Valerie Bertinelli Navigates Trust and Healing in New Relationship

After a toxic marriage, Valerie Bertinelli embarks on a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Now in a new relationship, she grapples with the complexities of rebuilding trust and overcoming emotional demons.

Valerie Bertinelli, the beloved actress and former Food Network star, has opened up about her experiences in a new relationship, navigating the challenges of trust and healing after a toxic marriage.

Valerie Bertinelli Navigates Trust and Healing in New Relationship

In a candid Instagram post, Bertinelli shared her journey of self-discovery and emotional growth. "So I pretty much started my healing journey in earnest at the end of 2022," she wrote, referring to the finalization of her divorce from businessman Tom Vitale.

Describing her marriage as "toxic," Bertinelli had previously endured years of emotional abuse, leading her to question her ability to ever trust again. "I wanted my life to be different than it was and I wanted to be a whole and emotionally healthy human being," she said.

Valerie Bertinelli Navigates Trust and Healing in New Relationship

Despite her initial hesitation, Bertinelli met writer Mike Goodnough earlier this year and began dating. "I’m in love," she told People magazine. "It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again."

The "One Day at a Time" star has acknowledged the challenges of rebuilding trust in a new relationship, particularly after the trauma of her previous marriage. "I’ve heard that being in a relationship after healing from a toxic one will bring out some triggers you didn’t know were still buried. And ain’t that the truth," she wrote.

Bertinelli has shared insights into the insidious nature of emotional abuse, describing how her ex-husband "screamed" at her and made her feel worthless. "I realize …that was someone just projecting on me whatever they needed to project on me, but my part in all of it was believing it, and I don't believe it anymore," she said.

Healing from emotional abuse is a complex and ongoing process, but Bertinelli has emphasized the importance of self-care and self-love. "Learning to trust again after having that trust destroyed is not an easy thing," she wrote. "Those demons want to protect you from being vulnerable and emotionally exposed ever again."

Despite these challenges, Bertinelli has found strength and hope in her new relationship. "He is the most thoughtful, kind, gentle, intelligent, funny, and grateful man I’ve ever met," she said of Goodnough, adding, "And look at him" with a heart face emoji.

Bertinelli first met Goodnough on Instagram, where they messaged each other for a few years before they started dating. She has previously been married to musician Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007, who died in 2020.

Bertinelli's story offers a poignant reminder that even after experiences of trauma and heartbreak, healing and happiness are possible. Through self-reflection, vulnerability, and the support of loved ones, individuals can overcome adversity and rediscover their capacity for love and trust.