Healing Betrayed Families

Morgan Ellsworth
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Healing Betrayed Families explores how families can recover, rebuild, and strengthen after betrayal. Hosted by Morgan Ellsworth, LAMFT, BCC, CCPS-A, CPC, this podcast offers trauma-informed conversations rooted in both personal and professional insights. Each episode provides practical tools, compassionate insights, and conversations that illuminate what healing looks like for partners, parents, and children impacted by betrayal. Whether you are a betrayed partner, a family member trying to understand, or a professional supporting families, this podcast exists to support you in your journey.

  1. 1h ago

    Episode 38: Caretaking, Betrayal, and Finding My Own Work with Sammy Uyama

    In this episode of Healing Betrayed Families, Morgan sits down with Sammy Uyama, a recovery coach at Choose Recovery Services who has spent nearly a decade helping men repair their relationships after betrayal. Sammy also knows this work from the inside. As an adult living in Korea, married and with a baby on the way, he discovered his father's affair and became the one who told his mom. He describes the ground disappearing beneath his feet, the shame he carried for someone else's choices, and how quickly he fell into his lifelong family role of caretaker and mediator. He also shares the long, quiet road back to his dad. That road ran through his father's sustained recovery work and through Sammy's own work: seeing his father as a flawed human being and understanding the isolation his dad lived with as an immigrant. It ended with a phone call that brought his father to tears. Together, Morgan and Sammy explore the "betrayed child" experience at every age, from teens still living at home to adult children building families of their own. They talk about why repair takes two-way witnessing between parent and child, how common it is for men in recovery to be betrayed children themselves, and why healing with your kids is its own lane, separate from individual and couples work. Sammy's advice to parents is to start with your own recovery, because your kids will feel the difference even if they never see the work. Morgan adds a reminder: if you can't be fully present for your children right now, make sure they have safe, supportive people walking alongside them. To connect with Sammy, visit his bio on the Choose Recovery Services website and schedule a free consult. About Sammy Uyama Sammy is a recovery coach who helps individuals and couples navigate compulsive behaviors, relational disconnection, shame, and the deeper wounds that drive them. His work centers on the belief that many destructive patterns are not ultimately rooted in desire for pleasure, but in the human longing to feel loved, safe, seen, and worthy. Email: samuyama@gmail.com Work with Sammy Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  Enjoyed This Episode? If this conversation resonated with you, here are three ways you can support the show: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a Review — Reviews help other people in the betrayal trauma community find this podcast when they need it most. It only takes a minute and means the world. 📲 Share This Episode — Know someone who needs to hear this? Send it to them. Share it on your social media. You never know who might be waiting for exactly this conversation. About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  2. Sep 28

    Episode 37: Meet Your Parts: An Introduction to Internal Family Systems

    In this episode, Morgan gives a listener-friendly introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS), also known as parts work — the idea that we're each made up of an internal "family" of parts. She walks through the core roles: burdened or exiled parts that carry old pain, shame, and fear; protector parts that work to keep that pain hidden, including reactive firefighters (rage, numbing, addiction, shutting down) and proactive managers (perfectionism, people-pleasing, overfunctioning); and Self, the calm, compassionate, curious core beneath all of it that IFS founder Richard Schwartz says every person has access to, even when it's buried. Morgan connects this framework directly to betrayal trauma — for betrayed partners, betraying partners, and children alike, parts work offers language for why someone can feel love and rage in the same breath, or why "acting out" behavior is often a protector doing its job, not a character flaw. Understanding parts doesn't excuse harmful behavior or replace accountability and repair, but it can build compassion for yourself and for others in the family system as everyone works toward healing. She recommends No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz and Altogether You by Jenna Riemersma for anyone wanting to go deeper, and points listeners to a companion parts-work handout linked below. Parts Work Handout No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz  Altogether You by Jenna Riemersma Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  Enjoyed This Episode? If this conversation resonated with you, here are three ways you can support the show: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a Review — Reviews help other people in the betrayal trauma community find this podcast when they need it most. It only takes a minute and means the world. 📲 Share This Episode — Know someone who needs to hear this? Send it to them. Share it on your social media. You never know who might be waiting for exactly this conversation. About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  3. Sep 21

