From Betrayal To Breakthrough

What does it actually take to be a good friend — to others and to yourself? In this rich conversation, Dr. Debi sits down with award-winning filmmaker, Columbia University faculty member, and author Barnet Bain to explore the surprising truth about why so many of us struggle in friendships: we never learned how. Drawing from his course on relationships taught at Columbia and his new book How to Be...

TRIGGER WARNING: CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE In this powerful and important episode, Dr. Debi sits down with Chris Yadon, Executive Director of Saprea , a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and healing for survivors. Chris shares his own journey — growing up amid instability, learning to emotionally numb as a child — and how that personal experience became the foundat...

In this reflective solo episode, Dr. Debi Silber shares an unexpected gift that came from a two-week battle with pneumonia — the forced stillness to ask herself one of life's most enduring questions: What do you want to be when you grow up?   With her daughter's wedding just days away, Dr. Debi opens up about how illness slowed her down enough to take stock of what she's outgrown, what she's still...

In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Debi Silber is joined by her daughter Camryn for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really looks like to get stuck in Stage Three — not because of a betrayal by someone else, but through our own patterns, thoughts, and avoidance. Camryn's story is one of extraordinary intelligence, world travel, and deep self-awareness ultimately leading to...

From Betrayal to Breakthrough with Dr. Debi Silber | Guest: Peter McLaughlin     About Peter McLaughlin   Peter McLaughlin is a certified hypnotherapist and founder of Blue Sky Hypnosis. After being diagnosed simultaneously with Lyme disease and leukemia 23 years ago — and given just 10 years to live — Peter embarked on a profound healing journey that led him from Wall Street and a 50-person secur...

This is a milestone episode — Dr. Debi is celebrating her 60th birthday, and she's marking the occasion by sharing six of her greatest life lessons, one for each decade. Whether you're in the thick of healing from betrayal or simply looking for some wisdom to carry you forward, these lessons are deeply personal, hard-won, and universally relatable.   What You'll Hear in This Episode:   Lesson 1: H...

What happens when life keeps knocking you down — job loss, divorce, the death of a child, a failing business, a spinal crisis — and you keep getting back up anyway? In this powerful episode, Dr. Debi sits down with Jarrod Barakett   , President of Light Systems, to explore one of the most remarkable resilience stories you'll ever hear. Jarrod Barakett 's journey is a masterclass in accountability,...

  Dr. Debi Silber breaks down exactly why betrayal hits differently than other types of trauma — and why understanding that difference is the key to actually healing from it. Drawing on her PhD research and work with over 100,000 people , Dr. Debi explains the three discoveries that changed everything, why so many people suffer in silence, and how coaches and practitioners can better serve clients...

Dr. Debi Silber sits down with brain fitness expert Dr. Patrick Porter to explore how betrayal hijacks the nervous system and what we can do to rewire our brains for healing and optimal performance.   Key Topics Discussed   The Brain-Betrayal Connection   How betrayal dysregulates the nervous system and puts us into sympathetic dominance (fight or flight)   Why traditional healing tools often fail...

The Myth of Time Healing:  Contrary to popular belief , time alone does not heal betrayal wounds. Assessment responses reveal people still struggling 15, 35, even 40+ years after their betrayal, with statements like "feels like it happened yesterday" and "I'll never trust again."   The Critical Difference:  Betrayal recovery requires deliberate, intentional healing—you can't count on time or a new...

If you've done the therapy, read the books, and tried everything to move on from betrayal—but you're STILL not okay—this episode explains why.   Dr. Debi reveals what Post Betrayal Syndrome ® (PBS ® ) is, why conventional support often falls short, and what betrayal-informed care actually looks like. You'll learn why your body won't let go, why your mind won't quiet, and why the healing path requi...

Do you have clients you just can't seem to reach—even though your tools work brilliantly with others? This episode reveals why traditional coaching methods often fall short with certain clients and what's really happening beneath the surface.   The Clients You Can't Reach   The Cycler  Makes progress for weeks, then suddenly spirals back as if none of the work happened. You're building a foundatio...

Episode Overview   If you've been struggling with betrayal for a long time despite trying multiple healing approaches, this episode reveals why well-meaning practitioners and proven methodologies often miss the mark when it comes to betrayal-specific recovery.   Key Topics Covered   Why Life Coaching Isn't Enough   Life coaching excels at goal setting, accountability, and mindset shifts   Works be...

