”Are You There for Me?” Understanding the Role of Attachment in Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal with Dr. Kevin Skinner (Season 2, Episode 4)

In this episode of Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, welcomes back Dr. Kevin Skinner to continue Season Two’s series on rebuilding trust. Together they explore why rebuilding trust after betrayal is so complex, especially through the lens of attachment and trauma, based on Sue Johnson's core attachment question: “Are you there for me?” They explain how trust begins early in life, how it’s shaped by our experiences, and how betrayal trauma can mirror early attachment ruptures—often leading to protest, emotional overwhelm, shutdown, or feeling frozen while waiting for clarity or disclosure. MaryAnn and Dr. Skinner normalize grief, numbness, and uncertainty as natural trauma responses, not signs of failure or weakness. This episode gently reframes healing: trust doesn’t begin with forcing yourself to trust a partner again. It begins with self-trust, learning to listen to your body and emotions, finding safe support, and allowing honesty about where you truly are. Trust, when it returns, is earned through presence, consistency, and repair—not pressure. If you’re unsure whether you can trust again—or even trust yourself—this conversation offers compassion, clarity, and hope. Episode Takeaways Trust after betrayal is a process, not a decision Betrayal trauma activates deep attachment wounds Feeling frozen, numb, or unsure is a normal trauma response Self-trust is foundational to healing and boundaries Earned trust grows through consistent repair and safety Resources The Still Face Experiment – Dr. Edward Tronick A visual illustration of attachment rupture and repair https://iceeft.com The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk, MD Human Intimacy Conference | March 13–14 Online conference featuring Dr. Skinner, MaryAnn Michaelis, Michelle Mays, Dr. Sheri Keffer, Dr. Karen Strange, Kris Cristiano, and more