Why Some People Stay Stuck in Betrayal Trauma (And How to Move Forward)

Healing from betrayal trauma is a deeply personal journey, but why do some people seem to heal and move forward while others stay stuck? In today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Jill Manning, a renowned therapist, researcher, and speaker with over 20 years of experience in betrayal trauma recovery.

Dr. Manning shares the key factors that help betrayed partners heal, as well as the common obstacles that slow down the recovery process. She offers practical steps to move through the pain and build a life of stability, connection, and renewed purpose—whether or not the relationship survives.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your healing journey, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and hope.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

⏳ [03:00] – The rising severity of betrayal trauma and why cases are more complex today

⏳ [08:15] – The 5 key factors that help betrayed partners heal (CAVED Framework)

⏳ [15:30] – Why connection is essential and how isolation keeps people stuck

⏳ [22:45] – The role of advocacy—having at least one person who truly understands you

⏳ [28:00] – Why validation is critical and how to avoid minimizing your experience

⏳ [34:10] – The impact of education—why learning about betrayal trauma helps you heal

⏳ [40:00] – Why having a clear roadmap (direction) makes all the difference

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About Geoff Steurer: I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, relationship educator, and coach with over 20 years of experience. I am the co-author of, "Love You, Hate the Porn: Healing a Relationship Damaged by Virtual Infidelity", the host of the weekly podcast, "From Crisis to Connection", and have produced workbooks, audio programs, and online courses helping couples and individuals heal from the impact of sexual betrayal, unwanted pornography use, partner betrayal trauma, and rebuilding broken trust. As a leader in the field, I am a frequent contributor on these subjects at national conferences, documentaries, blogs, magazines, and podcasts. I also write a weekly relationship advice column available on my blog. I founded and ran an outpatient sexual addiction and betrayal trauma recovery group program for over 14 years, co-founded and chaired a local conference to educate community members about harmful media, and founded and administered a specialized group therapy practice for over 10 years.

About Jody Steurer: Jody has been a strong voice supporting women as co-host of the podcast “Speak Up Sister”. She completed a bachelor's degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and is an ACA certified coach. She runs a small business and has years of experience in corporate training and organizati