In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie sits down with Dr. Crystal Hollenbeck, a therapist, trauma survivor, and author of Betrayal Trauma Anger: You’re Not Crazy, You’re Angry, and You Should Be. They explore a topic that is often misunderstood and shamed: the intense and very normal anger experienced by betrayed partners after betrayal.
For too long, the clinical field has labeled this anger as “vengeful” or “unforgiving.” Crystal helps us flip that narrative, showing why anger is a natural, healthy response to the profound injustice of betrayal and an important part of the healing journey.
In this episode, you will hear about:
Why anger is a natural response and how betrayal creates deep emotional and nervous system reactions
The S.C.I.P. Protocol, Crystal’s 4-step tool, Sit down, Calm down, Identify, and Process, for navigating triggers
Anger on the brain and why it is impossible to reason through a trigger when the amygdala is hijacked
Reframing for the partner who betrayed and how accountability, consistency, and presence can reduce ongoing anger
Moving toward repair and how seeing anger as a signal of wounding rather than a flaw supports connection and empathy
By reframing anger as a signal of wounding rather than a character flaw, couples can move from defensiveness to empathy, and from shame to true repair.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Marnie Breecker. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Marnie Breecker och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
