Are you struggling in the aftermath of infidelity? Are you searching for ways to heal and rebuild trust? If so, you’re going to want to listen to today’s episode.

Steph & Craig are joined by Michelle Mays, a Licensed Professional Counselor and author of The Betrayal Bind, How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst.

Michelle has developed a groundbreaking approach to help betrayed partners navigate their healing journey.

In this episode, she shares profound insights on the nature of betrayal and the types of core wounds it inflicts: attachment injury, emotional and psychological injury, and sexual injury.

She also breaks down how infidelity can lead to carried shame, where the betrayed partner feels undeserved shame, and offers strategies to release this misplaced burden.

She delves into the role of attachment in both infidelity and addiction, showing how individuals might use sex to regulate their emotions and meet attachment needs.

The discussion also addresses common misconceptions surrounding infidelity, such as the unjust blame placed on betrayed partners and the erroneous belief that infidelity always ties to sex addiction.

Michelle refutes the notion that "once a cheater, always a cheater," stressing that meaningful change is possible with self-reflection and committed effort.

Today’s episode is a powerful one and offers up a message of hope and inspiration that healing from infidelity is possible.

Connect with Steph & Craig:

Watch the episodes on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/@stephandcraig/?sub_confirmation=1

Follow Steph & Craig on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/stephandcraig

Steph & Craig on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/steph.and.craig/

Steph & Craig on TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@stephandcraig

Sign up for Steph & Craig’s newsletter- https://www.stephandcraig.co/

Disclaimer:

We’re just sharing our journey with you. We’re not licensed therapists, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Cool? Good deal. We’ll see you soon.

In this episode:

00:00 Understanding Carried Shame

03:09 Misconceptions About Infidelity

08:18 Distinguishing Infidelity and Sex Addiction

16:45 The Role of Attachment in Infidelity and Addiction

29:06 Releasing Carried Shame

33:18 Misconceptions About Infidelity and Relationships

33:47 Challenging Misconceptions about Infidelity

35:13 Infidelity as a Relationship Problem

38:32 The Phases of Healing After Infidelity

41:21 Navigating the Push-Pull Dynamic

56:39 Recognizing Green Flags in the Healing Journey

Connect with Michelle:

Follow Michelle on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleMaysChannel/?sub_confirmation=1

Check out Michelle on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/michellemays_/

Michelle’s Website- https://michellemays.com

Michelle on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMichelleMays/

Michelle’s book, The Betrayal Bind- https://michellemays.com/book

Expect the best. Plan for the greatest.

Is your internal dialogue negative or positive? Do the beliefs you hold about yourself uplift you, or are they toxic and self-defeating? If you struggle with negative self-talk, this episode is for you.

Today, Steph & Craig dive deep into the world of self-talk and the powerful impact it has on your life. They break down the negative thoughts and toxic self-beliefs that everyone experiences, reminding you that you're not alone in your shame.

In this episode, Steph & Craig explore their personal battles with negative self-talk and trace the roots of these harmful beliefs. They discuss practical strategies and tools that have helped them shift to a more positive and empowering internal dialogue.

They emphasize the importance of bringing awareness to the words you use every day and how words can shape your reality. You’ll learn how to reprogram your brain to see and feel differently about who you are and your place in this world.

By the end of this episode, you’ll be equipped with actionable insights and techniques to start reprogramming your self-talk and building a more positive self-image.

Connect with Steph & Craig:

Watch the episodes on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/@stephandcraig/?sub_confirmation=1

Follow Steph & Craig on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/stephandcraig

Steph & Craig on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/steph.and.craig/

Steph & Craig on TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@stephandcraig

Sign up for Steph & Craig’s newsletter- https://www.stephandcraig.co/

Disclaimer:

We’re just sharing our journey with you. We’re not licensed therapists, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Cool? Good deal. We’ll see you soon.

In this episode:

00:00 The Dichotomy of Optimism and Pessimism

03:04 The Role of Ego in Self-Talk

06:30 Challenging and Replacing Negative Self-Talk

10:30 The Influence of Programming on Self-Talk

17:03 The Journey of Healing and Recognizing Worthiness

42:10 Reprogramming Negative Self-Talk

43:09 The Power of Positive Affirmations

46:30 Challenging Societal Pressure to Be Negative

54:36 Stopping as a Starting Point

01:02:30 Struggling with Believing Positive Affirmations

01:09:10 Choosing What to Program

01:14:47 Bringing Awareness to Self-Talk

01:19:55 Expecting the Best and Planning for the Greatest

Expect the best. Plan for the greatest.

On today’s episode, Steph & Craig tackle a big issue in relationships: What’s the difference between pointing out your partner's imperfections and things you'd like them to change vs. nagging them and trying to control them to become the partner you want?

They discuss how to see the difference between the two and how they navigate the fine line that can exist in this space.

Steph & Craig also discuss the significant role society has played in shaping their relationship and the roles they each play.

They also respond to a listener question regarding emotional monitoring.

Tune in and get ready because there’s a good chance you’re going to be activated and fired up by the end. Hopefully in a good way.

Connect with Steph & Craig:

Watch the episodes on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/@stephandcraig/?sub_confirmation=1

Follow Steph & Craig on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/stephandcraig

Steph & Craig on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/steph.and.craig/

Steph & Craig on TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@stephandcraig

Sign up for Steph & Craig’s newsletter- https://www.stephandcraig.co/

Disclaimer:

We’re just sharing our journey with you. We’re not licensed therapists, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Cool? Good deal. We’ll see you soon.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction: Emotional Monitoring and Healing Childhood Wounds

05:01 Creating a Safe Environment for Healing and Change

09:41 Reprogramming Thoughts: The Practice of Positive Affirmations

14:23 The Lifelong Journey of Healing and Change

33:09 The Importance of Accountability and Taking Responsibility

35:04 Recognizing the Impact of Childhood Programming

37:07 Healing Through Relationships

41:29 Exploring Dynamics of Household Chores and Societal Programming

Expect the best. Plan for the greatest.