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Rise: Hope and Healing Podcast

Rise: Hope and Healing Podcast

By: Dr. Kevin Skinner
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Rise is a podcast for anyone navigating the devastating impact of sexual betrayal. Season one, hosted by Dr. Kevin Skinner, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, and Certified Partner Trauma Therapist, alongside MaryAnn Michaelis, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Certified Partner Trauma Therapist, brings together over 50 years of combined professional and personal experience to offer hope, direction, and healing.

Season two, hosted by MaryAnn Michaelis features weekly conversations with leading betrayal trauma experts exploring personal and clinical experience and observations, tools and resources for stabilizing, then thriving in post traumatic betrayal growth.

Each episode blends research, clinical expertise, and real-life experience to address the most pressing questions betrayed partners face: Am I going to be okay? Why does my mind keep racing? Can I ever trust again? How do I make sense of the shattering that just happened?

Listeners will gain:

  • Validation that what they’re experiencing is real and normal.

  • Practical tools like grounding techniques and emotional regulation exercises.

  • Research-backed insights from studies with thousands of betrayed partners.

  • Guidance for couples seeking to rebuild trust and safety after betrayal.

  • Hope-filled stories that remind you healing is possible—one step, one breath at a time.

Whether you’ve just discovered betrayal or are months or years into your healing journey, Rise offers a safe place to learn, reflect, and gather the tools needed to rebuild your life and reclaim your sense of self.

To learn more and access additional resources, visit humanintimacy.com/reclaim.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Braving with Michelle Mays: Attachment, Identity, Belonging, Self-Trust, and the Betrayal Bind | Rise Season 2, Episode 23

    Braving with Michelle Mays: Attachment, Identity, Belonging, Self-Trust, and the Betrayal Bind | Rise Season 2, Episode 23
    Jun 16 2026

    In this episode of Rise, MaryAnn Michaelis sits down with Michelle Mays for a deeply grounded conversation on BRAVING, attachment injury, identity, belonging, self-trust, and the Betrayal Bind.

    Michelle Mays is a licensed clinician, betrayal trauma specialist, and the creator of the BRAVING Hope® framework, an attachment-based model for healing after sexual betrayal and relational trauma. Her work helps individuals and couples understand how betrayal impacts the nervous system, attachment systems, identity, and the capacity for self-trust.

    Together, MaryAnn and Michelle explore how betrayal disrupts not only relationships, but also internal identity structures, emotional safety, and the sense of belonging to self and others. They discuss how the nervous system organizes around attachment injury and why healing requires both relational understanding and internal reconnection.

    This conversation draws from Michelle’s clinical work, her Braving Hope® immersive program and training model, and her book The Betrayal Bind: How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst, which offers an attachment-based framework for understanding betrayal trauma and the path toward recovery.

    In this episode, we explore:
    • The BRAVING framework and what it reveals about attachment injury
    • Why betrayal trauma disrupts identity and nervous system regulation
    • The concept of the Betrayal Bind and the “impossible relational dilemma” it creates
    • How self-trust is fractured in betrayal—and how it is rebuilt over time
    • Why belonging becomes unstable after relational rupture
    • The role of attachment systems in trauma responses and healing
    • How Michelle’s Braving Hope® program supports structured recovery
    • Clinical insights from The Betrayal Bind and real-world healing pathways
    Key themes:

    Attachment trauma • Betrayal trauma • Identity reconstruction • Nervous system regulation • Self-trust • Belonging • BRAVING Hope® framework • The Betrayal Bind • Emotional safety • Relational healing

    About Michelle Mays

    Michelle Mays, LPC, CSAT-S, is a clinician, educator, and author specializing in betrayal trauma and attachment injury. She is the creator of the BRAVING Hope® treatment model and immersive program, and the author of The Betrayal Bind: How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst.

    Her work integrates attachment theory, nervous system science, and clinical experience to help individuals rebuild safety, identity, and self-trust after betrayal.

    Learn more about her work, programs, and resources at: michellemays.com

    About the Host

    MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist specializing in betrayal trauma, sexual addiction, and attachment injury. She is the founder of the HART Recovery Institute and host of Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, where she explores the lived experience of betrayal trauma and the process of rebuilding identity, self-trust, and relational safety.

    Her clinical work integrates attachment theory, nervous system science, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches to support individuals and couples in deep relational healing.

