Mikayla Matthews Leaves Marriage to Focus on Healing from Childhood Trauma

Mikayla Matthews has revealed that she and husband Jace Terry are separated as she prioritizes her recovery from childhood sexual abuse and ongoing health challenges. On Season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Matthews explained that intimacy struggles, chronic eczema flare-ups and postpartum recovery left her too overwhelmed to continue pushing their marriage forward while also parenting four children.

Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry: why they chose a separation

Matthews and Jace Terry reached separation as a practical decision when both partners realized they could not move forward together. Couples therapy did not produce the progress they had hoped for, and Mikayla said her nervous system was locked in fight or flight, making emotional intimacy nearly impossible. Jace acknowledged her struggles but also voiced frustration that years of trying had not changed their situation.

Season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shows intimacy struggles and trauma

Viewers saw scenes in Season 4 where Mikayla Matthews described how childhood sexual abuse created deep triggers around kissing and physical touch. She disclosed abuse by three different people between ages six and fifteen, and she explained that talking about sex and intimacy provokes a fight or flight response in therapy work. She also said chronic eczema flare-ups and postpartum recovery compounded the overwhelm and left her unable to tackle marital pressure.

Jace Terry’s response and the arrangement for their four children

Jace Terry said he wants emotional and physical connection after years of intimacy struggles, and he outlined a boundary: any reconciliation would require commitment to trauma therapy. Mikayla countered that she already felt maxed out and pressured by conversations about the relationship. They agreed to separate while keeping daily contact because of their four children, and they are avoiding a complete family split. Jace, who had worked as a Waffle Love project manager and is now a stay-at-home dad, described patience paired with realistic expectations about the future.

Matthews framed separation as not necessarily permanent. She emphasized that she plans to see Jace daily for their children and that there is no set timeline for reunion. She explained that adding marital pressure when her “healing bucket” is already full from managing childhood trauma, chronic illness and four young children would be unbearable. In her words: “It’s still new to me, and it’s new to him, and we’re just navigating it the best way that we can. Unfortunately, I think it’s just something that’s going to take a lot more time. ” — Mikayla Matthews

For now, Mikayla Matthews is prioritizing trauma work and regulating her nervous system before committing to further marriage work, while Jace has set therapy commitment as a condition for reconciliation. They continue daily contact to care for their children and to avoid dissolving the family unit completely.