Can You Heal From Betrayal?

ShrinkChicks

Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Relationships

5 • 717 Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen are reunited on the pod after baby Birdie’s birth, who is already showing off by sleeping through the night and sending her sister Millie into a slight spiral. In this episode, the two tackle one of the toughest topics in relationships: repairing after infidelity. From the shame and secrecy surrounding affairs to the consistent behaviors that rebuild trust, they share why some couples grow stronger after betrayal and what real healing requires. Listener questions cover everything from handling judgment from family and friends, managing breakdowns post-betrayal, forgiving yourself if you were unfaithful, and deciding whether to stay or go. Plus, in Dear Em & Jen, they respond to a listener struggling with repeated betrayal in her marriage. Whether you’re facing infidelity yourself, supporting someone who is, or just curious about this topic, this episode reminds all of us that it’s possible to write a new relationship narrative.Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 6 minutes to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. ⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box - PLUS free croissants in every box - when you go to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wildgrain.com/SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your subscription or use code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Greenlight: Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenlight.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠ Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at ⁠⁠SKIMS.com⁠⁠. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey, and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Mabē: Visit ⁠⁠⁠mabeproducts.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code: SHRINKCHICKS for an automatic $10 discount on your first purchaseGreen Chef: Head to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is brought to you by Podcast Nation.
0:04.8	An infidelity is a trauma.
0:08.2	And so your body is reacting to it as if it's a trauma.
0:12.6	So just first and foremost, I want to say,
0:16.8	and to validate the fact that the spirals are normal
0:19.2	and you're going to spiral going through this.
0:23.4	Being able to reflect is really important
0:26.5	because reflecting leads to insight.
0:29.6	The thing that isn't helpful during this time is rumination,
0:33.6	ruminating over something,
0:36.2	thinking about something over and over and over again.
0:46.9	Welcome back to another episode of shrink chicks.
0:51.7	Take a seat on our virtual therapy couch and get ready to learn
0:55.1	all about, well, you. I'm Emily Beerley. And I'm Jennifer Chakin. And we're both licensed,
1:00.5	marriage and family therapist and relationship experts. We're the owners and founders of the
1:04.9	therapy group, a nationwide psychotherapy practice with down-to-earth therapists just like us.
1:10.3	Your session is starting. So get ready to know yourself and grow yourself.
1:17.4	Hey, Jen.
1:18.5	Hey, Hav.
1:20.2	I'm thrilled to be at Westchester Studios, not nine months pregnant.
1:23.8	Oh, my God.
1:25.3	I can't believe we're back.
	...

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