Choose To Be with Choose Recovery Services; Betrayal Trauma Healing

This week Alana joins Luke Gordon on his podcast, Beyond the Facade , as they explore the crucial first step in overcoming compulsive behavior: breaking through denial.  Learn about the importance of accepting feedback, taking responsibility, and facing discomfort to become your true self and transform your relationships. Intensive for Couples: Rebuilding Us: A Path to Deeper Connection - Register...

Are you trapped in a cycle of anxiety and hypervigilance due to betrayal trauma? Join Amie as she dives into understanding hypervigilance and its deep-rooted impacts on your mental and physical health.  Learn practical strategies to let go, build self-trust, and find peace within yourself. Explore how to shift from control to curiosity and soothe your nervous system in the path towards healing. Re...

Did you know Choose Recovery offers free monthly webinars ? This week we are replaying the January webinar which explores the powerful world of somatic healing and Brainspotting.  Discover how these therapeutic techniques can transform your recovery journey, manage intrusive thoughts, and enhance your emotional well-being. This episode will enlighten you on the importance of getting into your body...

When it comes to healing from betrayal, doing the right thing at the wrong time can backfire. Join us for a special podcast bonus episode as Alana and Hali Roderick (Choose Recovery Services coach and co-host of the podcast Choosing to Stay ) discuss the intricacies of couples work post-betrayal.  They emphasize the importance of early recovery steps, highlighting the need for safety and stability...

Abuse can happen anywhere - including places that are meant to provide safety. This week Alana welcomes Lisa Compton ( Instagram ) and Taylor Patterson to the podcast. Lisa and Taylor are the authors of the book Skills for Safeguarding . Together they discuss the urgent need for safeguarding in church communities.  Learn how faith-based organizations can better prevent abuse and support trauma sur...

This week Luke Gordon joins Alana as he opens up about living with ADHD and demand avoidance. Luke and Alana explore how these dynamics impact their interactions and the steps they take to maintain a balanced and empathetic relationship. This episode offers a real-time glimpse into their ongoing journey individually and relationally of self-awareness, accountability, and mutual support. Luke Gordo...

Sometimes it can feel like triggers are overwhelming and impossible to handle. Listen in as Amie and Alana explore triggers - what causes them, why they persist, and most importantly, how to manage them in a healthy way. Together they share their personal experiences with triggers and outline several exercises and tools for emotional regulation that you can implement immediately in your healing jo...

Do you feel like you’re not doing boundaries “right,” or you worry that your boundaries aren’t working? Join Alana and special guest Laura Fisher (fellow coach at Choose Recovery Services) as they discuss the critical importance of boundaries in recovering from betrayal trauma. Learn about differentiating requests from boundaries, the importance of understanding your personal values, and the empow...

What happens in your body when you hear difficult conversations about narcissism, betrayal trauma, and abuse? Join Amie and Alana this week as they address emotionally charged topics and how those topics can trigger strong reactions in both your body and mind. Listen in as they share insights about the importance of paying attention to your body’s responses and as they explain how these natural re...

What happens to your brain and body when the reality you thought you knew completely shatters? This week Amie explores how betrayal trauma often leads to reality collapse and reality fragmentation. Learn what these terms are, how to navigate the emotional whirlwind they bring, and how to begin rebuilding trust in yourself and in your reality once again. Coming Up! Brainspotting Intensive - Join Am...

Do you feel like you’re barely able to keep your head above water and wonder if you’ll ever feel good again? Join Amie and Alana this week as they explore the challenges that come from living in survival mode. Explore the impact of staying in unsafe environments and learn the importance of radical acceptance and self-awareness. Understand how your body responds to emotional trauma and learn about...

The word “narcissist” gets thrown around a lot, but is that label even helpful? Join Amie and Alana this week as they invite Gary Katz to weigh in on this important topic. Gary is a certified sex addiction therapist as well as the founder of the Center for Intimacy Recovery in New York. Together they unpack the nuances of labeling behavior, the risks of misdiagnosis, the profound impact of betraya...

