Shattered Trust: The Day Everything Changed (Season 1: Episode 1)

Shattered Trust: The Day Everything Changed 🌱 Episode Summary

In this opening episode of Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis speak directly to those standing in the aftermath of discovery day—the moment life suddenly changes because of sexual betrayal.

They share clinical expertise, personal stories, and research insights from thousands of betrayed partners to validate the shock, confusion, and pain that follow betrayal. Using powerful metaphors like “being hit by a truck,” they help listeners name the trauma and understand why the experience feels so overwhelming.

Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn also outline how betrayal trauma mirrors the symptoms of PTSD, including intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance, mood changes, and a deep sense of shattered safety. To bring grounding and relief amidst racing thoughts and overwhelming emotions, they introduce the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding tool, a simple yet powerful exercise that uses the five senses to calm the nervous system.

Above all, this episode offers a message of hope: though life may feel broken beyond repair, healing is possible step by step, breath by breath. You are not alone, and there is a pathway forward.

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Assessment: Betrayal Trauma Symptom Assessment – measure your current experiences and begin tracking your healing journey.

• Book: Treating Trauma from Sexual Betrayal by Dr. Kevin Skinner – research-based guidance for understanding and healing betrayal trauma.

• Grounding Exercise: The 5-4-3-2-1 Tool (identify 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste).

• 12-Step Insight: “A day at a time, a step at a time, a breath at a time.” – a reminder for pacing yourself in the healing process.

• Support: Visit humanintimacy.com/reclaim for resources, courses, and ongoing support for betrayed partners.