In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Marnie sits down with renowned author and therapist John Lee, whose classic book Growing Yourself Back Up has helped thousands understand the profound impact of emotional regression on adult relationships. Together, we explore what emotional regression is and how it silently shapes our reactions, the difference between responding as an empowered adult vs. a wounded child, and how identifying your own triggers and patterns of regression can create healthier relationships.We introduce practical tools for recognizing when you’ve been “emotionally hijacked” and how to avoid relational ruptures in those moments. Perhaps most important, we discuss the importance of developing the necessary awareness and compassion that can break cycles of blame, withdrawal, fighting, and relational despair. If you’ve ever wondered why certain moments with your partner (or any loved ones) trigger outsize reactions or why the wounds of betrayal take over in the heat of conflict - this conversation is for you.Learning how to spot and shift emotional regression is one of the most empowering skills we can develop—for ourselves and our relationships.Buy John's book Growing Yourself Back Up Here!Purchase The Anger Solution Master Class Here!
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal Podcast, Marnie and Duane talk with a couple about how the HCH couples community has profoundly changed and transformed their relationship. As Corrie and Pat reflect on their experience, Marnie and Duane discuss the importance of community and connection in healing from betrayal trauma.
In this episode, Marnie sits down with two of her colleagues from Northern California, Jeanne Vattuone and Tim Stein to talk about Finding The Way Through, their new workbook designed to integrate sobriety, recovery, and betrayed partner sensitivity into the healing process.Purchase the workbook Finding the Way Through: A Workbook for Sex and Pornography Addiction here!Click here to join The Healing Room.Want to connect? Click here to book your free 15-minute call.
In what was originally intended to be a structured discussion on “The Ten Steps to Constructing the Secret Sexual Basement,” this episode took an unexpected and deeply personal turn. Instead, I’m joined by Dr. Omar Minwalla for a raw, unfiltered conversation that traces the arc of our individual and shared professional journeys.What unfolds is a rare, intimate glimpse into the foundation of a long-standing friendship - one built on mutual respect, hard truths, and a shared commitment to integrity, even when it’s uncomfortable or controversial. We talk openly about what it means to stay committed to telling the truth, to each other and to the work, despite pushback or disagreement.This was never meant to be a public conversation - but by the end, we both felt that what emerged was too meaningful not to share. I believe listeners will find resonance, insight, and maybe even a sense of companionship and loyalty in the honesty of this exchange.Dr. Minwalla will be back soon and hopefully next time we’ll get to the secret basement. Until then, this is something different… and maybe more important.Want to connect with us? Schedule your free 15-minute call here.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie explores the delicate balance of grief and hope in couples working to heal after betrayal. She shares why grief must be honored - not rushed, bypassed, or minimized - and how acknowledging the depth of loss is an essential step toward authentic healing. At the same time, Marnie reminds us that grief does not have to define your whole story. By integrating grief into the narrative of your relationship, you create space for resilience, growth, and new possibilities. This episode offers a compassionate invitation to couples: you can carry grief and hope side by side, honoring what was lost while also making room for what can still be built.Schedule your free 15-minute callWant more information on our Workshops? Click Here. Get your free reflection guide to go along with this episode here!
In this continuation of our conversation with Chandler Rogers, we dive deeper into his journey of recovery from pornography addiction and the ongoing challenges of healing within his marriage. Chandler shares honestly about what it means to keep showing up in the work of recovery—not just for himself, but for his relationship—and how hope can grow even in the midst of setbacks. We also explore Chandler’s powerful decision to create Relay, an app designed to fill in the gaps he saw in traditional recovery support. Relay was born out of his own experience and the recognition that people struggling with addiction need consistent accountability, connection, and encouragement outside of therapy or group sessions.Chandler's story is an important reminder that Recovery is ongoing. Healing from porn and sex addiction isn’t a one-time choice—it’s a daily practice of showing up for yourself and your relationship. This episode offers inspiration, practical insight, and a reminder that healing—both personally and in a marriage—is possible when we’re willing to reach for support and keep leaning into growth.Want to Learn more about Relay? Click hereConnect with us by booking a free 15-minute call!
