The Empowered Divorce Podcast; Navigating Divorce After Betrayal Trauma and Abuse

Have you ever wished you could just stop caring so much about what people think? Maybe you find yourself constantly worrying about what others believe about you—your ex, your in-laws, your friends—and completely forgetting what you think about you.If you’ve gone through betrayal, abuse, or a life-saving divorce, this one’s for you. Because I get it. That deep need to be understood, to have people see your heart and the truth of your story—it can take up so much energy. But what if you could care less about the things that drain you and care more about what truly matters?In this episode, I’m talking about why we care so much in the first place and how that’s connected to our attachment patterns, our nervous system, and what we learned early on about love and belonging. I’ll share how my own over-caring showed up during and after divorce, why it was tied to justice and survival, and what finally helped me release it.You’ll also hear how Dr. Gabor Maté’s work around authenticity and attachment helped me understand that real belonging can’t exist without being true to ourselves. When we sacrifice who we are to keep connection, that’s not love—it’s compliance.Together, we’ll explore how to rebuild self-trust—the kind that helps you stand strong in your truth even when others don’t understand or agree. Because caring less isn’t about becoming cold or detached. It’s about reclaiming your inner compass and letting your sense of safety come from within, not from other people’s comfort._________✨ WORK WITH AMIE + NEXT STEPS IN YOUR HEALING 📍 Dating From Within Workshop January 8th-10th 2026\ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to register⁠💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Empowered Divorce Q&A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Free monthly group coaching. First Thursday of each month.👣 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Body Love Class⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Learn how to reclaim your body after betrayal.📍 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Believing In You Group Coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready to stop letting your brain hijack your healing? Learn how to work with your nervous system, shift your thoughts, and create the life you actually want. Next round begins in January—spots go fast!👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reserve your spot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Divorce 101: Self-Paced GuideFeeling stuck in the aftermath of betrayal or unsure where to go next? This guide meets you right where you are and helps you make your next best step.🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start by taking the quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Intimacy Within: Self-Paced CourseWant real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Should I Stay or Go? CourseThis guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more + enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#LifeSavingDivorce #NotYourNormalDivorce #DivorceHealing #BetrayalTraumaRecovery #EmotionalHealingAfterDivorce #DivorceJourney #DivorceFromAbuse #TraumaInformedDivorce #SurvivingDivorce #HealthyDivorceRecovery #DivorceAndHealing #DivorceEmpowerment #BetrayalTrauma #HealingFromBetrayal #AbuseSurvivorHealing #LifeAfterBetrayal #HealingThroughDivorce #DivorceAndSelfDiscovery #DivorceRecoveryJourney#shouldistayorgo #narcissist #Abuse #betrayal #divorce #infidelity #cheating #affair #ldsdivorce #caringless #gabormate

If you are walking through a life saving divorce, separation, co parenting or parallel parenting, the holidays can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute you are holding it together for the kids, the next you are hit with a wave of grief you did not see coming.In this tender and honest conversation, Amie shares a live lesson from her December Q and A where she talks about:Why the holidays can feel so triggering after betrayal and divorceHow your nervous system bonds to a shared dream and why grief shows up years laterWhat it looks like to feel alone at big milestone moments with your kidsThe pressure to create the “perfect” holiday after divorce and why that backfiresHow to notice when you are in a George Bailey moment from It’s a Wonderful LifeWhy overwhelm is a trauma response and not a character flawHow your presence still anchors your children. Even on the years you do not have them for ChristmasSimple grounding tools to help regulate your nervous system during holiday stressIdeas for micro traditions and new rituals that feel gentle and doable in this seasonHow to rewrite your story and step back into agency, even in a quiet houseThis episode is for you if:You feel waves of grief around the holidays and wonder “Shouldn’t I be over this by now”You are co parenting with an ex and the holiday schedule feels unfair or painfulYou are spending Christmas or New Year’s without your kids and your heart hurtsOld traditions bring up more pain than joyYou want realistic, trauma informed ways to ground your body and calm your nervous systemAmie uses her own stories as a single mom watching her son play high school and college ball, and weaves in the symbolism from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life to remind you that your life and your impact still matter. Your nervous system is not broken. It is responding to loss, love and the shared dreams that did not happen the way you hoped.You are not behind. You are not failing at healing. You are human._______________________________Dating From Within Workshop-January 8th-10th @6pm-8pm CT*Live Zoom Call*Workbook IncludedMonthly Q&A- FREE! The first Thursday of every month @2:00pm CTIntimacy Within: Self-Paced Course- Want real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.Should I Stay or Go? Self Paced Course-This guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.Brainspotting/ Somatic Work / Nervous System Healing💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