    Episode 36: Breaking the Cycle Together: Kenley & Tyler's Story

    Morgan sits down with newlyweds Kenly and Tyler Meek, who met at 16 — just three days after Kenly's parents announced their divorce following her father's infidelity. Kenly shares what it was like growing up as a "betrayed daughter" inside a faith community where her family's story became public knowledge, the years-long road to finding the right therapist, and how boundary violations compounded the original betrayal. Tyler reflects on stepping into a support role as a teenage boyfriend, the toll of unintentionally absorbing "every role" in Kenly's life, and how his own family's healthier communication patterns shaped his approach. Together they talk candidly about parts work, nervous system triggers, and what it takes to become a generational cycle-breaker. The conversation offers hope for anyone who fears betrayal trauma means they can't build a healthy relationship.  Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  Enjoyed This Episode? If this conversation resonated with you, here are three ways you can support the show: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a Review — Reviews help other people in the betrayal trauma community find this podcast when they need it most. It only takes a minute and means the world. 📲 Share This Episode — Know someone who needs to hear this? Send it to them. Share it on your social media. You never know who might be waiting for exactly this conversation. About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  4. Sep 14

    Episode 35: Let Their Body Lead: Somatic Practices for Kids

    In this episode, Morgan Ellsworth explores why children need somatic tools, not just conversation, to process stress and trauma. Kids, especially younger ones, often don't yet have the language or emotional maturity to express what they're feeling, so betrayal trauma and other stressors tend to show up in the body first: stomach aches, sleep issues, meltdowns, shutdown, or big emotional outbursts. Morgan shares practical, playful practices parents can use at home, including belly breathing, wiggle breaks, five-senses scavenger hunts, safe ways to release anger (like a punching bag or trampoline), and sensory swings — many drawn straight from her own experience parenting her young kids. Morgan also unpacks the concept of co-regulation, explaining why children's nervous systems are so attuned to their parents that self-regulation often isn't realistic at a young age, meaning parents modeling their own regulation is one of the most powerful tools available. She closes with guidance on creating predictable calm-down routines at home and a reminder not to push kids to "use their words" before their bodies are ready. This episode is a warm, practical guide for any parent wanting to better attune to what their child's body is communicating. Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  Enjoyed This Episode? If this conversation resonated with you, here are three ways you can support the show: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a Review — Reviews help other people in the betrayal trauma community find this podcast when they need it most. It only takes a minute and means the world. 💬 Join the Community — Connect with others who are navigating this same journey. You don't have to do this alone.  📲 Share This Episode — Know someone who needs to hear this? Send it to them. Share it on your social media. You never know who might be waiting for exactly this conversation. About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  5. Sep 7

    Episode 34: When Talk Therapy Isn't Enough: Brainspotting for Betrayal Trauma

    In this episode of Healing Betrayed Families, Morgan Ellsworth introduces brainspotting, a body-based trauma processing modality that uses fixed eye position to access stuck emotion and trauma stored in the brain and nervous system. Morgan shares the origin story of brainspotting (discovered by David Grand during an EMDR session with a professional figure skater), how it differs from talk therapy and EMDR, and why it's especially effective for betrayal trauma, which so often lives in the body as hypervigilance, flashbacks, and freeze responses. Morgan also walks through what a typical brainspotting session looks like, from identifying an activation or resource spot to the wide range of ways clients process (verbally, internally, or through somatic release), and offers guidance on aftercare, journaling, and giving yourself grace as your body works through months or years of stored trauma. Whether you're new to trauma therapy or looking to deepen work you're already doing in coaching or support groups, this episode offers a compassionate look at how brainspotting can unlock healing that talk alone sometimes can't reach. Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  6. Aug 31

    Episode 33: Divorce as an Awakening: Legal Wisdom, Family Healing & Breaking Generational Cycles with Katie Padilla

