From Crisis to Connection - with Geoff & Jody Steurer

When trust has been broken, the recovering partner often feels pressure to prove they can be trusted again. They may follow instructions perfectly, track progress, and work hard to “get it right.” But instead of bringing closeness, all that proving can backfire—turning the betrayed partner into an audience who feels pressured to respond with gratitude or forgiveness before they’re ready.

In this episode of From Crisis to Connection,...

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind in healing? You look around and it seems like everyone else is moving forward while you’re stuck, spinning, or even slipping backward. The truth is—you might be doing all the right things, but healing doesn’t follow a straight line.

In this episode of From Crisis to Connection, Geoff and Jody unpack the belief that you’re “behind” in recovery. They explore how this shows up differently for...

After betrayal, couples often find themselves trapped in a cycle. The unfaithful partner wants to explain, while the betrayed partner longs for real accountability. Instead of bringing clarity, explanations often sound like excuses. The betrayed partner feels dismissed, the unfaithful partner feels shut down, and the cycle repeats.

In this episode of From Crisis to Connection, Geoff and Jody explore why this dynamic is so common and...

After betrayal, many couples get stuck in a painful waiting game. The betrayed partner wants proof of safety before risking vulnerability, while the recovering partner waits for reassurance before stepping forward. Both feel paralyzed, and the relationship stalls.

In this episode, Geoff and Jody break down how each partner can move forward without waiting for the other to go first. They explore:

• The difference between individual h...

This episode is taken from a presentation I gave at the Betrayal Healing Conference earlier this year, where I shared what later-stage recovery really looks like for couples working to rebuild trust and connection.In this episode, we talk about what it takes for couples to truly thrive after the initial crisis of betrayal has passed. We explore what “later-stage” recovery looks like: not just surviving, but building something new, ...

After more than 300 weekly episodes, we are taking a short pause from From Crisis to Connection.

In this brief update, we share why we’re stepping back for a couple of months. It’s not because of burnout but to make space for reflection, clarity, and growth. We want to continue serving you with intention and depth, and this pause is part of that process.

Here’s what to expect while we’re away:

• No new weekly episodes during the sum...

When it comes to betrayal, we often hear one story: the man cheats, the woman is hurt, and support rallies around her. But what happens when the script is flipped? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Adam Nisenson, a coach and author who helps men navigate betrayal trauma—a subject that’s rarely talked about and often misunderstood.

Adam shares his own experience of being betrayed, the cultural narratives that silence men...

In early recovery, survival is the focus. But what does it look like for couples who’ve done the foundational healing work to move beyond crisis and start rebuilding true partnership?

In this powerful and relatable episode, we sit down with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith, a couple who have lived through the depths of betrayal trauma and are now guiding others in later-stage recovery. Together, we explore what healthy partnership looks...

You’ve stopped the behavior. You’re going to the meetings. You’re doing everything the books and podcasts say to do. So why doesn’t your partner trust you yet?

In this honest and challenging conversation, we talk with Roland Cochrun, a recovery advocate and founder of SuccessfulAddict.com, about the biggest blind spots in early recovery—and why checking the right boxes doesn’t guarantee real change.

Roland shares his personal experie...

Betrayal trauma is devastating on its own—but for many betrayed partners, there’s a deeper, more disorienting layer they can’t name: covert abuse. In this eye-opening conversation, we explore how covert abuse operates beneath the surface of a relationship—often wrapped in kindness, plausible deniability, and social approval.

Our guest vulnerably shares her personal story of discovering the hidden abuse patterns that accompanied betr...

Why do some people heal from betrayal and rebuild their lives, while others stay stuck in pain and resentment for years—or even decades? In this powerful episode, we speak with Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation (PBT) Institute, about the three groundbreaking discoveries from her PhD research on betrayal.

Dr. Silber breaks down the specific symptoms of betrayal trauma, explains why time alone doesn’t heal i...

After betrayal, it’s common for women to turn inward, blaming their bodies and questioning their worth. In this important conversation, we talk with Dr. Lauren Barnes, therapist, researcher, and director of clinical training at BYU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program.

Dr. Barnes shares how her clinical and personal experiences led her to work with women struggling with body image and eating disorders. Together, we explore the conn...

When betrayal strikes a marriage, the pain is immediate for the couple—but what about the children? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we speak with Morgan Ellsworth, a board-certified betrayal trauma coach and MFT student, who brings both personal and professional experience to this often-overlooked topic.

Morgan was a teenager when her family experienced betrayal, and she vulnerably shares what it was like to navigate that ...

What if the things you dislike most about yourself aren’t signs of failure—but invitations to heal? In this episode, I sit down with Haley Hinkle, associate marriage and family therapist and IFS-informed practitioner, to explore a compassionate and non-pathologizing way to understand the parts of us that act out, shut down, or sabotage.

We dive into the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model—a powerful therapeutic approach that helps u...

In this follow-up to our popular episode “What to Do When Your Partner Lacks Motivation,” we dive deeper into an important listener question: How do you tell the difference between a lack of motivation and a lack of ability in your partner?

At first glance, these two challenges can look the same—lack of movement, stalled growth, avoidance. But understanding what’s really happening changes everything. In this episode, we break down t...

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....

Have you ever felt stuck, unmotivated, or unsure how to move forward—especially in your relationship? In this episode, we’re flipping the script from our last discussion on what to do when your partner is unmotivated and speaking directly to the partner who feels stuck.

If you’re struggling with motivation, feeling overwhelmed, or comparing yourself to your more driven spouse, this episode is for you. We share why feeling unmotivate...

When betrayal happens in a marriage, the emotional impact on a betrayed partner is overwhelming. But what about the children? How can a mother (or father) navigate their own healing while still being present for their children?

In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jenet Erickson, an expert in family relationships and maternal mental health. She shares research-backed insights into the connection between mothers and children...

What happens when you’re motivated, driven, and actively working on personal growth—but your partner isn’t? In this episode, we explore the challenges of navigating a relationship when one partner struggles with motivation—whether due to personal crises, depression, or long-standing patterns of complacency.

We discuss why this imbalance happens, how gender differences may play a role, and what you can do when your partner isn’t taki...