.
Perel, E. (2017). The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity.
Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly.
Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger.
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice.
Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion.
Doka, K. J. (1989). Disenfranchised Grief.
Freyd, J. J. (1996). Betrayal Trauma.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score.
Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body.
 
 

The Grief of Betrayal: Loss that No One Talks About, with Kris Cristiano (Rise Season 2, Episode 5)

Show Notes
Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal Season 2
Episode Title: The Grief of Betrayal: Loss that No One Talks About 
Healing from sexual betrayal is not something you were meant to do alone. In this episode of Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, host MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT is joined again by Kris Cristiano, LCSW, CSAT, for an honest and grounding conversation about one of the most misunderstood aspects of betrayal trauma recovery: grief.
Together, MaryAnn and Kris explore how grief is not only connected to death, but to the loss of an entire reality—safety, trust, identity, expectations, and the future a betrayed partner believed they were living toward. They discuss why betrayal trauma creates a uniquely destabilizing grief experience, particularly because the loss is non-consensual and often leaves partners feeling disoriented, unsafe, and unable to trust their own perceptions.
This episode also highlights why healing requires connection, not isolation. Betrayed partners often carry their pain silently due to shame, fear, or a desire to protect their spouse’s reputation. MaryAnn and Kris emphasize that grief must be witnessed and validated in order for the nervous system to stabilize and for healing to begin.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, numb, angry, or stuck, this episode offers language, clarity, and hope—reminding listeners that grief can become part of your story, but it does not have to become your identity.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why grief is a core component of betrayal trauma recovery
How grief is not just about death, but about the loss of a familiar life
The difference between traditional grief and betrayal-related grief
How betrayal disrupts the nervous system and creates disorientation
Why grief is not linear (and why that matters for healing)
The impact of shame, secrecy, and “walking wounded” isolation
How community and safe connection help regulate emotional overwhelm
Why grief must be witnessed and validated to heal
How to begin identifying personal losses after betrayal
Hope for moving forward without being defined by betrayal
Key Takeaways
Betrayal grief often includes the loss of identity, future dreams, and safety.
Many trauma symptoms (anger, anxiety, hypervigilance, numbness) are grief responses.
Healing happens through support and connection—grief is not meant to be carried alone.
The goal is not to erase the story, but to integrate it without being consumed by it.
Mentioned in This Episode
Disenfranchised grief (grief that isn’t socially recognized or supported)
The importance of validation and witnessing in the healing process
Neurobiology of grief and how the brain struggles to reorient after betrayal
The Human Intimacy Conference (March 13–14)
Resources
Rise Companion Course: humanintimacy.com, Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual BetrayalQuestions / Contact: info@humanintimacy.com (send questions you'd like addressed at the Human Intimacy Conference)Human Intimacy Conference: March 13–14 (Online + recordings available) Use: 30OFF promo code
Upcoming Episodes
MaryAnn and guests will the grief series in upcoming weeks, including:
Delayed grief
Attachment patterns and grief
How to live with grief without losing yourself
If This Episode Helped You…
Please consider sharing this podcast with someone who may be suffering in silence. Healing is hard—but you don’t have to do it alone.