    In this episode, I sit down with Katie Padilla — family law attorney, certified family law specialist, and founder of Bloom Family Law in Oakland, California. With 12 years of experience across litigation, mediation, and consulting, Katie has built something truly unique: a law firm that also houses a team of vetted divorce coaches to support the whole person through one of life's most disorienting transitions. She shares how she came to see divorce not as a failure, but as an invitation to awaken — a catalyst for deep personal growth, boundary-setting, and intentional living. We explore what the research actually says about how divorce impacts children (spoiler: it's conflict, not divorce, that causes harm), and how parents who do their own healing work end up modeling emotional intelligence and safety for the next generation. Katie also reflects on her own experience as a child of divorce, the Buddhist teaching that changed her relationship to self-awareness, and why humility, not perfection, is the true currency of cycle-breaking. This conversation closes with a reminder that feels especially fitting for the work we do here: we are all just walking each other home. Whether you're in the thick of betrayal, navigating a family in transition, or simply trying to show up 1% better than you did before — you are not alone in that journey. 🎵 Walking Each Other Home by Emma Nissen About Katie Padilla Katie Padilla is a Certified Family Law Specialist, founder of Bloom Family Law, and a collaboratively trained attorney, certified coach, and meditation teacher who has spent 12 years reimagining what family law can look like. As a child of divorce, she felt firsthand the cost of prolonged conflict, and that experience became the foundation of everything she has built at Bloom. Katie believes divorce is not just an ending. It is an invitation to meet yourself more deeply than you ever have before. Her practice blends rigorous legal expertise with trauma-informed coaching and a genuine commitment to keeping families out of unnecessary conflict, and her clients leave not just with resolved cases, but with a renewed sense of who they are and what they are capable of. Email Katie Visit her Website Follow her on instagram Join us for the Becoming Together: Mother-Daughter Retreat Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  7. Aug 30 ·  Bonus

    *Bonus Episode* The Choosing Different Mini Series: What I Wish I'd Done Differently

    In this episode of the Choosing Different mini-series, Morgan is joined by her mom, Hali Roderick, and her sister, Mataia Robinson, for an honest conversation about betrayal trauma's impact on the whole family, not just the marriage. Hali reflects on what she believed she was doing right at the time (staying reassuring, keeping hard details between the adults) and what she's since learned she missed about how her daughters were actually experiencing it. Mataia and Morgan share what that season of family trauma recovery looked like from where they were standing as kids, and how it's shaping the choices they make now as young moms of their own. Together they talk about the protective patterns that form in the middle of survival mode, why validating both the parent's experience and the child's experience matters for real healing, and what it looks like to break old patterns on purpose instead of by accident. The episode closes with an invitation to the Becoming Together mother/daughter retreat. Join us for the Becoming Together: Mother-Daughter Retreat Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

  8. Aug 24

    Episode 32: Hidden Sexuality: The Impact on Partners and Families with Karen Bieman

    In this episode, Australian therapist Karen Bieman explores the complexities of relational trauma caused by hidden sexualities and gender identities. She discusses the emotional impact on partners and families when one member conceals their identity, emphasizing the differences between sexual orientation, identity, and behavior. Karen highlights the unique challenges of betrayal trauma in these situations, where partners often question the authenticity of their relationships. Through her insights, she encourages empathy and understanding, reminding us that despite the difficulties, healing and transformation are possible for every family system. Join us for this enlightening conversation about finding hope amidst chaos. About Karen Bieman Karen Bieman is an Australian therapist, APSATS Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS), and Certified Deceptive Sexuality & Trauma Therapist. She is the founder of Not My Closet, a platform supporting partners impacted by betrayal trauma related to hidden same‑sex attraction, concealed gender identity, and undisclosed sexual orientation. Karen works with partners navigating the psychological and relational fallout of long‑term secrecy, including loss of sexual-relational reality and identity shock. Her work is grounded in trauma‑informed, partner‑centred care that prioritises truth, emotional safety, and recovery. Connect with Karen Email: karen@notmycloset.com Karen’s Website Facebook page Instagram Clinical supervision & consultation Join Karen’s email newsletter. She offers support and encouragement for straight spouses, partners of trans people, grown children of mixed-orientation marriages, straight allies, and even therapists, coaches and peer workers Join us for the Becoming Together: Mother-Daughter Retreat Register for “Witnessed” coaching groups for teens and adult children  About the Host Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma. Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com Visit Morgan’s coaching website For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Healing Betrayed Families explores how families can recover, rebuild, and strengthen after betrayal. Hosted by Morgan Ellsworth, LAMFT, BCC, CCPS-A, CPC, this podcast offers trauma-informed conversations rooted in both personal and professional insights. Each episode provides practical tools, compassionate insights, and conversations that illuminate what healing looks like for partners, parents, and children impacted by betrayal. Whether you are a betrayed partner, a family member trying to understand, or a professional supporting families, this podcast exists to support you in your journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Morgan Ellsworth
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Morgan Ellsworth
  • Show Website
    Healing Betrayed Families

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