Join Amie this week for a heartfelt discussion on the concept of graceful acknowledgment, especially during the challenging holiday season.  Learn practical steps to gently validate your feelings without the pressure to feel gratitude before you’re ready. Discover realistic expectations and self-compassion strategies to navigate triggers and emotional turmoil more effectively. Referenced in this e...

Join us this week as we revisit one of our most popular episodes from 2022. The road to recovery can be a long and difficult road. When you don't know where you are headed and how to get there, it can feel even more daunting. Join Alana, Amie, and their guest, Luke Gordon, as they unpack the stages of individual and relational healing. They emphasize the necessity of humility, transparency, vulner...

Join Amie and Alana as they conclude their series on full therapeutic disclosures by discussing why disclosure is not the end of the journey and what steps to take next.  They explore the importance of shared grief, the significance of building a plan for rebuilding trust, and the pitfalls to avoid post-disclosure. Learn about crafting personalized aftercare plans that include therapy, support sys...

Amie and Alana have an informative and powerful conversation with Jared Rockwell, a polygraph examiner and a LCSW. He is a nationally recognized leader in his field and offers his expert thoughts today around how polygraphs works, why they are so important for rebuilding trust in a relationship, and what they are NOT used for.  Learn how this tool can be an important part of the full disclosure pr...

Curious about where to even begin when thinking about full therapeutic disclosures? Join Amie, Alana, and guest, Luke Gordon, as they discuss the emotional preparation needed for both partners, especially focusing on the betrayer’s steps toward full transparency.  Learn how to navigate the complexities of disclosure including the importance of empathy, the role of professionals, how to approach qu...

The holidays are quickly approaching. Are you emotionally ready for them? Today we are thrilled to welcome Sarah Morales, the "deconstructing gaslighting guru," as she shares strategies for taking back control of the holiday season.  Sarah offers practical insights on recognizing toxic patterns and protecting your emotional wellbeing. She previews her upcoming workshop that will help you move from...

This week Luke again joins Amie and Alana as they explore the fears and barriers of full therapeutic disclosure in relationships. Listen in as they emphasize the importance of a structured disclosure process, the power of letting go of outcomes, and the transformative potential of embracing vulnerability. This episode highlights creating a safe space for healing and how letting go can lead to deep...

Are you curious about whether you're ready for a full therapeutic disclosure? Join Amie, Alana, and Luke as they discuss this critical question. They explore the importance of timing, mutual respect, and emotional readiness for both partners.  Whether you're the betrayed or the betrayer, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate this challenging but potentially transformative proc...

Today we dive deeper into therapeutic disclosures and address main concerns that often arise when considering them for you and your partner.  We delve into various reasons why therapeutic disclosures are crucial, and we explore reasons why a full disclosure might not be appropriate. 00:25 The Importance of Full Therapeutic Disclosure 03:11 Informed Consent in Relationships 07:19 Truth and Transpar...

Dive into a candid conversation as Luke Gordon, an expert in betrayal trauma and men's mental health, joins Alana. Together they tackle pressing questions many women have about their partner's troubling behaviors.  Luke provides raw, honest insights into the mind of someone struggling with betraying and addiction. He tackles tough questions about trust, self-worth, and the devastating impacts of c...

You’ve heard us talk about the intensives that Choose Recovery Services hosts, but how do you know if they’re the right fit for you?  Listen to this special episode as Alana goes into detail about our upcoming Courage to Thrive Intensive . Learn what the intensive is, who it is for, and what it can do for your healing and growth.  Over four transformative days, you’ll gain the tools, skills, and s...

In this episode, we introduce a series focused on full therapeutic disclosures. Hosts, including Luke Gordon, delve into the importance and process of full therapeutic disclosures in therapy. We discuss how Choose Recovery Services sets a higher standard for these disclosures and emphasize their role in rebuilding trust and intimacy in relationships. We guide both betrayed and betraying partners t...

Our guest today is Rachel Hagstrom. She is on the blogger team with Affair Recovery, a board certified functional medicine health coach, and has a desire to walk alongside women who are navigating infidelity and betrayal, and help them discover ways they can support themselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You can contact Rachel HERE Today Rachel discusses the importance of u...