In this follow-up conversation with therapist and author Jon Lee, we continue our deep dive into emotional regression and its profound impact on couples recovering from betrayal. Building on the foundation we laid in Part 1, Jon and I explore how regression shows up in relationships—when intense pain, fear, or shame pulls partners back into younger emotional states that can feel overwhelming and destabilizing.We discuss the ways regression complicates communication, trust-building, and repair, and how it can create cycles of disconnection even when both partners desperately want to heal. Jon offers clinical insight and compassionate strategies for recognizing regression in real time, staying grounded, and learning how to respond to one another with empathy instead of reactivity.Whether you’re a betrayed partner, a person working to rebuild integrity, or a couple navigating the aftermath together, this episode provides tools and perspective to help you move toward connection rather than getting stuck in regressed patterns.Want to connect with us? Click here to book a free 15-minute call.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie sits down with Chandler Rogers, a recovering porn addict and the founder of Relay, a group-based recovery app designed to support those on their healing journey. Chandler shares his personal story of seeking help for his addiction long before it was discovered—a rare and powerful experience that sheds light on the strength it takes to face the truth head-on.He opens up about the vulnerability it required to be honest with his now-wife early in their relationship, the ups and downs of recovery, and the reality that honesty doesn’t erase the ongoing struggles. Chandler reflects on moments of setback, the weight of shame, and the vital role that connection, accountability, and personal ownership have played not only in his healing but also in inspiring him to create a community where others can find hope and support. Also, be sure to catch Marnie's conversation with Scott and Susan Rankin just before the podcast starts about the HCH Online Couples Community, a supportive space designed for deep connection and healing, opening its doors to a small group of couples this September.Click here to schedule your free 15-minute call
In this episode, Marnie unpacks a critical truth in the betrayal recovery process: sexual sobriety is not the same as relational healing. In other words, just because the acting out has stopped doesn’t mean the relationship is safe or healing. In fact, ongoing emotional / integrity abuse can re-traumatize a betrayed partner. Marnie explores why emotional sobriety is just as essential as sexual sobriety, and what it really takes to rebuild trust and connection after betrayal. A betrayed partner needs emotional safety, not just behavioral changes. Trust isn’t rebuilt by abstinence — it’s rebuilt by transparency, accountability, and empathy.Simply stopping problematic sexual behaviors (porn, affairs, acting out) does not address the underlying relational damage caused by betrayal. True healing involves rebuilding the foundation of the relationship.If you've ever said or heard "But I'm sober...”, this conversation is for you.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks with betrayal trauma coach and actress Maddie Corman to explore the profound power of community in the healing journey. Maddie opens up about the importance of not going through pain alone, and how finding connection with others can be a lifeline during life’s most difficult moments. We also discuss the Empowered at Sea retreat, a transformative experience designed to support, uplift, empower, and inspire. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, support, and the courage to heal together.Learn more about Empowered at Sea: https://helpingcouplesheal.com/empowered-at-sea/
In this deeply honest and compassionate episode, Betrayal Trauma Coach, Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) Adam Nisenson shares his personal journey through the heartbreak of being betrayed by his wife—and how that experience transformed both his life and his work. Now the founder of betrayalshrink.com, Adam offers vital support and resources for men navigating the aftermath of infidelity. We explore the raw realities of male betrayal trauma, the often-overlooked emotional toll it takes, and how men can begin to reclaim their sense of self and safety. Adam also discusses his powerful book, A Man’s Guide to Partner Betrayal: Overcoming the Pain & Repercussions of a Cheating Partner, offering practical guidance and insight for those ready to begin healing. This conversation is a lifeline for anyone walking the lonely road of betrayal—and a testament to the resilience of the human heart. Check out Adam’s book- https://a.co/d/fdk7BMI Take the MBT (Masculine Betrayal Trauma) Recovery Assessment https://www.betrayalshrink.com/mbt-assesment
