EP 47: A One on One Discussion with Psychotherapist Lauren LaRusso on Infidelity and Betrayal Trauma
Release Date: 06/18/2025
EP 59 with Sharon Rinearson: "I Don't Think I Could Have Been More Disrespected by my Husband..."
Sam's Healing Podcast
How does the betrayed understand the heinous choices of the unfaithful? "If my unfaithful truly cared about me, how could they make the choices they have made to be unfaithful and go outside the marriage?" How does the betrayed work through the understanding of why the unfaithful had such a flurry of activity for their affair partners, but NOT for the betrayed spouse themselves? How could they and how DID they work so hard for the affair partners but yet so little on the marriage and for their spouses? Sharon Rinearson—an expert therapist with 30+ years of...
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EP 58: "It Was Like a Death to the Life I Had Planned." A Betrayed Guest Shares Her Story
Sam's Healing Podcast
If you’re a betrayed partner, you know: infidelity can feel like a death. The death of a marriage. The loss of the life you planned. The shattering of what you thought you were living. For those who haven’t faced it, that comparison might sound dramatic—but for survivors, it’s reality. The grief and pain after discovering infidelity or addiction can be overwhelming, and “moving on” can feel impossible. Yet, in today’s episode, you’ll meet Joanie—a client and survivor—who bravely shares her journey for the first time. Joanie’s story is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful:...
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EP 57: Dr. Matthew Hedelius: Is My Spouse a Sex Addict or Just Dealing with Sexual Compulsivity?
Sam's Healing Podcast
Have you ever wondered if you or your partner was truly a sex addict? Perhaps you're wondering if you or your partner are maybe dealing with sexual compulsivity? What in fact is this 'sexual compulsivity?' Today you'll meet Dr. Matthew Hedelius Psy. D., LCSW, CSAT-S who has been a regular guest on the podcast over the years and is the Director of Paradise Creek Recovery Center. Dr. Matthew Hedelius earned a B.S. degree in Family Sciences, a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work and a Doctor of Psychology Degree. He has provided treatment for both men and women who...
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EP 56: Guest Amanda Asproni "My Unfaithful Keeps Wanting me, the Betrayed, to Rescue Them."
Sam's Healing Podcast
Today’s episode of Sam’s Healing Podcast features a courageous and deeply empathetic interview with Amanda Asproni as we confront the raw realities of infidelity and betrayal trauma. Together, we examine why so many unfaithful partners desperately want those they've betrayed to show up for them—longing for their partner to absorb and manage their shame, rescue them emotionally, and shoulder responsibility for healing, even after breaking trust. Amanda offers clear, compassionate insight into the tangled mix of guilt, regret, and helplessness that often overwhelms individuals who...
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Helping the Unfaithful Move From "Not It!" to "Got it!"
Sam's Healing Podcast
On today's episode of “Moving from Not It to Got It,” Sam takes listeners on an honest journey through the pivotal moment when an unfaithful spouse chooses to stop deflecting and starts owning their actions. The episode opens by breaking down the psychological reality of the “Not It” phase—where self-protection, avoidance, and justification keep an individual stuck, unable to truly connect with their partner or heal the damage from infidelity. The reality is, “Not It” causes a significant amount of collateral damage including but certainly not limited to: blocking all...
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EP 55: Dr. Jill Manning: Infidelity, Betrayal Trauma and and the Use of Alcohol to Escape
Sam's Healing Podcast
In the aftermath of betrayal trauma, many adults turn to alcohol or other substances in search of relief. It might feel like a way to escape, to quiet pain and overwhelm, or simply to get through another day. What’s really happening is “numbing out”—using alcohol and drugs to suppress painful emotions, calm anxiety, and insulate from distressing memories. The urge to numb out is understandable, but over time, relying on substances creates new problems and blocks authentic healing. As a clinician, Dr. Jill Manning is seeing a troubling increase in alcohol use among those suffering...
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EP 54: Guest Amanda Asproni Discusses: What Does Weaponizing Therapy or Coaching Look Like?
