In this episode of Rise: Hope and Healing After Sexual Betrayal, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, is joined by Dr. Karen Strange, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT, for a deeply compassionate conversation about what happens when betrayal trauma shakes not only our relationships—but also our faith, identity, and sense of meaning.

Together, they explore the often unspoken spiritual impact of betrayal and the painful questions that arise in the “messy middle” of healing, including: Why did this happen? Can I still trust my higher power? What do I believe now?

For many betrayed partners, recovery is not just about rebuilding trust with a spouse—it can also involve deconstructing and reconstructing long-held beliefs about God, safety, purpose, and self-worth. This episode holds space for that complexity with gentleness, honesty, and hope.

• How betrayal trauma can impact faith and spiritual identity
• Why anger at a higher power is a common and valid response
• The experience of feeling “betrayed by God” or spiritually abandoned
• How trauma can destabilize beliefs about meaning, safety, and self
• The role of grief in spiritual deconstruction and reconstruction
• Why the “messy middle” of not knowing is part of healing
• How clients begin to rebuild their spiritual foundation after betrayal
• The connection between truth, lies, and identity after trauma
• What it means to find your “why” in the midst of suffering

• Writing a letter to your higher power to express grief, anger, and questions
• Allowing and honoring emotions instead of suppressing them
• Identifying and challenging internalized “lies” after betrayal
• Practicing self-compassion during identity disruption
• Reframing painful experiences through meaning-making and reflection
• Seeking safe relational support during deconstruction and healing

• Spiritual deconstruction and reconstruction
• Emotional honesty in faith crises
• Identity loss and rebuilding after betrayal trauma
• Meaning-making in suffering
• The importance of safe connection and support
• Hope in the “messy middle” of healing

MaryAnn and Dr. Strange emphasize that questioning, wrestling, and even feeling anger toward a higher power are not signs of failure—they are often part of a deeply human healing process. Over time, many individuals find that their faith is not necessarily destroyed, but transformed.

Healing is not linear, and you are not alone in the questions you are carrying.

• "Man's Search For Meaning," Viktor Frankl
• GABIS https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Grief-scale
• Boundary Basics https://www.humanintimacy.com/course/boundary-basics
• Explore guided support and recovery tools: humanintimacy.com
• youtube.com/@human-intimacy