

{"id":1711,"date":"2015-08-26T06:37:02","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T06:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2026-03-25T10:07:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T10:07:25","slug":"how-marriage-therapy-can-help-your-relationship-after-an-affair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/therapy\/how-marriage-therapy-can-help-your-relationship-after-an-affair\/","title":{"rendered":"How Infidelity Counseling Can Help Save Your Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/How-marriage-therapy-can-help-.jpg\" alt=\" How Infidelity Counseling Can Help Your Relationship After an Affair\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/infidelity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infidelity in a marriage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be very damaging to a relationship and oftentimes, without therapy or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">counseling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the emotional and psychological damage can linger on. Infidelity counseling gives the right tools to the couple to stabilize the rocky relationship, rebuild trust and re-commit to each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infidelity is one of the leading causes for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/divorce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">divorce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today, because it represents such a huge departure from the original intentions of the partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a couple gets married, they say to the world that their intentions are to pursue a monogamous relationship with this one particular person. It is not surprising therefore, that the non-cheating partner will view infidelity as the ultimate breach of wedding <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/vows\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vows<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does-marriage-counseling-work-after-an-affair\"><\/span>Does marriage counseling work after an affair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When an affair erodes the trust and confidence in a marriage, it will take some work on the part of both persons in the relationship and through therapy or infidelity counseling to resolve the issue, heal the pain and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/save-your-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">save the marriage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is easy to assume that infidelity will mark the end of a relationship or marriage road for couples, however, some couples have reported higher levels of intimacy after undergoing couples therapy for infidelity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This counteracts the belief that a marriage cannot survive after infidelity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage counseling can not only save a relationship but can also improve intimacy, and offer opportunities to address underlying relationship issues.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasons-why-marriage-counseling-after-an-affair-is-critical\"><\/span>Reasons why marriage counseling after an affair is critical<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Couples therapy for cheating helps the couple break the vicious pattern of blaming and shaming. Infidelity counseling will help both the partners feel heard, validated, and acknowledged, all of which can help to understand why the affair happened.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Affairs are vicious, creating toxicity in your relationship. Affairs are often a by-product of unexpressed dissatisfaction.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective affair recovery counseling will make the partners learn ways to deepen <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">communication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and understanding, so they don&rsquo;t act out their dissatisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple that survived infidelity learns to set the new ground rules for a healthy marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By working with a couple&rsquo;s therapist you will be able to analyze the old marriage, move through the pain, and gradually build a stronger and improved marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><b>Adultery counseling&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infidelity has severe impacts on the betrayed spouse.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapeutic interventions for infidelity can help the cheated-on partner overcome anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, and self-blame.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Couples therapy after cheating can also help the people in affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often affairs continue for years and <\/span><b>the cheating spouse may feel trapped, helpless, or guilt-ridden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage counseling after infidelity can help the partner who chooses to repair the relationship with their spouse by rebuilding trust in the relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Let-it-all-out-in-the-infidelity-counseling\"><\/span>Let it all out in the infidelity counseling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapy will allow each person to fully express how they feel about the affair; inclusive of the partner who commits the affair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> non-cheating partner will generally feel as though they are the victim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and accordingly, their hurt and their pain are most relevant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapy or infidelity counseling will allow the partners to understand that both people are hurting and create an environment in which all feelings can be expressed freely and without judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infidelity-counseling-will-help-to-answer-what-went-wrong\"><\/span>Infidelity counseling will help to answer what went wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36737 size-full\" title=\"Therapy will help to explore this question of what went wrong\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Low-Cost-Therapy-for-Married-Couples.jpg\" alt=\"Therapy will help to explore this question of what went wrong\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is most likely one of the hardest questions to answer in certain situations. Each partner might have a different idea of what went wrong.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapy will help to explore this question of what went wrong and while it will not offer justification, it presents an opportunity for all to understand what led to the affair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once again, each partner in therapy will be able to express their own opinion and the therapist will help in this process.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"-Infidelity-counseling-will-help-you-understand-the-complexity\"><\/span>&nbsp;Infidelity counseling will help you understand the complexity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a lot of emotional issues at play after an affair. Infidelity counseling will help you understand the complex emotional dynamics of the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The emotional dynamics includes how one partner was feeling in the marriage that led to the cheating, and also how one partner now feels after finding out about the affair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alone, it would be difficult for a couple to navigate through the emotional and psychological dynamics in a way that would seek to heal and mend. Accordingly, therapy or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/counseling-after-infidelity\/\">infidelity counseling is needed<\/a> and the earlier the better; so as to not deepen or further the emotional hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infidelity-counseling-is-the-pathway-to-recover-from-the-affair\"><\/span>Infidelity counseling is the pathway to recover from the affair<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does marriage counseling work after infidelity &ndash; is the common question that crosses the couple&rsquo;s mind after infidelity in marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth is, without infidelity therapy, some couples might push it all under the carpet and never really deal with the issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no doubt that this method is a recipe for disaster. And possibly a prelude to the infidelity to happen again.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapy with a trained therapist will create an environment in which you and your spouse can work through the issues and will also give you the necessary tools you will need to rebuild your trust, confidence and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">intimacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all marriages survive an affair and an affair is not always the end of a marriage.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the foundation of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">love<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remains and the parties are willing to do the work, therapy can help to repair the damage that an affair can have on a marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Counseling-for-infidelity-helps-decide-the-fate-of-the-relationship\"><\/span>Counseling for infidelity helps decide the fate of the relationship<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wondering what to expect from marriage counseling after an affair?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counseling after an affair will help partners to be honest with their feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame, embarrassment, remorse, and hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research-oriented infidelity counseling can go a long way in helping you process and overcome the trauma and after-effects of an affair in marriage or infidelity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the help of the right treatment plan for infidelity, you will be able to look at your partner&rsquo;s role in the relationship before and after the infidelity, which will help you decide the course of the relationship moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Infidelity in a marriage can be very damaging to a relationship and oftentimes, without therapy or counseling, the emotional and psychological damage can linger on. Infidelity counseling gives the right tools to the couple to stabilize the rocky relationship, rebuild trust and re-commit to each other. Infidelity is one of the leading causes for divorce today, because it represents such a huge departure from the original intentions of the partners. When a couple gets married, they say to the world that their intentions are to pursue a monogamous relationship with this one particular person. It is not surprising therefore, that <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":675,"featured_media":1712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[2693],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/675"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1711"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119060,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711\/revisions\/119060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}