Deconstructing Gaslighting: What Is It, Really?
Ask The Betrayed
Gaslighting after betrayal can make you question your memory, your emotions, and your reality — and that confusion is not weakness. It’s a trauma response. In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Rae sits down with gaslighting specialist and CORE Relationship Recovery team member Sarah Morales (SarahMoralesCoaching.com) to break down what gaslighting actually is, why it’s so damaging after infidelity, and how betrayed partners can reclaim clarity and self-trust. Sarah shares her framework for identifying gaslighting behaviors without getting trapped in the endless question: “Did they mean...
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STOP BLOCKING YOUR OWN BETRAYAL RECOVERY PROCESS
Ask The Betrayed
In this episode, Sharon and Rae unpack a surprisingly common barrier to healing after betrayal trauma — “Cat Poster Thinking" the mindset of believing “I already know how this works” or relying on clichés, platitudes, and intellectual over-control to cope. And while it may feel protective, it can quietly block real growth, connection, and emotional transformation. This episode also helps the Unfaithful see how they self-limit their own growth in recovery. Together they explore: ✨ Why betrayed partners crave control after trauma ✨ How trauma filters your perception and limits...
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SHORTS S1 - HOPE: CHOOSING TO BELIEVE THAT HEALING IS POSSIBLE
Ask The Betrayed
In this episode of Ask The Betrayed - Shorts, Sharon speaks directly to anyone feeling shattered, lost, or hopeless after infidelity. She explains why betrayed partners often cling to the hope that the old relationship can be restored—and why real hope comes from something deeper: rebuilding your sense of self, your worth, and your inner clarity. Sharon shares personal insight, including the moment she realized she had to live for herself, align her life with her values, and rebuild a foundation strong enough to stand on—with or without the relationship. She teaches how to shift from...
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CAN GRATITUDE AND THE PAIN OF BETRAYAL COEXIST?
Ask The Betrayed
In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore what gratitude really looks like in the wake of infidelity — without toxic positivity, forced silver linings, or emotional self-betrayal: • Not having to pretend you’re okay • Not minimizing the trauma Learn why gratitude gets complicated during the holidays where it seems to be expected, how survivors toggle between grief and glimpses of joy, and why holding two truths at the same time is such a powerful recovery skill. You’ll hear stories of those first post-betrayal holidays… the bathroom escape plan… the moment when...
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SECRET WEAPONS AGAINST BEING MISUNDERSTOOD
Ask The Betrayed
In this vulnerable and transformative episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae dive into one of the most universal pain points for betrayed partners: being misunderstood. Whether it's feeling dismissed, judged, minimized, or simply unseen, betrayal trauma magnifies how deeply we need to be understood — and how hard it can be to communicate our truth. Drawing from decades of clinical experience and lived wisdom, Sharon and Rae unpack why so many betrayed partners struggle to express themselves, why partners often misread our emotional signals, and how childhood conditioning, nervous system...
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MYTH BUSTERS - Exposing Blocks to Betrayal Recovery
Ask The Betrayed
In this practical episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae tackle some of the most common and destructive myths that keep betrayed partners trapped in confusion, guilt, and fear after infidelity. From “This pain will last forever” to “If I can keep them from acting out, I’ll be safe” they dismantle the cultural and emotional myths that block healing—and replace them with compassionate, reality-based truths. In This Episode You’ll Learn that: ✅ Healing from betrayal requires truth, not perfection. ✅ Repair happens through consistency, not control. ✅ You can love...
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Big Fat Lies We Tell Ourselves in Betrayal Recovery
Ask The Betrayed
In this powerful episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae expose the Big Fat Lies that keep betrayed partners trapped in pain and confusion after infidelity. From the cultural myths of “Good things happen to good people” to the heartbreaking belief that “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” this conversation dismantles the false stories that sabotage healing. Together, they share real-life examples and clinical insights on: ✅ Why we cling to lies like “If I were better, this wouldn’t have happened.” ✅ How shame, denial, and comparison keep you emotionally stuck. ✅ Why...
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Spot the 7 Traps That Stop Infidelity Recovery In Its Tracks
Ask The Betrayed
When infidelity shatters a relationship, recovery doesn’t fail because of one event—it stops because of the traps that keep couples' relational recovery stuck. In this powerful episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae expose the seven relational pitfalls that derail healing after betrayal. They share raw personal stories, real client examples, and the emotional truth behind why so many couples can’t move forward—even when they want to. Whether you’re the betrayed partner trying to make sense of the chaos, or the unfaithful partner trying to rebuild trust, this episode offers...
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FROM SILENCE TO STRENGTH: FINDING YOUR VOICE AFTER INFIDELITY
Ask The Betrayed
Have you ever felt like no matter how loudly you speak, your unfaithful partner still doesn’t hear you? In this episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore what it means for betrayed partners to find their voice after infidelity. 👉 Betrayal trauma often silences partners. Years of being dismissed, gaslit, or ignored leave many questioning whether their truth even matters. Healing begins when you learn to reclaim your voice, set boundaries, and trust your own reality again. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why betrayed partners often feel silenced or talked out of their truth...
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Is The Unfaithful Really Sorry of Just Sorry They Got Caught
Ask The Betrayed
Are they truly sorry—or just sorry they got caught? In this powerful episode of Ask the Betrayed, Sharon and Rae unpack one of the most pressing questions betrayed partners ask after infidelity. Together, they explore how to recognize genuine remorse versus surface-level regret and why that distinction matters for recovery. You’ll learn: ✅ The difference between remorse (healing-focused) and regret (self-focused resentment). ✅ How betrayed partners can sense the difference between “I’m sorry for what I did to you” and “I’m sorry I feel bad.” ✅ Why understanding betrayal...
info_outlineGaslighting after betrayal can make you question your memory, your emotions, and your reality — and that confusion is not weakness. It’s a trauma response.
In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Rae sits down with gaslighting specialist and CORE Relationship Recovery team member Sarah Morales (SarahMoralesCoaching.com) to break down what gaslighting actually is, why it’s so damaging after infidelity, and how betrayed partners can reclaim clarity and self-trust.
Sarah shares her framework for identifying gaslighting behaviors without getting trapped in the endless question: “Did they mean to?” You’ll learn why gaslighting doesn’t always come from narcissism, how shame can drive gaslighting patterns, and the difference between gaslighting vs. a gaslighting attempt — a powerful shift that restores agency and reduces self-doubt.
We also discuss:
✅ The most common question betrayed partners ask: “Was that gaslighting?”
✅ Sarah’s core definition that helps you answer that question
✅ Why gaslighting produces deep self-doubt and loss of self-trust
✅ What is Self-gaslighting?
✅ The red flags of internalized manipulation
✅ Unfaithful partners: discerning between intention vs impact — and how gaslighting blocks repair
✅ Practical hope: how healing reduces gaslighting behaviors over time
If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I am too much” or “Maybe I’m crazy,” - you're not - and this episode is for you.
✨Where to find Sarah and take her courses:
Listen to her podcast: Deconstructing Gaslighting (2 seasons / 50+ episodes)
For Courses, visit: https://www.sarahmoralescoaching.com/ → Deconstructing Gaslighting Academy TM (https://www.sarahmoralescoaching.com/...)
Please note: "Deconstructing Gaslighting" is a Trademark (TM) of Sarah Morales and may not be used without express permission
💬 How have you been gaslighted? Please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you
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📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: AskTheBetrayed@gmail.com
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🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: Info@HopeForUs.com ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: Rae@HealingTalksBack.com )
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