Can Betrayal Trauma Cause PTSD? What Infidelity Does and Does Not Meet
Betrayal can produce PTSD symptoms, but the DSM-5-TR diagnosis requires a specific exposure. What the criteria and research say, and which diagnoses fit.
Brian Nuckols
Licensed associate professional counselor in Pittsburgh, PA. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and couples across six clinical areas: child and teen therapy (DBT-A), infidelity and betrayal trauma, eating disorders and ARFID, couples therapy, neurodivergence, and depth psychology. The common thread is patterns that do not resolve with standard approaches, where evidence-based treatment needs to meet the deeper question of why the pattern exists.
If you're here because something is wrong, you're in the right place.
Areas of Practice
Child & Teen Therapy
DBT-A for adolescents struggling with intense emotions, self-harm, and crisis behaviors. Parent psychoeducation and family skills training.
Neurodivergence & Neuro Affinity
Masking, burnout, sensory processing, and rejection sensitivity. RO-DBT for overcontrol, process-based therapy for individual pattern mapping, and depth work that takes neurodivergent experience seriously.
Eating Disorders & ARFID
Specialized treatment for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. CBT-AR, sensory approaches, and family-based work.
Couples Therapy
EFT and depth-oriented couples work for relationships where the same fight keeps happening or one partner is changing in ways the relationship can't accommodate.
Infidelity & Betrayal Trauma
Affair recovery that goes beyond stabilization. Gottman and EFT protocols for the crisis, plus the deeper work of understanding what the affair revealed.
Recent Writing
Journaling After Infidelity: When Writing Helps, and When It Rehearses the Wound
Journaling after infidelity can help when structured and timed. What expressive writing research shows, and when to leave the affair story to therapy.
RO-DBT for Eating Disorders: What Overcontrol Means for Anorexia Treatment
RO-DBT targets overcontrol, the opposite of what standard DBT treats. What that means for restrictive anorexia, and what the early evidence shows.
CBT-AR vs FBT for ARFID: Which Protocol When
No trial has compared CBT-AR and FBT-ARFID directly. What each asks of the patient and the family, the evidence for each, and what an evaluation weighs.
Somatic Treatment for ARFID: What the Evidence Does and Does Not Support
As of November 2026, no published trial or case report tests somatic treatment for ARFID. Where body-based work fits beside CBT-AR, and where it does not.
Free Courses
Psychoeducation courses written for the people living with these conditions and their families. Evidence-based, clinician-written, no cost.
Practices
Interactive contemplative guides built for daily use. Concept atlas plus timed practice sequences, not a PDF to scroll. One live now, more coming.
Common reasons people reach out
- "My partner had an affair and I don't know how to trust again"
- "My child won't eat and our pediatrician mentioned ARFID"
- "We love each other but feel like roommates"
- "My teenager is cutting and I don't know what to do"
Insurance, fees, and common questions
Session fees, accepted insurance, and payment options are on the Insurance & Fees page.
Who does Brian Nuckols work with?
Brian Nuckols, a licensed associate professional counselor (LAPC) in Pittsburgh, PA, works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples across six clinical areas: child and teen therapy (DBT-A), infidelity and betrayal trauma, eating disorders and ARFID, couples therapy, neurodivergence, and depth psychology.
What insurance does Brian Nuckols accept?
Brian Nuckols accepts Highmark and UPMC insurance plans in Pennsylvania. He also accepts VCAP (Victims Compensation Assistance Program). For other insurance plans, he can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.
How much does therapy cost without insurance?
Private pay sessions are $150. If you have out-of-network benefits, Brian provides a superbill you can submit to your insurance for partial reimbursement.
Where is the practice located?
Brian Nuckols practices in Pittsburgh, PA. He serves clients across the Pittsburgh metro area. Contact brian@briannuckols.com for specific office location details and availability.
How do I get started?
You can take one of the free self-assessments on this site, or use the Schedule a Consultation button, which opens the Insurance & Fees page. That page has the consultation email link and the insurance and fee details.
Free Self-Assessments
Clinician-designed tools to help you understand what you're dealing with. Free, private, no account required.
Assessment
View all assessments →Personal Reflection Inventory
Maps your psychological patterns, including stress responses, interpersonal style, and how you relate to control. About 15 minutes.
Take the assessment →AssessmentCognitive Style Inventory
48-item assessment of eight cognitive processes based on Dario Nardi's research. Best-fit personality type and archetypal function stack. About 5 minutes.
Take the CSI →Assessment SuiteAutism & Neurodivergence
AQ-10 quick screen (5 min), CAT-Q masking assessment (10 min), and RAADS-R comprehensive (20 min). Designed for adults, especially women and late-identified individuals.
See the assessments →AssessmentC.A.R.E. Assessment
Measures four dimensions of relational health: Calm, Accepted, Resonant, and Energized. About 5 minutes.
Take the assessment →