In this episode, Marnie, Ilyse, and Luke sit down to share an inside look at Bridge to Connection—Helping Couples Heal’s 5-week online group coaching program designed specifically for couples navigating the painful aftermath of betrayal. Together, they explore how couples can benefit from ongoing structure, a slower pace than a workshop, and the opportunity to process what they’re learning between sessions. They also emphasize how community is key; being with other couples who truly get it—is not only comforting, but vital to the healing process.This conversation dives into the heart of what makes Bridge such an impactful program: a potent blend of expert-led psychoeducation, exponential growth through powerful coaching, and the intimacy and dynamics of the group. Through weekly 90-minute coaching calls and access to thoughtfully crafted on-demand video lessons, couples are supported in understanding the core issues driving disconnection and begin to rebuild safety, trust, and emotional intimacy.They encourage listeners to consider how they learn and heal best, and to recognize that rebuilding after betrayal requires more than insight—it requires support, connection, and intention.The next Bridge to Connection cohort begins June 2nd. If you’re ready to feel less alone and more equipped to face what’s ahead—together—this could be the next best step. To learn more or to register, reach out to us at support@helpingcouplesheal.com
In this honest and deeply personal conversation, actor, writer, director, songwriter, and musician Josh Radnor opens up about his journey away from pornography and alcohol, and the deeper realizations that led him there. Together, we explore the often-overlooked harms of porn — how it distorts intimacy, disconnects men from their emotional selves, and shapes the way boys grow into men. Josh reflects on the cultural messages that normalize these habits, the pain they often mask, and the liberation he found in stepping away. This episode is a call to curiosity, compassion, and courageous self-inquiry — for anyone questioning what true connection really looks like.Subscribe to Museletters by Josh Radnor- https://joshradnor.substack.com/See Josh Radnor on Tour: https://www.joshradnor.com/tour
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks to Joanna (marriage and family therapist) and Matthew (relationship coach) Raabsmith about their story of betrayal and recovery. Joanna and Matthew share how hard work, fierce commitment and the principles outlined in their book “The Intimacy Pyramid” created the foundation necessary for healing their marriage and relational transformation. Buy their book here: https://www.amazon.com/Building-True-Intimacy-Creating-connection/dp/B0C2RX95WN Together, they lead their private practice, The Raabsmith Team.
We’re re-releasing a very meaningful podcast episodes for all the women who missed it the first time—or haven’t yet heard about the EmpowerHer Program. The transformations we’re witnessing inside this group coaching program are breathtaking. It’s the kind of healing and reclamation we wish for every woman—but especially for those who’ve walked the painful, disorienting road of betrayal.In this episode, Marnie and Ilyse share the story behind the creation of EmpowerHer—a program born from the need to support women in the aftermath of betrayal, whether they’re staying, leaving, or still unsure.Betrayal often throws women into a world they never asked to enter—one filled with trauma, addiction, infidelity, and confusion.It’s easy to get stuck in survival mode, feeling shattered, lost, and disconnected from who you truly are.EmpowerHer shifts the focus inward. It offers a new kind of conversation—one centered around self-reconnection, emotional safety, and personal power. This is about rebuilding from the inside out: reclaiming confidence, restoring intuition, strengthening your voice, and creating a vision for the life you want.You’ll learn more about the EmpowerHer program and how to join—either as a self-paced course or through our 12-week guided group experience, with the next cohort beginning April 14, 2025.If you’ve felt the nudge toward healing, clarity, and wholeness, this is your sign.We invite you to book a free 15-minute consultation call here: https://keap.app/booking/helpingcouplesheal2/free-15-minute-zoom-call or send us an email at support@helpingcouplesheal.com
