Mental Margins: Betrayal Trauma & Infidelity
About Mental Margins
Mental Margins is a short-form segment from full Mental Health Rewritten episodes—designed to be a more accessible entry point into the show’s deeply emotional, cinematic approach to mental health. These snippets, usually under 15 minutes, distill powerful moments from the full-length episodes to create quick, impactful, and meaningful listening experiences. So if you're new to the podcast, Mental Margins gives you something valuable to reflect on without the emotional overwhelm of a full length episode.
This Week's Focus: Why Betrayal Trauma Cuts So Deep
In this episode, we step into the emotional wreckage caused by betrayal trauma —a psychological rupture that often accompanies the discovery of sex addiction or compulsive sexual behavior in intimate relationships.
Dr. Alexandra Katehakis, a pioneer in the treatment of sex health and betrayal trauma, explains how the revelation of a partner’s secret double life—sometimes spanning decades—can feel like an emotional earthquake. The trauma isn't just about infidelity; it's about the annihilation of a shared reality.
“It’s like a massive internal earthquake where what they thought was solid ground is no longer solid.” – Dr. Alexandra Katehakis
This betrayal often causes symptoms similar to PTSD, but with the additional complexity of continued contact with the person responsible for the trauma—something that makes healing both urgent and elusive.
Defining Betrayal: Not All Infidelity Looks the Same
Dr. Justin Dodson breaks down how betrayal isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. In some relationships, pornography or flirtation may cross emotional boundaries just as much as physical affairs. Each partner carries their own blueprint of what constitutes “cheating,” often rooted in personal trauma, fear, or unmet emotional needs.
“People want to be wanted. And anything that threatens that sense of security can feel like betrayal.” – Dr. Justin Dodson
This episode challenges us to re-examine our relationship expectations, boundary-setting, and the subtle emotional ruptures that can spiral into long-term disconnection.
Justin Dodson
President & CEO
Justin Keith Dodson creates safe and supportive environments where individuals can be seen, heard, and catapulted into a redefined future. As the visionary behind Navigating Courage, Counseling & Consultation, LLC, Dodson and his team of mental health professionals, specifically focusing on males, prioritize the cognitive and emotional well-being of adult men through personalized coaching and therapy and consulting organizations looking to improve employee culture & well-being.
"The realization of my innate ability to truly understand people fueled my aspiration to become a therapist. Recognizing the potential to fulfill my lifelong desire, I wanted to provide for others what I always needed."
Dr. Dodson achieved the groundbreaking feat of being the first African American male to attain a Master’s in Counseling from Lipscomb University. Subsequently, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Memphis, solidifying his trailblazing legacy. In his book, "The Courage of a Single Freckle, Navigating Your Black," Dodson delves into the complex intersection of mental health, race relations, implicit and explicit bias, and identity development. Dr. Dodson has been featured in People Magazine, Refinery 29, and, Teen Vogue, Huff Post, Ebony, & Essence Magazine.
Alexandra Katehakis
Ph.D., LMFT
Alexandra Katehakis, Ph.D., MFT, CSAT-S, CST-S, Founder, established Center for Healthy Sex in 2005. Alex was and still is inspired by a quest to discover and define: What is healthy sexuality? What is a healthy relationship? She is inspired by diverse and prolific thinkers including Ken Wilber, Patrick Carnes, David Schnarch, and Allan Schore. Center for Healthy Sex offers individuals and couples more than just relief from pain or a reduction of symptoms, but aims to help people thrive and realize their greatest sexual potential.
