Betrayal Trauma Therapist in Denver, CO

Heal After Infidelity, Broken Trust, or Emotional Betrayal

When someone you love breaks your trust, the pain can feel overwhelming-emotionally, physically, and mentally. Betrayal trauma isn’t “just heartbreak.” It’s a deep emotional injury that impacts your sense of safety, identity, and connection.

If you’ve experienced infidelity, lies, secrecy, emotional affairs, or any form of broken trust, you may feel like your entire world has shifted beneath you. You may be questioning everything-your partner, your relationship, your worth, your past, and your future.

If this sounds familiar, please know this:
You are not overreacting. You are not broken. And you do not have to go through this alone.

At Cherry Creek Therapy in Denver, Jennifer Gardner, MFT-C, specializes in helping individuals and couples heal from betrayal trauma with compassion, grounding, and deep emotional support. Healing is possible-and we’re here to help you start.

What Is Betrayal Trauma?

Betrayal trauma occurs when someone you depend on for emotional safety violates your trust. This often happens through:

• Infidelity (physical or emotional)

• Lies, secrecy, or hidden behavior

• Financial betrayal

• Digital or online infidelity

• Porn or sex-related secrecy

• Repeated broken promises

• Long-term deception

• Being blindsided by the truth

Because betrayal comes from someone you rely on for emotional connection, it impacts your attachment system, triggering trauma responses similar to shock or loss.

This is why betrayal trauma doesn’t fade quickly.
It lives in the nervous system.
Your body remembers what your mind can’t make sense of.

Signs You May Be Experiencing Betrayal Trauma

Many people feel confused or overwhelmed by how intense their reactions are. This is normal.

Common symptoms include:

• Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks of the betrayal

• Constantly replaying conversations

• Difficulty sleeping or eating

• Anxiety, panic, or emotional overwhelm

• Feeling “not good enough”

• Sudden emotional shutdown or numbness

• Hypervigilance (checking phones, emails, timelines)

• Obsessive attempts to understand “why”

• Difficulty concentrating

• Rage, grief, or deep sadness

• Feeling unsafe around your partner-even if there’s no danger

• Shattered confidence or self-worth

These are trauma symptoms, not weaknesses.
Your nervous system is trying to make sense of what happened.

Why Betrayal Trauma Hurts So Deeply

Infidelity or betrayal is not just about the act-it’s about the shattering of emotional safety.

When trust breaks, you lose:

• Your sense of stability

• The relationship you thought you had

• Your belief in your own judgment

• Your emotional grounding

• Your ability to feel safe with your partner

• Your identity within the relationship

Many clients say:

• “I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

• “I feel like my whole life collapsed overnight.”

• “I can’t stop imagining what happened.”

• “Everything reminds me of the betrayal.”

• “How do I trust anything now?”

This is betrayal trauma, not simple heartbreak.
And you deserve support to heal from it.

How Therapy Helps You Heal from Betrayal Trauma

Healing from betrayal trauma requires more than time-it requires safety, understanding, and guided emotional repair.

Therapy helps you:

✔ Process shock, grief, and intense emotions

You don’t have to hold everything in. This is a safe place to let it out.

✔ Understand your trauma responses

Your reactions make sense. Therapy helps you understand why.

✔ Rebuild your self-worth

Betrayal often leaves you feeling “not enough.” That’s not the truth.

✔ Release self-blame and guilt

You did not cause someone else’s choices.

✔ Calm your nervous system

We work gently with panic, fear, or hypervigilance.

✔ Gain clarity about your relationship

Whether you choose to stay or leave, therapy helps you make empowered decisions.

✔ Heal attachment wounds

We help you rebuild internal safety so you feel stable again.

✔ Navigate communication with your partner

If both partners are willing, we can work on rebuilding trust together.

You don’t have to rush.
You don’t have to forgive immediately.
You don’t have to decide the future right now.

You simply need support-and that is what we provide.

How Cherry Creek Therapy Supports Your Healing

At Cherry Creek Therapy in Denver, you’ll find a calm, confidential, and compassionate space to process your pain.

Jennifer Gardner, MFT-C, offers:

✔ A trauma-informed approach

Understanding of how betrayal affects the nervous system and emotional wellbeing.

✔ Validation without judgment

Your story is honored-not minimized or questioned.

✔ Emotional stabilization

Helping you find grounding so you can breathe again.

✔ A pace that matches your emotional capacity

There is no pressure to “get over it.”

✔ Support navigating relationships

Whether you want individual therapy or couples therapy, Jennifer helps create emotional clarity and boundaries.

✔ Space to rebuild your identity

You are more than the betrayal 

Therapeutic Approaches We Use for Betrayal Trauma

We integrate evidence-based methods that support emotional healing and nervous system recovery.

IFS Therapy (Internal Family Systems)

Helps you heal the parts of yourself that feel angry, not enough, hurt, or ashamed.

EMDR Therapy

Supports healing from trauma, intrusive thoughts, and emotional shock.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Often used in couples counseling to rebuild safety and repair disconnection.

Trauma-Informed Talk Therapy

Provides a safe, grounding space to process emotions without pressure.

You don’t have to choose the approach.
Your therapist will guide your healing.

Can the Relationship Be Saved?

Many clients feel torn:
“Should I stay? Should I leave? How do I know?”

The truth is:
There is no one right answer.
And no one should pressure you into one.

Therapy helps you explore:

• Whether trust can be rebuilt

• Whether your partner shows accountability

• Your emotional needs

• Your boundaries

• Your fears and hopes

• What healing would look like for you

Some couples heal and grow stronger.
Others choose separation with clarity and self-respect.
Your emotional wellbeing comes first.

Why Choose Cherry Creek Therapy in Denver, CO

✔ Expertise in betrayal & relational trauma

✔ Warm, compassionate, relational approach

You will not be judged, rushed, or pressured.

✔ A safe environment for difficult conversations

At Cherry Creek Therapy, Jennifer Gardner, MFT-C, helps you navigate emotions with guidance and grounding.

✔ Local Denver support with flexible scheduling

Accessible, convenient care for your emotional needs.

✔ In-person & virtual therapy options

Support from anywhere in Colorado when the emotional weight feels heavy.

You deserve a therapist who understands how devastating betrayal can be.

When It’s Time to Reach Out for Help

You may benefit from betrayal trauma counseling if you experience:

• Constant anxiety or panic

• Obsessive thinking

• Feeling unsafe in the relationship

• Difficulty functioning at work or home

• Loss of identity

• Emotional numbness

• Trouble trusting anyone

• Trauma symptoms

• Confusion about what to do next

• Feeling stuck, broken, or overwhelmed

If you’re reading this and feel a pull toward support, that’s a sign you’re ready.

Begin Healing from Betrayal Trauma in Denver

You’ve been carrying a heavy emotional weight-shock, grief, anger, confusion, fear, and heartbreak. You don’t have to carry it alone.

Healing begins when you feel safe again.
We can help you rebuild that safety-slowly, gently, and with compassion.

Whether you want individual therapy, couples therapy, or support navigating your next steps, Cherry Creek Therapy is here to walk with you, every step of the way.

Reach out today to schedule a session.
You deserve clarity. You deserve peace. You deserve healing.

Also Read

• Healing After Infidelity: What Rebuilding Really Looks Like

• Emotional Flashbacks After Betrayal

• Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal | Denver Couples Therapist Guide