A Guided Worksheet for Couples Healing from Betrayal, Interference, or Emotional Distance
Created by: Linda C J Turner Therapy
Trauma-Informed Healing | Emotional Intelligence | Neuroscience for Healthy Relationships
👥 WHO THIS IS FOR:
This worksheet is for couples who are navigating the aftermath of:
- Family interference or loyalty conflicts (e.g., siblings, parents, exes)
- Emotional betrayal or abandonment
- Disrespect, dishonesty, or alienation involving stepchildren or children
- Relationship breakdowns where reconciliation is being considered with honesty and emotional safety at the center
🧩 PART 1: Relationship Check-In
Each partner answers individually first, then shares.
1. In one sentence, describe how you currently feel in this relationship.
2. What has hurt you most in this situation?
3. What do you believe hurt your partner most?
4. What does “reconciliation” mean to you?
(Choose all that apply.)
☐ Forgiveness
☐ Rebuilding trust
☐ Creating a new kind of relationship
☐ Trying again with stronger boundaries
☐ Letting go of the past completely
☐ Understanding what went wrong
☐ Something else: __________________________________
🧠 PART 2: Understanding Your Brain and Safety
“The brain cannot repair what it still experiences as a threat.”
5. Do you feel emotionally safe with your partner right now?
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Sometimes
If “No” or “Sometimes,” what would help you feel safer?
6. What triggers your nervous system in this relationship?
(Examples: raised voices, silence, criticism, conflict avoidance, lies)
7. What calms and soothes your nervous system when you’re in conflict?
(Examples: eye contact, being heard, clear boundaries, honesty, calm voice)
🧭 PART 3: The Non-Negotiables
Use this space to list the “lines that must not be crossed” if reconciliation is to be successful. Be honest.
My non-negotiable boundaries are:
My partner’s non-negotiable boundaries (as I understand them):
🗝️ PART 4: Repair Work – From Words to Action
Use this space to commit to emotional repair.
8. What do you take accountability for?
(Be specific and avoid “if I hurt you…”)
9. What would rebuilding trust look like in action, not just words?
☐ Setting boundaries with family
☐ Honest conversations without defensiveness
☐ Apologizing sincerely and often
☐ Showing up consistently
☐ Talking to a therapist together
☐ Respecting each other’s pace
☐ Other: ______________________________
🌱 PART 5: Decide the Path Forward – Together or Apart
10. Are you both willing to:
- Stop crossing each other’s core boundaries?
- Put the relationship before other loyalties (e.g., family drama)?
- Repair trust with accountability and consistency?
Yes / No / Not Sure
11. What is one thing you can each do this week to move toward healing?
Partner A: ____________________________________
Partner B: ____________________________________
💌 Closing Reflection:
“Reconciliation doesn’t mean forgetting. It means remembering with truth, holding space for the wound, and still choosing to move forward with care—either together, or with peaceful closure.”
🛡️ Copyright & Use Notice:
© Linda C J Turner Therapy
All rights reserved. This content is for personal and therapeutic use only. Do not reproduce, republish, or distribute without permission.
Website | Social Media | Therapy Practice Lindacjturner.com
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
