When Betrayal Breaks More Than Trust: How to Heal What the Relationship Broke

When Betrayal Breaks More Than Trust: How to Heal What the Relationship Broke

July 13, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 23

About this episode

Vanessa explores the psychological impact of betrayal and how to heal from it.

Betrayal doesn’t only break trust in another person; it can also rupture your trust in yourself. In this episode, Vanessa explores why betrayal can feel so psychologically disorganizing, especially when harm comes from someone or something that was supposed to feel safe. We talk about betrayal trauma, betrayal blindness, attachment injury, projection, reality testing, and why not every devastating feeling is the same kind of event. The deeper healing is not becoming harder or more armored, but learning how to grieve specifically, see more clearly, and trust yourself again. Reference Links: Jennifer Freyd — Betrayal Trauma Theory Use for: Betrayal trauma theory; harm from someone or something a person depends on or trusts. Link: https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineBT.html Note: Freyd’s site defines betrayal trauma and includes betrayal blindness. Jennifer Freyd — Betrayal Blindness Use for: Why people may not fully register betrayal when they depend on the person, institution, or system doing harm. Link: https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineBT.html Note: The site describes betrayal blindness as unawareness, not-knowing, and forgetting that can preserve relationships…

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Host: Vanessa Bennett

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Organizations: Gamut Podcast Network

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