    About The Betrayal Bind

    The Betrayal Bind is Michelle Mays’ foundational book on betrayal trauma and attachment injury. It explores the relational paradox at the heart of betrayal: when the person you depend on for safety is also the source of harm. The book offers an attachment-based framework for understanding trauma responses and provides a pathway toward rebuilding self-trust, emotional regulation, and relational clarity.

    About BRAVING Hope®

    The Braving Hope® immersive experience is Michelle Mays’ signature program for betrayed partners. It provides structured education and experiential work focused on attachment healing, nervous system regulation, and identity restoration after betrayal trauma.

    About Rise

    Rise is a podcast exploring betrayal trauma, attachment injury, and the process of rebuilding identity, self-trust, and connection after relational rupture.

    Season 2, Episode 23
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    42 mins
  • Betrayal Didn’t Create All of the Pain—It Exposed Old Wounds: Why Healing Requires More Than Understanding the Betrayal with Dr. Karen Strange Rise Season 2, Episode 22

    Betrayal Didn’t Create All of the Pain—It Exposed Old Wounds: Why Healing Requires More Than Understanding the Betrayal with Dr. Karen Strange Rise Season 2, Episode 22
    Jun 9 2026
    After discovery or disclosure, many betrayed partners find themselves searching for answers. They read books, listen to podcasts, join support groups, and begin learning about betrayal trauma. Yet even with all of that information, many continue to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and deeply wounded. In this episode of Rise, MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, and Dr. Karen Strange, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT, explore the deeper work of betrayal trauma recovery. They discuss how betrayal impacts identity, confidence, self-worth, and attachment, and why healing often requires more than simply understanding what happened. Together, they explore the connection between present pain and earlier life wounds, the role of support groups and therapy, the challenge of integrating head knowledge into heart healing, and the surprising growth that can emerge through recovery. If you have ever wondered why betrayal feels so devastating—or why healing takes more than time—this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope. In This Episode Why Betrayal Trauma Impacts Identity Betrayal often causes people to question who they are. Many betrayed partners experience significant drops in: ConfidenceSelf-worthSelf-trustSense of identityFeelings of attractiveness and value MaryAnn and Karen discuss how betrayal can trigger long-standing insecurities and attachment wounds that may have originated years before the relationship. Understanding Core Beliefs After Betrayal Many betrayed partners find themselves asking: Was I not enough?Am I too much?If I were different, would this have happened? The episode explores how betrayal can activate deeply rooted beliefs formed in childhood, adolescence, or previous relationships, and why identifying those beliefs is a critical part of healing. The Disconnect Between What We Know and What We Feel Many individuals understand intellectually that the betrayal was not caused by their shortcomings. Yet emotionally, they continue to feel defective, unwanted, or unworthy. MaryAnn and Karen discuss: The gap between head knowledge and emotional healingWhy insight alone does not resolve traumaHow therapy can help uncover the roots of persistent self-doubtThe process of transforming beliefs at a deeper level Healing Attachment Wounds and Past Trauma When Betrayal Reopens Old Wounds One of the most powerful aspects of betrayal trauma is its ability to expose unresolved emotional injuries. The pain of betrayal can reactivate experiences from: ChildhoodFamily relationshipsSchool experiencesPrevious romantic relationshipsEarlier attachment injuries While painful, this process can reveal areas that need healing and provide an opportunity for profound personal growth. Trauma-Focused Therapies That May Help Karen discusses the value of working with trained professionals who understand betrayal trauma and attachment injuries. Approaches may include: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)Attachment-focused therapyTrauma-informed counseling The Importance of Support in Betrayal Trauma Recovery We Are Wounded in Relationship and Healed in Relationship Healing rarely happens in isolation. Karen emphasizes the importance of: Betrayal trauma support groupsTrusted friendshipsRecovery communitiesHealthy therapeutic relationships Supportive relationships can help challenge distorted beliefs and provide encouragement during the healing process. Why Community Matters Many betrayed partners believe they are alone in their experience. In reality, countless others are navigating similar challenges. Being surrounded by people who understand can: Reduce shameIncrease hopeProvide validationCreate opportunities for growthStrengthen resilience Learning to Trust Yourself Again One of the most painful consequences of betrayal is the loss of self-trust. Many partners spent years sensing that something was wrong only to be dismissed, denied, or manipulated. MaryAnn and Karen discuss: Rebuilding confidence in your intuitionGiving yourself the benefit of the doubtLearning to trust your perceptions againStrengthening self-awareness and personal boundaries The Role of Self-Care in Recovery A powerful moment in the conversation centers on a simple question: "Who's taking care of you?" For many betrayed partners, self-care has been replaced by caretaking, busyness, and survival. The episode explores: Why self-care is often neglectedHow busyness can become a coping strategyThe importance of addressing your own needsCreating space for healing and personal growth Growth, Healing, and Hope After Betrayal While no one would choose the pain of betrayal, many people discover unexpected growth through the recovery process. Healing can lead to: Greater self-awarenessStronger boundariesIncreased self-trustDeeper emotional resilienceA clearer sense of identity and purpose Recovery is difficult work, but it can also become a pathway to becoming more grounded, authentic, and connected to yourself. ...
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    19 mins
  • From Sifting Sand to Bedrock: Rebuilding a Foundation After Sexual Betrayal with Kris Cristiano, Rise Season 2, Episode 21