When betrayal shatters your trust and divorce changes everything you thought your life would be, hope can feel impossible. You might find yourself thinking, “I’ll never trust again.” or “Maybe I’m just too broken to start over.”In this episode, we’re unpacking what hope after betrayal and divorce really means—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to find it again when it feels completely gone. Hope isn’t about waiting for someone else to change or for life to return to what it was; it’s about reclaiming your agency, your self-trust, and your ability to believe in what’s still possible for you.We’ll talk about how to recognize false hope, rebuild your inner strength, and reconnect to the kind of hope that comes from within—the kind that lets you believe in you again.Why false hope can keep you stuck in pain and waiting for change that never comesThe difference between survival hope and empowered hopeWhat Brené Brown teaches about hope as a learned practiceHow to hold both grief and growth at the same timeWhy hope isn’t naive—it’s an act of courageHow to root your hope in awareness, acceptance, and agency“Hope isn’t waiting for someone to save you.It’s realizing you have the power to choose yourself—again and again.”If you’ve lost hope in love, in men, or even in your ability to trust yourself again—this is where healing begins.Registration is now open for the Dating From Within Workshop, happening January 8–10.This 3-day live experience will help you rediscover your confidence, rebuild trust with yourself, and learn how to date from a place of wholeness—not wounds.You’ll walk away with:✨ A clear understanding of what healthy connection feels like✨ Tools to trust your intuition and body’s signals again✨ Hope that real, secure love is possibleBecause dating after betrayal isn’t about finding someone new—it’s about finding yourself first.➡️ Save your spot now at amiewoolsey.com or click the link in the show notes.📍 Dating From Within Workshop January 8th-10th 2026\ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to register⁠🌿 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:🕊️ Quote from the Episode💗 Special Announcement: Dating From Within Workshop#divorceandhealing #betrayaltraumarecovery #divorce #divorceandselfdiscovery #divorceempowerment #healingfrombetrayal #tramabonding #bondingcycle #postdivorce #betrayaltrauma #posttraumaticgrowth  #BetrayalTrauma #InfidelityRecovery #BetrayedPartner #SafetyAndStabilization #EmotionalHealing #RelationshipTrauma #TrustRecovery #HealingAfterInfidelity #TraumaRecoveryJourney #EmpoweredDivorcePodcast #NavigatingGrief #BetrayalTrauma #InfidelityRecovery #EmotionalHealing #GriefAfterAffair #BetrayedPartnerSupport #RelationshipRecovery #AffairHealing  #Lifesavingdivorcet #AmieWoolseyPodcast #HealingAfterInfidelity #APSATS #TraumaRecovery #RelationshipHealing #InfidelitySupport #BetrayedPartnerSupport #AffairRecovery #BetrayalHealing #Divorcepodcast #SelfJudgment #EmotionalHealing #InfidelityRecovery #ShameRecovery #RelationalLeadership #infidelity  #hopeforhealing #affairrecovery #affairs #betrayal #betrayaltrauma #ptsd #cptsd ##addictionrecovery #infidelity   #hopeforhealing  #affairs #betrayal #betrayaltrauma #ptsd #cptsd #somatichealing #addictionrecovery #InfidelityRecovery #EmotionalInhibition #unfaithful #BetrayalHealing #FacingFear #UnfaithfulPartnerHealing #VulnerabilityAndTrust #InfidelityRecovery #EmotionalInhibition  #BetrayalHealing #FacingFear #UnfaithfulPartnerHealing #VulnerabilityAndTrust #healingafterdivorce

