Dr. Debi Silber is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her expertise and devotion.
She didn’t set out to become a Post Betrayal Transformation® expert, betrayal found her. After being devastated by deep personal betrayals, Dr. Debi Silber hit rock bottom. The emotional and physical toll was so severe, it landed her in the ER. But instead of staying broken, she chose to rebuild. Unable to find any meaningful resources that addressed betrayal trauma in a holistic way, she made it her mission to create one.
She is now the founder of The PBT® (Post Betrayal Transformation®) Institute, a global movement that helps people heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually after betrayal. That mission we mentioned, became her PhD focus and led to groundbreaking discoveries, including the 5 Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough, a proven roadmap for healing. With a team of certified coaches who have all experienced betrayal and fully healed using this method, her approach is both research based and deeply personal.
She also founded National Forgiveness Day, celebrated every year on September 1st, to inspire healing and reconciliation on a collective level. Her impact reaches far beyond individual healing. Driven by a passion to make meaningful change, Dr. Silber launched PBT programs in Vietnam, the Middle East, and is expanding into Kenya. Through her work, she’s not only changing lives, she’s redefining what it means to rise after betrayal. Here is what she said…
Meet Life Coach Dr. Debi Silber:
Name: Debi Silber, Dr.
Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind, The Body, The Heart
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to heal from betrayal and transform to a better version of themselves spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally, so they can live a healthy, happy, and fulfilled life.
How they can help: By using her groundbreaking and research based framework called “5 Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough” and a team of experts creating an environment of support.
First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?
Thank you for asking.
Like many families, we experienced deep loss during the pandemic, we lost loved ones along with five of our six dogs, which was incredibly painful.
But we also welcomed new reminders of life and joy: Kasey and Cali.
These two pups have brought fun and lightness back into our home.
As a family, we’ve come through the storm stronger, more grateful, and more committed than ever to celebrating life.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?
The pandemic intensified pain points that were already there.
Many people who had been busy avoiding their betrayal wounds by distracting themselves (through work, routines, even relationships) were suddenly alone with their thoughts.
Everything came to the surface.
But it also created a powerful moment of clarity.
Many decided they were no longer willing to tolerate pain or stay stuck.
That surge inspired a wave of people to finally start healing, and we were there to guide them through it.
Personally, it was a time of deep grief and deep growth.
So many changes happening so quickly reminded me how precious life is and how much joy we need to actively create.
It solidified my mission even more.
What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?
Life is short, and grief doesn’t wait.
You don’t get to bypass pain, but you can choose whether to be broken by it or transformed through it.
The pandemic showed us all how important connection, purpose, and health really are.
And it reminded me that while trauma is inevitable, staying stuck is a choice.
The Origin:
Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?
I didn’t set out to become a Post Betrayal Transformation expert, it was betrayal that found me.
After being blindsided by painful betrayals from both my family and husband, I spiraled into exhaustion and emotional chaos, barely holding it together for my kids, clients, and dogs.
Then I collapsed and landed in the ER.
That was the moment I realized I had to change or this pain would destroy me.
Unable to find any resource that addressed betrayal trauma in a meaningful, holistic way, I decided to create one.
I enrolled in a PhD program and made betrayal the focus of my research.
My study led to three groundbreaking discoveries, including The 5 stages we move through to heal from betrayal (The Five Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough).
I applied these insights to myself, transformed my life, and began helping others do the same.
That became the foundation for The PBT® (Post-Betrayal Transformation®) Institute.
What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?
Without question: betrayal.
The pain, the self doubt, the loss of trust in others and myself, it nearly broke me.
But it also forced me to rebuild from the ground up.
I wasn’t just healing, I was transforming.
That experience gave me not only profound empathy into what others experience after betrayal, but also the tools and insight to help others rebuild their lives, stronger than before.
I was so inspired by it all that The PBT Institute has since developed a program for the betrayer, has launched PBT in countries that desperately need this type of support but don’t have access to it in their language and according to their culture (so far we’ve launched Vietnam, The Middle East and we’re getting ready to launch in Kenya!)
We even founded National Forgiveness Day (celebrated yearly on September 1st).
You could say that overcoming my biggest obstacle led to a few really great things.
The Coaching Style:
How do you innovate with coaching your clients?
What makes our approach innovative is that it’s research based, proven, and predictable.
We don’t guess, we know the exact path from betrayal to breakthrough.
I developed the 5 Stages of healing based on my PhD research, and we guide our clients through each one with precision.
Our Certified PBT Coaches and Practitioners have all been through betrayal themselves and are fully through the 5 Stages, so they’re coaching from experience, not just theory.
We’ve also built an immersive, supportive community with coaching, classes, programs, masterclasses, and tools that address physical, emotional, and psychological healing all in one place.
What’s unique about your coaching approach?
We’re moving through a step by step system backed by research.
The 5 Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough, leading people to Post-Betrayal Transformation® gives our clients a clear roadmap, so they’re never stuck wondering what to do next.
Plus, our community and PBT Coaches and Practitioners aren’t just trained, they’ve lived it.
That shared experience creates trust, accountability, and real transformation.
What benefits do your clients get after working with you?
They heal… physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
They rebuild trust, not just in others, but in themselves.
They gain clarity, confidence, health, purpose, and often an entirely new life.
We’ve seen clients leave toxic relationships, create thriving new businesses, improve their health, and even reconnect in a new, transformed way with the person who betrayed them, because both people did the work.
It’s powerful, lasting change.
Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?
Yes.
Our clients have access to a full ecosystem of support:
Daily classes, live coaching, ONdemand programs, community forums, masterclasses, and Certified PBT Coaches and Practitioners trained in our proprietary method seeing members privately as a part of their programs.
We also use assessments like the Post Betrayal Syndrome® quiz and the What Stage are You In? quiz to pinpoint exactly where someone is in the healing process and how to move forward.
The Impact:
If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?
Betrayal hurts deeply, but it’s not the end of your story.
You’re not broken beyond repair.
You’re being called to rise, rebuild, and become someone stronger than before.
It’s hard now, easy later… or easy now, hard later.
Don’t waste the trauma.
Use it as a catalyst for your greatest transformation.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?
That betrayal is one of the most painful experiences we’ll ever face, but it’s also one of the greatest opportunities for transformation, if we choose to use it that way.
We can stay in victimhood, or we can rebuild a version of ourselves and our lives that never would’ve existed otherwise.
Your final thoughts?
Betrayal can be the shock that wakes you up.
The pain is real, but so is the healing.
Transformation isn’t just possible, it’s predictable when you follow the right steps, have the right support, and commit to yourself.
Your breakthrough begins the moment you decide you’re worth it.
Where Can You Find Dr. Debi Silber?
If you liked this interview and if you would love to move from betrayal to breakthrough, go to The PBT Institute and reclaim your power back.
If you want to work 1 on 1 with Dr. Debi then you should fill out this form.
There is also a mini 5 Day program to regain trust that you can find here.
If you want to peak a glimpse into her coaching, watch her TEDx talk:
You can also listen to her Podcast or get her book.
And if you’d like to connect more personally with her, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending her a direct message on her Email debi@debisilber.com. It was an honor having this interview with her.