Sam's Healing Podcast
When infidelity or addiction has shaken a relationship, couples often turn to coaching or therapy for healing. These tools are designed to help people rebuild trust, understand pain, and create healthier patterns. At their best, they provide safety, empathy, and clarity. But when the language and frameworks of therapy or coaching are misused, they can become weapons. Instead of supporting healing, they deepen wounds, reinforce blame, and prevent genuine repair. After cheating or addiction, emotions are raw. One partner may grasp at therapy concepts to regain control or avoid...
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EP 53: How Could You? An Unfaithful Shares How He Allowed Himself to Cheat
Sam's Healing Podcast
Why does the unfaithful cheat or act out? What allows them to go against their moral compass and engage in an extramarital affair? How do they justify it to themselves? The truth may challenge what you've come to believe about some unfaithful partners. For some it's anger and getting their needs met. For others it can even be subconscious retaliation for the perceived rejection by their partner or spouse. For others it's an exit affair. Today you'll hear from Ryan who shares his own individual story of why he acted out and what was going on inside...
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EP 52: "I Was About to Lose Everything I Valued...." Interview with Ryan a Former Unfaithful
Sam's Healing Podcast
Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of an unfaithful when they are about to lose everything? Have you considered that maybe, just maybe there are those who sober up, realize what they are about to lose and actually do recovery work? Today you'll hear from Ryan again, a former unfaithful who shares more of his compelling journey to healing as an unfaithful spouse who finally GOT IT. He's no rock star. He's no superman or super human. He's simply one of so many who have chosen to do the work and do whatever it takes to save his family. Maybe...
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EP 51: Interview with Adam Nisenson "Well...you did that for them...why won't you do it for me?"
Sam's Healing Podcast
What does the betrayed do when they feel as though the unfaithful just won't do the work? Yet, the unfaithful, seemingly showed all sorts of effort to pursue their affair partner? What choices does the betrayed male have in understanding the heart and mind of the unfaithful woman? Are there parallels between the unfaithful male and unfaithful female? Today you'll hear from returning guest Adam Nisenson, AKA The Betrayal Shrink, as he answers these tough questions and more. Adam combines his extensive clinical skills with a deeply empathetic heart in his role as a...
info_outlineToday you'll meet Lauren LaRusso, a well known face on social media and true expert to those looking for hope, healing and new life after the discovery of infidelity.
Lauren holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Creative Writing from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a Masters in Professional Counseling from The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
In her years of work as a psychotherapist in private practice, Lauren has helped countless individuals and couples process the extramarital affairs that are impacting their life. Infidelity affected her own life along with the lives of countless others she's cared about. It eventually became a clear path for her mission to help others dealing with the aftermath of infidelity and betrayal.
With her unique lens, she combines valuable lived experience and specialized professional expertise to provide intensive, solution-focused consultation to clients far and wide who are struggling with infidelity. She has helped countless individuals transform their life's greatest challenges into opportunities for positive growth and change in her private psychotherapy practice. She uses a relational, trauma-informed, and recovery-focused approach to her work with individuals and couples far and wide who are navigating the complex and painful dynamics of marital affairs.
You can find more about Laura and her practice by visiting her website:
https://www.laurenlarusso.com
For more help or information about Sam you can reach out to him personally at samshealingpodcast@gmail.com
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Sam’s Healing Podcast is brought to you by one of infidelity recovery’s most prominent and gifted influencers and YouTuber. For 15 years, Samuel has been online as one of the the leading spokespersons for healing and recovery of both betrayed and unfaithful spouses. After more than a decade of blogging and filming under one of the betrayal trauma’s founding fathers, famed clinician Rick Reynolds of affairrecovery.com, Sam has ventured out to pursue, create and live out his lifelong vision and passion for healing those touched by the trauma of infidelity. Through his new podcast and YouTube channel Samuel will continue to bring his own personal experiences with infidelity recovery along with delivering the most current and up-to-date clinical wisdom and healing modalities for recovery after an affair. Sam will also be expanding into the other critical areas of developing healthy relationships such as emotional and sexual connection, the impact of childhood sexual abuse and dysfunctional patterns of relating on marital intimacy, problematic communication patterns, complex, attachment and intergenerational trauma, compulsive sexual behavior, boundaries and the importance of inner-child healing work. Reach out to contact Samuel for personal coaching sessions at samshealingpodcast@gmail.com.