Betrayal: Accountability vs. Expectations

After betrayal, couples often find themselves trapped in a cycle. The unfaithful partner wants to explain, while the betrayed partner longs for real accountability. Instead of bringing clarity, explanations often sound like excuses. The betrayed partner feels dismissed, the unfaithful partner feels shut down, and the cycle repeats.

In this episode of From Crisis to Connection, Geoff and Jody explore why this dynamic is so common and what couples can do differently. You’ll hear:

•   Why betrayed partners feel torn between their own pain and their natural empathy


•   How betrayal blindness can lead to minimizing wounds just to keep the peace


•   Why the recovering partner’s instinct to explain often blocks healing


•   How the order of repair—accountability first, explanation later—creates safety and trust


•   Practical steps both partners can take to break the cycle and move forward

Using stories, clinical insights, and personal examples, Geoff and Jody show why accountability must come before explanation and how this shift can transform the healing process.

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Download the Free Resource: You, Me, Us - A Way Forward After Betrayal

When betrayal has shaken your relationship, it can feel impossible to know where to begin. This free 15-minute video and companion worksheet will help you steady yourself, support your partner, and begin caring for the relationship between you. Get your copy here.

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Join the Courageous Together™ Program

Courageous Together™ isn’t just another course, it’s a trauma-informed roadmap that holds both of you in the healing process. If you’ve ever wondered “Where do we even start?” After betrayal, this program gives you the clarity and structure you need. It meets the betrayed partner’s need for safety while guiding the recovering partner toward real accountability, creating a path forward that neither of you has to figure out on your own.

Healing from betrayal is overwhelming in isolation, which is why Courageous Together™ brings you expert guidance, practical tools, and a supportive community of couples walking the same road. Inside, you’ll find a step-by-step framework, live support opportunities, and the reassurance that you’re not alone as you rebuild safety, restore trust, and move toward genuine connection.

You’ll have access to:

• A structured healing framework with step-by-step guidance
  


• Video lessons and worksheets to build safety, accountability, and connection
  


• The option to join live group circles and support calls with me
  


• A private, secure community of others walking the same path
  

Learn more and join us inside Courageous Together: www.geoffsteurer.com/courageous-together

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If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it. And don’t forget to leave a review! We’d love to hear how this podcast is supporting your healing journey.

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Watch on YouTube

Prefer video? You can watch full episodes of From Crisis to Connection on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@FromCrisistoConnectionPocast.

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About Geoff Steurer

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS) with 25+ years of experience helping individuals and couples heal from the devastation of sexual betrayal and broken trust. I am the founder of the Courageous Together program, co-host of the From Crisis to Connection podcast, and co-author of Love You, Hate the Porn. My work integrates trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and practical tools for creating lasting safety and connection. I’ve been married to my wife, Jody, since 1996 and we are the parents of four children.

About Jody Steurer

Jody is the co-host of the From Crisis to Connection podcast, where she brings her thoughtful, common-sense perspective to conversations about healing, trust, and connection. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and is an ACA-certified coach. Jody has years of experience in corporate training, small business leadership, and family life, and raising four children (two of them neurodivergent). She loves watercolor painting, landscape design, spending time outdoors, and snow skiing.