he holiday season can bring a whirlwind of emotions — joy mixed with loneliness, gratitude alongside overwhelm, peace intertwined with pain. For those healing from betrayal, abuse, and divorce, this season often feels even heavier with added dynamics of custody schedules, in-laws, and navigating life post-separation.In this episode, I invite you to pause and slow down. Together, we’ll explore what it really means to ground your body, how science supports this practice, and why grounding is such an essential step for nervous system healing after trauma.✨ Guided Grounding Meditation begins at [10:00]Take a powerful five-minute pause with me. I’ll walk you through a step-by-step body scan, breathwork, and visualization practice to help you reconnect with your body, regulate your nervous system, and feel more present.Why the holiday season can feel especially overwhelming when you’re healing from betrayal and divorceThe science behind grounding (including the Schumann resonance, nervous system regulation, and benefits like reduced inflammation, better sleep, and mood balance)How grounding creates enough safety in the body to allow deeper healing modalities like Brainspotting and somatic work to be effectiveCommon reasons we resist slowing down (and how to reframe them)Journal prompts to help you reflect on your relationship with stillness and groundingWhen I slow down, what feelings or fears show up for me?Where in my body do I feel the safest right now?What is one way I can give myself permission to pause, even in chaos?How might grounding help me trust my body and my healing timeline?Whether you are walking through divorce, betrayal trauma, or simply feeling the holiday stress, this episode will help you reconnect to yourself, your body, and your higher self._______________✨ WORK WITH AMIE + NEXT STEPS IN YOUR HEALING 📍 Dating From Within Workshop January 8th-10th 2026\ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to register⁠💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Empowered Divorce Q&A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Free monthly group coaching. First Thursday of each month.👣 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Body Love Class⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Learn how to reclaim your body after betrayal.📍 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Believing In You Group Coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready to stop letting your brain hijack your healing? Learn how to work with your nervous system, shift your thoughts, and create the life you actually want. Next round begins in January—spots go fast!👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reserve your spot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Divorce 101: Self-Paced GuideFeeling stuck in the aftermath of betrayal or unsure where to go next? This guide meets you right where you are and helps you make your next best step.🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start by taking the quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Intimacy Within: Self-Paced CourseWant real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Should I Stay or Go? CourseThis guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more + enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#LifeSavingDivorce #NotYourNormalDivorce #DivorceHealing #BetrayalTraumaRecovery #EmotionalHealingAfterDivorce #DivorceJourney #DivorceFromAbuse #TraumaInformedDivorce #SurvivingDivorce #HealthyDivorceRecovery #DivorceAndHealing #DivorceEmpowerment #BetrayalTrauma #HealingFromBetrayal #AbuseSurvivorHealing #LifeAfterBetrayal #HealingThroughDivorce #DivorceAndSelfDiscovery #DivorceRecoveryJourney#shouldistayorgo #narcissist #Abuse #betrayal #divorce #infidelity #cheating #affair #grounding

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Divorce Podcast, I sit down with custody strategist and high-conflict communication coach Bridget Bennett to talk about one of the hardest realities of divorce: post-separation abuse. The truth is, the toxic cycles that existed in your relationship don’t magically end when you leave—they often intensify.We explore:Why abuse often escalates after separation or divorceHow high-conflict exes bait you into endless drama—and how to protect your peaceThe truth about parallel parenting vs. co-parenting in the eyes of the courtWhat to do when your ex pulls the kids into conflict and how to create safety at homeThe power of boundaries, radical acceptance, and letting go of the “rope” that keeps you tied to their chaosHow to reclaim your energy, time, and emotional freedom, even when the legal system feels invalidatingBridget shares her personal story of divorcing two abusive partners, navigating custody battles, defeating bogus restraining orders, and ultimately finding strength through radical acceptance. Her wisdom and strategies will give you hope that you can not only survive post-separation abuse—you can thrive beyond it.If you’ve ever felt crazy trying to explain the covert abuse you’re still experiencing, or you’re exhausted from the constant barrage of texts, court filings, and emotional manipulation, this episode will validate your experience and show you that you are stronger than you think.____________________✨ WORK WITH AMIE + NEXT STEPS IN YOUR HEALING 📍 Dating From Within Workshop January 8th-10th 2026\ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to register💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Empowered Divorce Q&A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Free monthly group coaching. First Thursday of each month.👣 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Body Love Class⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Learn how to reclaim your body after betrayal.📍 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Believing In You Group Coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready to stop letting your brain hijack your healing? Learn how to work with your nervous system, shift your thoughts, and create the life you actually want. Next round begins in January—spots go fast!👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reserve your spot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Divorce 101: Self-Paced GuideFeeling stuck in the aftermath of betrayal or unsure where to go next? This guide meets you right where you are and helps you make your next best step.🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start by taking the quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Intimacy Within: Self-Paced CourseWant real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📍 Should I Stay or Go? CourseThis guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more + enroll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#LifeSavingDivorce #NotYourNormalDivorce #DivorceHealing #BetrayalTraumaRecovery #EmotionalHealingAfterDivorce #DivorceJourney #DivorceFromAbuse #TraumaInformedDivorce #SurvivingDivorce #HealthyDivorceRecovery #DivorceAndHealing #DivorceEmpowerment #BetrayalTrauma #HealingFromBetrayal #AbuseSurvivorHealing #LifeAfterBetrayal #HealingThroughDivorce #DivorceAndSelfDiscovery #DivorceRecoveryJourney#shouldistayorgo #narcissist #Abuse #betrayal #divorce #infidelity #cheating #affair #ldsdivorce