Helping Couples Heal Podcast

On this special episode of the Helping Couples Heal Podcast, Marnie and Maddie are joined by Ally, Amy, and Shauna, who attended our first Empowered at Sea retreat. Together, they share honest reflections about what it was like to step away from daily responsibilities, prioritize their own healing, and spend a week surrounded by women who understand the pain of betrayal trauma.
The conversation explores the unique experience of healing in community, the power of being seen and understood, and the relief of no longer carrying the weight of betrayal alone. They discuss the connections they formed, the courage it took to show up vulnerably, and how the retreat created space for both grief and joy to coexist.
From trauma release exercises and group discussions to laughter, dancing, and unexpected moments of delight, this episode highlights an important truth: healing is not only about processing pain. It is also about reconnecting with yourself, reclaiming your voice, and remembering that joy is still possible.
Whether you're feeling isolated in your healing, wondering if you'll ever feel like yourself again, or curious about the healing power of community, this conversation offers hope, validation, and a reminder that you do not have to walk this journey alone.
The second annual Empowered at Sea retreat will take place August 1-7, 2026. To learn more about the retreat and register, click here.
Want to connect with us? Click here to schedule your free 15-minute call.

In this episode, Marnie speaks with Candice Christiansen about navigating betrayal trauma through the lens of neuro-difference, an incredibly important topic we have not focused on before on the Helping Couples Heal Podcast. Together, they explore why traditional recovery models may not always meet the needs of individuals and couples navigating autism, ADHD, trauma, and betrayal.
Candice shares both her personal story and more than two decades of clinical experience supporting neuro-different adults and couples. Together, she and Marnie explore how betrayal trauma can impact neuro-different nervous systems, why a neuro-affirming approach can be an important part of recovery, and how couples can begin understanding each other’s communication styles, sensory experiences, and expressions of empathy with clarity and compassion.
Their conversation also touches on the added complexity of betrayal trauma when autism or ADHD may be present, common misunderstandings around empathy and emotional processing, and how healing often requires individualized support rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. 
Throughout the episode, Candice offers compassion, clarity, and hope for individuals and couples navigating betrayal trauma alongside neuro-difference, and reinforces that healing looks different for every person. Meaningful support and connection are possible.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Learn more about Candice and her work here: CandiceChristiansen.com
Visit the Namaste Center for Healing here: Namasté Center for Healing
Interested in Candice’s book Love, Sex & Autism? Learn more and purchase here: Love, Sex & Autism
Candice mentions Embrace Autism as a helpful resource for autism education and self-screening tools: Embrace Autism Website
Interested in Candice’s Autism Self-Screening Tool? Reach out to her at candice@namasteadvice.com
Want to connect with us? Click here to schedule your free 15-minute call.

In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie sits down with Ned Fulmer, YouTuber, producer, content creator, and online personality, for a deeply honest conversation about the consequences of betrayal, what he has come to understand about its impact on his wife Ariel, and the long road of accountability and healing that follows.

While much of Ned’s story became publicly known through the discovery of his affair, this conversation moves beyond the headlines and into the emotional reality of what came after. Ned reflects on the collapse of his private and public life, and the profound ways his choices impacted his marriage, his wife, his identity, and his sense of self.

He speaks about what he has learned through treatment and recovery, including how denial, compartmentalization, and distorted thinking contributed to his behavior. Over time, through therapy and structured support, he began to recognize the depth of harm caused to his partner and the reality of partner trauma in a more embodied and personal way.

Ned also shares what the consequences of his actions looked like in real time, including the loss of relationships, career disruption, public scrutiny, and the internal reckoning that followed. Within that collapse, he describes the beginning of a different kind of work, one centered on accountability, emotional honesty, and rebuilding a life grounded in integrity rather than image.

Throughout the conversation, Marnie and Ned explore the impact of betrayal on the nervous system and identity of the betrayed partner, and what it takes for a betraying partner to begin truly seeing and understanding that level of pain without minimizing, denying, or bypassing it.

If you or your partner are navigating the aftermath of betrayal and want support, we invite you to connect with our team to explore what healing might look like for you and how we can best support you in your healing journey. You can click here to book your free 15-minute call.

In this episode, Marnie talks with Patty, a female betrayer, and Judith Nisenson, a betrayal trauma coach, to confront the often-ignored reality that women betray too. They dive deep into the unique patterns of female betrayal, the emotional drivers behind it, and the specific challenges women face when seeking recovery in a field traditionally focused on male betrayers.
The conversation explores:
Patty’s personal story: A brave and vulnerable account of a lifelong pattern of betrayal, from early childhood emotional detachment and teenage sexual trauma to two marriages and a secret sexual basement.
The nuances of female infidelity: Judith discusses why women's reasons for cheating often differ from men's, highlighting themes of emotional neglect, a lack of self-identity, and the chameleon effect of morphing to fit others' expectations.
The double standard of shame: A discussion on the societal and "Scarlet Letter" stigmas that create an extra layer of isolation and self-loathing for female betrayers.
A roadmap to recovery: Vital resources for healing are shared, including 12-step programs (SAA, SLAA) and specialized coaching groups.

Whether you are a woman or a man, a betrayer seeking to understand your own patterns or a betrayed partner navigating the trauma of betrayal, this episode offers a compassionate and honest space for healing and hope.
Resources:
Helping Couples Heal Services: Click here to learn more about our ongoing coaching group for female betrayers.
Connect with Judith Nisenson: Visit womenswrk.com to learn more about Judith’s work with female betrayers.
Join a Coaching Group: Explore Judith’s eight-week curriculum-based coaching groups for women by clicking here.
Tune in to "Women Cheat Too": Check out Judith's podcast for bite-sized episodes on navigating female betrayal here.
Resources for Men: To learn more about the male betrayed partners group led by Adam (Judith’s husband), click here.
Want to connect with us? Click here to book your free 15-minute call

In this episode, Marnie welcomes back her friend and longtime collaborator, Gemini Adams, a renowned somatic practitioner. Together, they explore a missing piece of the healing journey that many couples overlook: the body. While traditional talk therapy is vital, Marnie and Gemini discuss why cognitive understanding often isn’t enough to move couples out of the painful, repetitive cycles of betrayal trauma.
Gemini shares her personal journey from living with the effects of complex PTSD and chronic conflict avoidance to finding what she calls "conflict confidence." They dive deep into the science of the nervous system, explaining why the betrayed partner is often "flooded" with sensation while the betrayer may be completely numb or dissociated.
This conversation is a foundational look at the tools needed to move out of survival mode and back into what Gemini calls the "Green Zone," the place where relational connection and empathy actually become possible again.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The Power of Interception: Why many survivors lose the ability to feel their own physical needs and how to begin reconnecting with their body’s cues.
The Relational Nervous System: Why you literally cannot listen, retain information, or connect with your partner when you are in a state of fight, flight, or freeze.
Numbness vs. Flooding: How to understand the different trauma responses between the person who caused the harm and the person who was betrayed.
Building "Adult Self": How somatic skills help you stay grounded as an adult rather than being "ping-ponged" by inner-child survival responses.
Triggered to Together: An introduction to Marnie and Gemini’s new program designed to help couples manage triggers and crisis moments in real-time.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming 12-week Triggered to Together programs for couples and individuals. 
Want to connect with us? Click here to schedule your free 15-minute call.