Life in the spotlight isn’t always picture-perfect, and one Utah reality star is proving just how complicated relationships can get behind the scenes. Mikayla Matthews, known for her role on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is opening up about a difficult chapter in her marriage after confirming that she and her husband, Jace Terry, have decided to spend some time apart.
The emotional revelation has caught plenty of fans by surprise, especially those following the couple’s story both on television and online. For viewers in Utah and beyond, Matthews has often seemed devoted to her growing family life with Terry. The pair share four children together, including a baby girl they welcomed in July, which makes the separation feel even more significant, per PEOPLE.
Still, Matthews says the situation is complicated and deeply personal. During the most recent season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the reality star opened up about deeply rooted struggles that have affected her relationship with Terry. Matthews shared that she has been confronting trauma connected to sexual abuse she experienced during childhood, something she says she only began fully revisiting recently.
The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Star Mikayla Matthews Split With Husband
“Last season, we dove into the beginning stages of it, and that was me revisiting all this trauma for the first time as well,” Matthews explained when discussing the situation. Facing those painful memories hasn’t been easy, and according to Matthews, both she and Terry are still trying to figure out how to navigate it together.
“It’s still new to me, and it’s new to him, and we’re just navigating it the best way that we can,” she shared, adding that healing is likely going to take more time than either of them expected. “Unfortunately, I think it’s just something that’s going take a lot more time. I feel like that’s all I can say on it now.”
The reality series also documented the couple attempting to work through their issues with professional help. Matthews revealed that she and Terry attended multiple therapy sessions together while trying to address challenges surrounding intimacy in their marriage.
However, the process hasn’t been straightforward. At one point in the show, Matthews admitted during a conversation with co-star Whitney Leavitt that her ongoing chronic skin flare-ups made it even harder to focus on those sensitive discussions.
Utah Marriage Trouble Revealed
Meanwhile, Terry has also shared his perspective on the situation. During a conversation with friend Dakota Mortensen, he acknowledged that the lack of progress has been difficult for him — but he’s trying to remain patient.
“I’m definitely not okay with it,” Terry admitted. “Me throwing fits about it all the time and getting [upset] — that doesn’t help anything. So I just feel like the only thing I can do is be patient and be there for her.”
Eventually, the couple reached the difficult decision to separate temporarily while they each figure out their next steps. For Matthews, the time apart is meant to create space for personal growth and healing, something she says she needs outside of the pressures of marriage.
“I think it’s hard anytime you bring up the stuff with the sex and the intimacy,” Matthews explained. “I feel it’s hard on me because again, my nervous system is already in fight or flight, and I’m already maxed out. My bucket is full.”
Terry suggested that committing fully to trauma therapy might help move things forward, but Matthews said she has already spent significant time working on herself and is still struggling. “I feel like I’ve done a lot of therapy work already, and my stuff is still bad,” she said.
It’s All About The Kids
Even with the separation, Matthews made it clear that the split doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their relationship. In fact, she emphasized that their children remain the top priority.
“And again, I don’t think it’s like with the intention of being separated forever,” Matthews explained. “I think we’re obviously still going to see each other every single day. I’m not trying to go even a day away from the kids anyway.”
Interestingly, fans may not have noticed any obvious signs of trouble lately. Over the past several months, Matthews and Terry have continued appearing together publicly and on social media. The couple even attended the opening night of Leavitt’s Broadway debut in Chicago earlier this year and brought their children along to celebrate afterward in New York.
Matthews also included her husband in a playful Valentine’s Day post, joking with fellow cast member Mayci Neeley that their husbands were essentially acting as “third wheels” during their girls’ night celebration.
For now, though, the couple seems focused on taking things one step at a time as they navigate their complicated reality. And while the future of their Utah marriage remains uncertain, Mikayla Matthews has made it clear that healing both individually and as a family remains the ultimate goal.
Kenna Raye 
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