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal Podcast, Marnie talks with Deb Kaplan, licensed therapist, CSAT and former Wall Street career woman, about money - a topic often dismissed or neglected entirely when helping couples heal from the traumatic impact of betrayal. In this rich (no pun intended) conversation, Marnie and Deb explore the financial impacts of betrayal and discuss the process of building trust around money and creating emotional and financial intimacy.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks with Gary Katz, LCSW and CSAT about the complex dynamics surrounding infidelity, pornography and betrayal that impact sexuality and intimacy. If you are struggling with sexual and intimacy-related issues after betrayal, including desire, safety, rejection and arousal, this episode will offer clarity and compassion and and opportunity to begin to explore the complexity of sexual and relational healing.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal, Marnie talks to Maddie Corman again about her journey through a public discovery, grief and betrayal trauma and her powerful film (just released on HBO), Accidentally Brave. In this conversation, Maddie shares more about life, healing and recovery where the film left off including the gifts and lessons she learned along the way. With honesty and humor, Maddie brings us with her as she continues to bring hope to those still in the depths of despair. Marnie and Maddie also announce their first professional collaboration, a women's empowerment retreat taking place March 14th - 16th in Temecula CA. (see below for details)Details:Intentionally Brave with Maddie & Marnie: A Healing & Empowerment Retreat for WomenLocation: Temecula, California (March 14 - 16, 2025)Join us for an intimate, transformative retreat designed for women on the path to healing from betrayal trauma. Co-facilitated by Maddie Corman, who courageously shared her story in Accidentally Brave, and Marnie Breecker, host of the Helping Couples Heal podcast and licensed therapist, this weekend offers a safe space for connection, self-discovery, and empowerment.What to Expect:Healing Group Sessions: Meaningful conversations and guidance designed to support your journey toward recovery and growth.Yoga & Meditation: Gentle, mindful practices to help you reconnect with your body and find inner peace.Sound Healing: Transformative sound experiences to release emotional blockages and restore balance.Delicious Meals: Enjoy nourishing, beautifully crafted meals prepared by our onsite chef.Supportive Community: Connect with a circle of women who understand your journey and are committed to healing and empowerment.Whether you're seeking solace, inspiration, or a way to reconnect with your authentic self, this retreat offers an opportunity to transform pain into empowerment.Space is Limited — Reserve Your Spot Today! Email maddieandmarnieretreats@gmail.comhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/maddie-corman-accidentally-brave-steven-soderbergh-max-1236120320/
In this intimate and powerful episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks with Brett Rankin, son of HCH Betrayal Trauma Coaches Susan and Scott Rankin, who vulnerably and courageously shared their story of relational betrayal on the podcast in August of 2024. In this candid conversation, Brett reflects for the first time publicly on his experience navigating life after the discovery of his father’s addiction when he was 18 years old. He opens up about the emotional impacts of betrayal on himself, his role in supporting his younger sister and and his relationship with both of his parents throughout their separation and healing. He reflects on the healing process, finding resilience, and the steps he's taken toward forgiveness and personal growth. This episode offers a rare and deeply human perspective on the ripple effects of sex addiction on families and the strength it takes to find hope and healing in the aftermath. Whether you're on a similar journey or simply seeking insight into complex family dynamics, this conversation is both eye-opening and inspiring.
In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks with Dr. Kevin Skinner about gaslighting and abuse in the context of betrayal trauma. Together, they explore how psychological abuse and gaslighting impacts betrayed partners and creates a significant barrier to relational healing and emotional intimacy. While an incredibly painful topic that can also trigger immense shame and a host of other difficult emotions, turning towards the reality of abuse is the only way to heal.
Zack Bigelow
it would be a great help to have a betrayed male spouse focus. There isn't that many resources for us and it frankly sucks.
Christopher Bromley
it would be great to hear more about a Male's side of the betrayal trauma, listening to the podcast as a Man dealing with a betrayal, it is depressing to feel so alone.
C Rovello
Thank you so much for all of your information. What you have stated in all of your podcasts have been vital (to the point of life and death survival psychologically) to listen to. This podcast is lifeline to be able to have relief and joy once again. Thank you so much!