MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN & BETRAYAL
When the ground beneath your relationship has given way — working through marriage breakdown & betrayal
Compassionate, considered support for partners reckoning with infidelity, deception, separation, or the slow unravelling of a marriage. Space to process what has happened, to think clearly about what comes next, and to care for yourself through one of life's most disorienting seasons.
A space to slow down and be properly heard
People navigating marriage breakdown and betrayal come for therapy at very different points: in the immediate aftermath of discovery, mid-separation, or long after the event when the dust has settled but something still hasn't healed. Whatever stage you're at, our work begins with making room to process what happened and your feelings, within a trauma-informed safe space.
For those working through whether to stay or leave, my aim is not to steer you in either direction, but to help you process what has happened, understand its impact, and move through this season with as much clarity and self-respect as possible.
My approach is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and faith-sensitive. I work primarily as a Schema Therapist, which is particularly suited to the identity disruption, self-doubt, and old wounds that betrayal and relationship breakdown often reactivate. Where helpful, I also draw on the Gottman framework to make sense of betrayal dynamics, and on trauma-focused approaches for the shock and intrusive impact of discovery. I use a range of trauma-informed approaches and offer EMDR for those that are seeking this for trauma processing.
My approach & therapy modalities
"Growth happens when we process our pain, seek clarity, and make decisions that honour our values, safeguard our emotional health, and consider the well-being of those we care for"
— KYLIE WALLS
Have questions about support for marriage breakdown & Betrayal?
Q&A-
Yes. If you have a current Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year. These rebates help reduce the out-of-pocket cost for each session. You’ll need to provide a copy of your referral letter and MHTP prior to your first appointment.
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Although there are some presentations that I cannot safely treat online, I work with individuals experiencing a range of mental health concerns, from mild anxiety or low mood through to more complex challenges such as PTSD, dissociation, religious trauma, and OCD. If your presentation is more complex, I will work collaboratively with your broader care team (e.g., psychiatrist, GP, or support worker) where appropriate, to ensure you receive safe and effective care.
Online therapy is offered as long as it is deemed clinically appropriate and safe for your specific needs. -
Yes. Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions for a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. It also offers convenience, privacy, and access to support regardless of location. All sessions are conducted via a secure telehealth platform.
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Yes. The end of a marriage often brings grief, confusion, and a sense of loss — not only of the relationship, but of shared dreams, family routines, and spiritual identity. Many people describe feeling as though the ground beneath them has shifted.
Therapy provides a safe space to process these emotions, understand what has happened, and begin to rebuild a sense of stability and hope. As a psychologist, I work with you to explore the impact of the separation, strengthen coping skills, and support you in rediscovering who you are outside the relationship. Healing takes time, but recovery is possible.
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Even when separation is necessary, it can still feel devastating. You may grieve the loss of the relationship you hoped for, or feel anger at betrayal, unmet promises, or years of effort that didn’t bring change. These emotions are natural responses to loss and disillusionment, not signs of failure.
Therapy can help you process the pain, release self-blame, and find ways to channel anger into healing and personal growth.
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Betrayal, whether emotional, physical, or spiritual, strikes at the core of safety and trust. Many people describe symptoms similar to trauma — intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting themselves or others.
In therapy, we focus on understanding the impact of betrayal and rebuilding your sense of stability and self-worth. You don’t have to decide right away whether forgiveness or reconciliation are possible; therapy can help you discern what recovery and safety mean for you, and what boundaries or choices will best support your wellbeing.
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When infidelity, deception, or emotional harm happen within a marriage of faith, the pain often runs deeper. It can shake your spiritual foundations, leaving you questioning where God was in it all, or whether you failed in some way. You might also feel conflicted by church messages about forgiveness, endurance, or divorce.
In therapy, there is space to explore both the psychological and spiritual impact of what’s happened — without judgment or pressure. Together we can process grief, anger, and confusion, and begin to rebuild a sense of faith and identity that feels authentic, compassionate, and grounded in your lived experience.
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Yes. Many people experience shame after separation, particularly when faith or cultural expectations emphasise marriage permanence or discourage divorce. You may fear judgment from your community or feel like you no longer “fit.”
Therapy can help you challenge internalised shame and reclaim a sense of dignity and self-worth. It can also provide support in navigating community responses and finding safe spaces where you can be seen, understood, and valued without stigma.
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Forgiveness is often misunderstood as excusing harm or rushing toward reconciliation. In reality, healing and forgiveness — if and when they come — are gradual processes that begin with safety, truth, and emotional honesty.
Therapy can help you explore what forgiveness means for you, how to release resentment without minimising harm, and how to move toward peace, whether or not the relationship continues. In faith-sensitive therapy, this may include integrating your spiritual beliefs in a way that supports your recovery rather than compounds guilt or pressure.
To take the next step, book an confidential online session with psychologist Kylie Walls and access compassionate, trauma-informed support wherever you are in Australia.
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