    From Sifting Sand to Bedrock: Rebuilding a Foundation After Sexual Betrayal with Kris Cristiano, Rise Season 2, Episode 21
    Jun 2 2026
    From Sifting Sand to Bedrock: Rebuilding a Foundation After Sexual Betrayal with Kris Cristiano, Rise Season 2, Episode 21

    For many betrayed partners, life after D-Day can feel futile, like grabbing at sand—confusing, unstable, and overwhelming, with every thought, memory, or trigger adding to the emotionally unmanageable mess.

    In this episode of Rise, Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, MaryAnn Michaelis, LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, is joined by Kris Cristiano, LCSW, CSAT as they explore what it really feels like to rebuild after sexual betrayal—when your internal world no longer feels stable, predictable, or safe.

    Together, they unpack what it means to move from emotional instability into grounding, and how to begin rebuilding a foundation that can actually hold weight as they highlight the following topics:

    What Happens After Sexual Betrayal (The “Sifting Sand” Experience)

    Emotional confusion and hypervigilance after disclosure

    • Why betrayed partners feel like they are constantly “on alert”
    • The shift from trust to questioning everything
    • Why the nervous system begins scanning for danger

    The mental overload of outside opinions

    • Social media, family, friends, and conflicting advice
    • Why clarity feels impossible in early recovery
    • The emotional exhaustion of trying to make sense of it all

    Why nothing feels stable anymore

    • The loss of relational safety
    • The constant search for something solid to hold onto
    • The “sand vs. rock” internal experience

    Grounding After Betrayal: How Stability Begins

    Why confusion is a signal, not a failure

    • Noticing when the system is overloaded
    • The importance of stepping back from decision-making in confusion

    Simple grounding techniques for nervous system regulation

    • Feet on the ground, posture, breath
    • Sensory awareness (5-4-3-2-1 technique)
    • Returning to the present moment through the body

    Why the body must heal before clarity returns

    • Trauma stored in the nervous system
    • Why thinking alone cannot solve emotional overwhelm
    • Moving from survival brain to regulated brain

    Rebuilding a Foundation That Can Hold Weight

    The “emotional backpack” of betrayal trauma

    • Why life feels suddenly heavier and harder
    • Energy depletion and trauma load
    • Why normal functioning becomes exhausting

    What is and isn’t in your control

    • Partner’s recovery vs. your own grounding
    • Reclaiming internal agency in a chaotic season

    Small steps that rebuild stability

    • Connection with safe people
    • Connection with body and senses
    • Connection with meaning and identity
    • Moving from Sand to Bedrock

    Why healing is not linear

    • Cracks in foundations are part of rebuilding
    • Progress vs perfection in recovery

    Reconnecting with identity after betrayal

    • “Who am I now?” after relational rupture
    • Rebuilding self outside of crisis response mode

    Finding what helps you “rise”

    • What restores energy and regulation
    • Returning to life with support, not pressure

    Conclusion

    Healing after sexual betrayal is not about rushing clarity—it is about rebuilding stability from the inside out. When everything feels like sand, the goal is not to force answers, but to slowly return to grounding, connection, and safety in your own body and life. Resources

    • Grief After Betrayal Impact Scale Survey - please consider taking a few minutes to help with our ongoing research.
    • Visit Humanintimacy.com for the Rise Companion Course, Courses on Communication, Boundaries and both Individual and Couple Healing.

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    19 mins
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