Betrayal Trauma and How Can You Get Help

In this interview with Fight the New Drug host Natalie, marriage and family therapist Dr. Jill Manning shares how she transitioned from indifference toward pornography to specializing in betrayal trauma over a 24-year clinical career. A pivotal turning point occurred early in her practice when she assessed three young siblings who were victims of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) produced by their biological father. This experience prompted her to abandon a "live and let live" posture and confront the relational harms of pornography. Dr. Manning defines betrayal trauma as a unique, deeply destabilizing wound caused by a trusted primary partner, which triggers primal panic, severe isolation, and long-term psychological distress. She emphasizes that recovery requires specialized, trauma-informed care and outlines a structured, three-phase path toward healing.