Colette Jane F ehr a marriage counselor, EMDR therapist, and author of "The Cost of Quiet." With over two decades of experience helping individuals and couples navigate relationship challenges, Colette specializes in teaching people how to communicate vulnerably and assertively in their most important relationships.   Episode Overview   In this powerful conversation, Dr. Debi Silber sits down with...

In this episode, Dr. Debi explores two fundamental aspects of healing from betrayal that don't get enough attention: worthiness and self-compassion. She reveals how early conditioning shapes our sense of worth, how betrayal amplifies these wounds, and why the shattering experience of betrayal offers a profound opportunity to rebuild yourself intentionally.   Key Topics Covered   The Roots of Unwor...

Dr. Debi breaks down the fundamental differences between betrayal and other types of trauma , explaining why traditional trauma recovery approaches often fall short for betrayal survivors.   Key Insights   The Three Core Discoveries from Dr. Debi's PhD Research:   Betrayal is a different type of trauma that requires a different approach to heal   Most people who've been betrayed experience symptom...

In this episode, Dr. Debi shares why unhealed betrayal is the hidden barrier preventing your clients from achieving breakthrough results—and how the PBT ® (Post Betrayal Transformation ® ) Certification equips coaches, healers, and practitioners to create deeper, more predictable transformations.   What You'll Learn:   Why time doesn't heal betrayal (and what actually does )   The shocking statist...

Join host Dr. Debi as she sits down with Gre t ta Perlmutter, a certified PBT ® coach who specializes in helping people heal from ghosting. Gre t ta shares her personal journey from being ghosted multiple times to becoming an expert in understanding this painful form of betrayal and helping others move forward with confidence.     Key Topics Covered   Gre t ta's Personal Story   Being ghosted mult...

After 450 episodes, the podcast takes a new direction as host Dr. Debi shares the deeply personal story behind the Post Betrayal Transformation ® (PBT ® ) Certification Program—the only research-based program for healing from betrayal using the Five Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough.   What You'll Learn   The Personal Journey   How childhood betrayal and later spousal betrayal led to a transfor...

Guest   Dr. Ros en na Bakari  - Psychologist, Entrepreneur, and Transformational Guide   Episode Overview   In this powerful conversation, Dr. Rosina BaKari shares her wisdom on letting go of what no longer serves us and stepping into our next best chapters. As a psychologist and entrepreneur, Dr. BaKari brings both professional expertise and personal experience to guide listeners through the chal...

The holiday season can be especially challenging for those who've experienced betrayal. This episode explores how coaches and practitioners can help clients navigate the pain that surfaces during this time and introduces the strategic framework of the five stages from betrayal to breakthrough.   Key Topics Covered   The Holiday Challenge   The holidays bring up complex emotions for those who've be...

In this transformative episode, I sit down with my own teacher and mentor, Dr. Karen Parker, to explore the fascinating world of Quantum Human Design and how our stories literally shape our biology. Dr. Parker is a pioneer who studied with the founder of traditional Human Design and has taken the system to its next evolution—helping people not just understand who they're not, but consciously creat...

Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the PBT ® Institute, shares groundbreaking research on betrayal recovery and introduces the #1 betrayal recovery certification program specifically designed to help coaches, practitioners, and healthcare professionals guide clients through healing from betrayal.   Key Topics Covered   The Hidden Impact of Unhealed Betrayal   How unhealed betrayal shows up in relationshi...

In this transformative episode, host Dr. Debi Silber sits down with spiritual guide Panache Desai to challenge everything we've been taught about success, fulfillment, and self-worth. If you've achieved success by traditional standards but still feel unfulfilled, this conversation will completely shift your perspective.   Key Topics Covered:   Redefining Success   Why material success often leads...

In this powerful episode, we welcome Dr. Alman, co-creator of the groundbreaking ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study, to discuss trauma, betrayal, and the path to healing. Dr. Alman shares insights from decades of work with Kaiser Permanente and explains why all trauma contains elements of betrayal.   Key Topics Discussed   The Origins of the ACE Study   How the study began through Kaiser Pe...