5 Oct 2026
Episode 38: Caretaking, Betrayal, and Finding My Own Work with Sammy Uyama
In this episode of Healing Betrayed Families, Morgan sits down with Sammy Uyama, a recovery coach at Choose Recovery Services who has spent nearly a decade helping men repair their relationships after betrayal. Sammy also knows this work from the inside. As an adult living in Korea, married and with a baby on the way, he discovered his father's affair and became the one who told his mom. He describes the ground disappearing beneath his feet, the shame he carried for someone else's choices, and how quickly he fell into his lifelong family role of caretaker and mediator. He also shares the long, quiet road back to his dad. That road ran through his father's sustained recovery work and through Sammy's own work: seeing his father as a flawed human being and understanding the isolation his dad lived with as an immigrant. It ended with a phone call that brought his father to tears.
Together, Morgan and Sammy explore the "betrayed child" experience at every age, from teens still living at home to adult children building families of their own. They talk about why repair takes two-way witnessing between parent and child, how common it is for men in recovery to be betrayed children themselves, and why healing with your kids is its own lane, separate from individual and couples work. Sammy's advice to parents is to start with your own recovery, because your kids will feel the difference even if they never see the work. Morgan adds a reminder: if you can't be fully present for your children right now, make sure they have safe, supportive people walking alongside them. To connect with Sammy, visit his bio on the Choose Recovery Services website and schedule a free consult.
About Sammy Uyama
Sammy is a recovery coach who helps individuals and couples navigate compulsive behaviors, relational disconnection, shame, and the deeper wounds that drive them. His work centers on the belief that many destructive patterns are not ultimately rooted in desire for pleasure, but in the human longing to feel loved, safe, seen, and worthy.
Email: samuyama@gmail.com (mailto:samuyama@gmail.com)
Work with Sammy (https://www.chooserecoveryservices.com/team-bios/#SammyUyama)
Register for “Witnessed” (https://www.morganellsworthcoaching.com/home-1) coaching groups for teens and adult children
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About the Host
Morgan Ellsworth is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with advanced training in trauma-informed care. She is certified through APSATS as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Associate (CCPS-A) and Certified Partner Coach (CPC) and works with individuals and families impacted by betrayal trauma.
Connect with Morgan @Healing.betrayed.families (https://www.instagram.com/healing.betrayed.families?igsh=Zzhyc3hjZWU1b3M0&utm_source=qr) on Instagram or email her directly at morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com (mailto:morgan.ellsworth98@gmail.com)
Visit Morgan’s coaching website (https://www.morganellsworthcoaching.com/)
For those looking for therapeutic support in Arizona, connect with Morgan at her supervised private practice, Ellsworth Family Therapy (http://www.ellsworthfamilytherapy.com)
Thank you for listening to Healing Betrayed Families.
