Marriage requires empathy, especially when one spouse carries wounds from the past. But on Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer and Monica explain that healthy empathy must always remain connected to truth.

A caller named Don shared the painful story of a marriage affected by his former spouse’s childhood trauma. Looking back, he believed she needed deeper trauma therapy than the counseling they received. Despite their divorce, Don said he continues to pray for her and hopes their family can someday be restored.

His story highlights an important challenge for couples: Understanding a spouse’s wounds does not mean ignoring harmful behavior.

“There’s a difference between understanding root causes and condoning current behavior,” Doug explained.

Past trauma can affect a person’s ability to form secure attachments, communicate, and connect with a spouse. But Monica emphasized that healing remains possible. The difficulty is that a person may lack the willingness, support, or resources necessary to begin that work.

For married couples, empathy means being able to say: I see your suffering, and I want to walk with you toward healing.

That may require professional help. Monica noted that couples counseling itself demands empathy and attentiveness to one’s spouse. Sometimes, individual healing must happen before a husband and wife can effectively work on their relationship together.

Marriage calls spouses to compassion without abandoning truth. We can recognize the wounds behind someone’s behavior while still encouraging responsibility, healing, and growth.

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Marriage requires empathy, especially when one spouse carries wounds from the past. But on Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer and Monica explain that healthy empathy must always remain connected to truth.
A caller named Don shared the painful story of a marriage affected by his former spouse&rsquo;s childhood trauma. Looking back, he believed she needed deeper trauma therapy than the counseling they received. Despite their divorce, Don said he continues to pray for her and hopes their family can someday be restored.
His story highlights an important challenge for couples: Understanding a spouse&rsquo;s wounds does not mean ignoring harmful behavior.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a difference between understanding root causes and condoning current behavior,&rdquo; Doug explained.
Past trauma can affect a person&rsquo;s ability to form secure attachments, communicate, and connect with a spouse. But Monica emphasized that healing remains possible. The difficulty is that a person may lack the willingness, support, or resources necessary to begin that work.
For married couples, empathy means being able to say: I see your suffering, and I want to walk with you toward healing.
That may require professional help. Monica noted that couples counseling itself demands empathy and attentiveness to one&rsquo;s spouse. Sometimes, individual healing must happen before a husband and wife can effectively work on their relationship together.
Marriage calls spouses to compassion without abandoning truth. We can recognize the wounds behind someone&rsquo;s behavior while still encouraging responsibility, healing, and growth.
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The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio App, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

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Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.