When betrayal and divorce collide, the emotional toll is staggering but the financial consequences can be just as devastating. In this candid and deeply informative episode, Dr. Debi sits down with financial strategist and divorce expert Gabriella Martinelli to unpack one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of betrayal recovery: understanding and managing your money when trust has been shattered.
With over 20 years of experience in the legal and financial world, Gabriella has guided countless clients through high-stakes divorces — many complicated by hidden spending, concealed accounts, and the gut-punch of financial infidelity. She explains why divorce is not just a legal process, but also a financial untangling that demands clarity, documentation, and strategic thinking — especially when betrayal is part of the story.
You’ll learn:
- The double impact of betrayal and divorce — how emotional pain clouds financial decisions, and why clarity is your most valuable asset.
- What financial infidelity really looks like — from hidden credit cards and drained savings to funds spent on an affair partner.
- Why anger-driven decisions can sabotage your future — and how to shift your focus from revenge to building a secure next chapter.
- The role of mistrust in decision-making — and why even hard data can feel impossible to believe after betrayal.
- Steps to take immediately — including how to gather financial records, understand your credit report, and identify accounts you didn’t know existed.
- The importance of a multidisciplinary “divorce team” — legal, financial, and emotional support working together to protect your best interests.
Gabriella shares powerful real-life stories from clients paralyzed by suspicion, to those who risked their future on proving a point, to those who found the strength to pivot toward empowerment instead. She also dismantles the Hollywood myth of “getting your day in court” and the cathartic speech that makes the betrayer pay, revealing the practical reality of how courts actually operate.
If you’ve been blindsided by betrayal, are navigating divorce, or suspect financial infidelity, this conversation offers both hard truths and hope. Gabriella and Dr. Debi walk you through the mindset shifts, tactical steps, and strategic support you need to move forward — not just financially stable, but emotionally stronger and in control of your next chapter.
Resources
- Gabriella’s site: https://www.everafterwealth.com
- Gabriella’s email: gabriella@everafterwealth.com
- The 5 Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough: https://thepbtinstitute.com/reclaim
- The Rebuild Program (For those who betrayed and want to heal): https://thepbtinstitute.com/rebuild/
- The PBT Institute Community (Join the healing conversation): https://thepbtinstitute.com