Inside Betrayal Trauma: From Crisis To Repair with Ladonna Carey

Send us Fan MailThe ground shifts when deception enters a relationship. We invited betrayal trauma specialist Ladonna Carey to walk us through a clear, humane path from the first moments of crisis to the deeper work of repair, and the conversation cuts through the noise: this isn’t a communication problem, it’s a trauma problem rooted in secrecy and avoidance.We start with stabilisation—sleep, food, breath, and the small routines that help a jolted nervous system settle. From there, Ladonna explains how she assesses the betrayer’s readiness to face the “hidden basement” of their behaviour and why pushing into couples therapy too soon compounds harm. The centrepiece is structured full disclosure. Trickle truth keeps the injured partner on high alert; a guided, comprehensive disclosure, paired with careful coaching on questions, reduces re‑traumatisation and creates the first real chance for trust to grow.As safety improves, we move into attachment repair and practical transparency that closes the gaps exploited by secrecy without turning intimacy into surveillance. Ladonna shares the tools she relies on—attachment profiles, the Gottman assessment, somatic regulation, and tailored self‑care that fits each person’s temperament, from kickboxing to yoga and journaling. We also tackle cultural trends shaping today’s cases: the rise of online infidelity disguised as “not cheating,” and the surge in grey divorce, especially when illness shifts roles at home. On the practice side, Ladonna breaks down why intensives outperform 50‑minute slots, how she’s training clinicians through SOS sessions and a 2026 conference, and what needs to change in insurance to keep skilled therapists in the field.If you or your clients are navigating betrayal, you’ll leave with a grounded framework: stabilise first, assess readiness, disclose fully, rebuild safety and attachment, and integrate whole‑person care. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a clear map, and leave a review to help more listeners find evidence‑based guidance on healing after deception.Biography LaDonna Carey is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of the Betrayal Recovery Center, where she specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate the complex emotional aftermath of infidelity and relational betrayal. With a background in clinical psychology and domestic violence advocacy, LaDonna integrates trauma-informed care, somatic awareness, and attachment theory into her work. She's also a speaker, educator, and the author of the upcoming book Surviving Betrayal. Through her therapy intensives, online programs, and therapist trainings, LaDonna is building a new standard of care for betrayal traumaContact DetailsWebsite: https://ladonnacarey.comEmail: [email protected]: @betrayalrecoverycenterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladonna-carey-47384525/Subscribe on SubstackVoices in Health and Wellness is published on Substack, as part of The Diagnostician. Every episode lands there with written notes and reflections you won't find in the podcast feed. Free to subscribe.👉 https://thediagnostician.substack.com/s/voices-in-health-and-wellnessAbout the podcastVoices in Health and Wellness features conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential, with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.About Dr Andrew GreenlandUK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Trained in both conventional and root-cause approaches, Andrew helps people optimise health, performance, and longevity, with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.