From Betrayal To Breakthrough

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...

In this deeply insightful episode, Dr. Debi Silber sits down with addiction expert Amber Hollingsworth to explore the complex intersection between betrayal and addiction —and the impact it has on partners, families, and loved ones.   Amber, who grew up in a family affected by addiction and went on to dedicate her career to helping families heal, shares raw and eye-opening truths about how addictio...

In this solo episode, Dr. Debi shares 11 anonymized, real-world scenarios showing how unhealed betrayal quietly derails performance, leadership, health, and culture at work. From weight changes and gut issues to micromanagement, perfectionism, disengagement, and self-betrayal, you'll see how a personal rupture (even years old) can surface on the job—and what to do about it. You'll also hear resear...

Betrayal shakes our sense of safety and self-trust—and that lights up fear. In this conversation, fear researcher and author Dr. Mary Poffenroth breaks fear down into plain language and gives you practical, physiology-first tools to calm the brain in the moment . We cover how fear hijacks the amygdala (your alarm system), how to bring the prefrontal cortex (clear thinking) back online, and how to...

Family betrayal cuts deeper than almost any other wound. These are the very people we expect to love, guide, and protect us—and when they break that trust, the pain is overwhelming and confusing.   In this episode, Dr. Debi Silber explores how early family betrayals shape our beliefs, relationships, health, and work. She shares her own personal story of family betrayal, how she questioned the beli...

In this episode, Dr. Debi sits down with Tim Wi enecke , Air Force veteran, licensed clinician, and host of American Masculinity . Tim brings a rare and necessary perspective on the often-overlooked intersection of men, betrayal, and moral injury —a form of trauma that arises when individuals are forced to act against their own values, often within systems they once trusted.   Together, we explore...

From gang life and juvenile detention to martial arts mastery and life coaching - Sensei Dave Armstrong's journey is a testament to human resilience. After facing prostate cancer at 50 and experiencing profound betrayal when his wife of 11 years left during his darkest hour, Dave shares the powerful tools that helped him rebuild and find hope again. Living retired in Greece with an ocean view, he...

When betrayal and divorce collide, the emotional toll is staggering—but the financial consequences can be just as devastating. In this candid and deeply informative episode, Dr. Debi sits down with financial strategist and divorce expert Gabriella Martinelli to unpack one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of betrayal recovery: understanding and managing your money when trust has been sha...

In this deeply vulnerable and empowering episode, I sit down with author, speaker, and somatic practitioner, Laurie James , to unpack her remarkable journey from decades of nervous system dysregulation to deep, body-based healing.   Laurie's story begins in childhood, where she endured the pain of adoption complexities, sibling abuse, and growing up in a home where she never felt truly safe. These...

In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Debi Silber is joined by author and transformational guide Megan Walrod , whose debut novel It's Always Been Me is not just a story— it's a healing journey. What began as a personal process to move through her own betrayal turned into a breathtaking fictional narrative that reflects the five stages from betrayal to breakthrough.   Megan shares how writing the cha...

📝 Episode Summary:   In this heart-opening episode, Dr. Debi Silber sits down with PBT ® Coach Lisa Teichmiller to explore the essential—but often overlooked—role of grief in the betrayal recovery journey. Lisa shares her personal story of navigating betrayal not just in her marriage, but in her business and identity, offering a raw and relatable testimony of what it takes to truly rebuild from t...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Debi Silber dives into one of the most misunderstood yet essential parts of healing after betrayal: forgiveness . She explores forgiveness from two sides— forgiving ourselves and forgiving others —and unpacks the deep misconceptions that keep people stuck in pain, resentment, and confusion.   You'll learn why forgiveness doesn't mean reconciliation, how it affects you...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Debi Silber sits down with licensed psychotherapist and author Chelsea Brooke Cole to unpack the intersection of narcissism and agreeableness. Chelsea shares her personal journey through two narcissistic marriages—one with a grandiose narcissist, and the other with a vulnerable one—and how her agreeable nature played a key role in why she stayed. Together, they explor...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Debi welcomes back Elizabeth Kipp—one of our beloved PBT Coaches—for a deep dive into the mental spiral that often follows betrayal. They explore the imprint trauma leaves on the nervous system, how to catch yourself in old patterns, and simple yet effective tools to get back into the body and regain a sense of control. Elizabeth shares real-life stories, explain...

In this episode, Dr. Debi Silber explores the difficult but essential topic of enabling —how we unknowingly prevent both ourselves and others from experiencing the crash-and-burn moments necessary for transformation. Drawing from real conversations with PBT ® members, certified coaches, and personal experiences , Dr. Debi reveals how enabling behavior keeps betrayers from feeling the full impact o...

In this powerful episode, I'm joined by Dr. Bruce Chalmer—psychologist, author, and podcast host—for an in-depth discussion about betrayal, forgiveness, and the path to healing. Dr. Chalmer shares his deeply personal journey from pain to purpose, what drew him into clinical work with couples, and why betrayal demands a very different approach to healing. We talk about the distinction between guilt...