

{"id":35702,"date":"2019-03-15T07:09:54","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T07:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=35702"},"modified":"2024-02-12T14:05:18","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T14:05:18","slug":"betrayed-spouses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/infidelity\/betrayed-spouses\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebuilding Trust: Support Groups for Betrayed Spouses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-35706 size-full\" title=\"Are There Support Groups for Betrayed Spouses\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Are-There-Support-Groups-for-Betrayed-Spouses.jpg\" alt=\"Are There Support Groups for Betrayed Spouses\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcoholics Anonymous or AA is one of the most successful support groups in the world. Today, following the AA model, there are support groups for everything. Everything from drugs addiction,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.operationwearehere.com\/FallenWarriorsConnectionSupport.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fallen warrior families<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fightthenewdrug.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">porn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.controlpointcoaching.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video games<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But are there support groups for betrayed spouses and infidelity?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Psychologist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/mert-eker\">Mert &#350;eker<\/a> states that,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>While spousal betrayal can undermine trust, it is repairable. Open and honest communication is crucial as a first step. Understanding and addressing the underlying issues of the betrayal is the second step. Gradually rebuilding trust and reaffirming commitment constitutes the third step. This process demands concerted effort from both spouses and can benefit from professional or therapeutic support.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><b>Didn&rsquo;t we say everything? Here&rsquo;s a list&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-Beyond-affairs-infidelity-support-group\"><\/span>1. Beyond affairs infidelity support group<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sponsored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/infidelity\/10-tips-for-emotional-infidelity-recovery\/\">affair recovery<\/a> specialists Brian and Anne Bercht, like the AA founders, they suffered from the problem they are now advocating to solve. Married since 1981, their marriage took a wrong turn after an <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondaffairsnetwork.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">affair<\/a> by Brian.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, they co-authored the best-selling book. &ldquo;My Husband&rsquo;s Affair Became the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.&rdquo; A story about their long road to healing, recovery, and forgiveness and run the Beyond Affairs Network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is by far, the largest organized community for couples going through a rough patch due to infidelity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-CheatingSupportcom\"><\/span>2. CheatingSupport.com<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is an online community that values individual or couples privacy. A lot of support groups believe in facing their weakness to overcome their challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, a lot of couples that are working hard to heal through their turbulent times do not want the world to know about the affair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is understandable, as judgment and harsh treatment from third-parties can shatter the hard work the couples have built to fix their relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheatingsupport.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CheatingSupport.com<\/a> sets the stage and creates a community while keeping everything strictly confidential.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-SurvivingInfidelitycom\"><\/span>3. SurvivingInfidelity.com<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An alternative to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.survivinginfidelity.com\/forums\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CheatingSupport.com<\/a>. It is an old-school forum type messaging board with ads. The community is semi-active that&rsquo;s regulated by forum moderators.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-InfidelityHelpGroupcom\"><\/span>4. InfidelityHelpGroup.com<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Secular version of <a href=\"https:\/\/infidelityhelpgroup.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Cheating Support.com<\/a>, It focuses on renewing trust through the guidance of religious beliefs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have a strong stance against people who sacrifice themselves to continue to love a cheater when the affair is exposed.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-Facebook\"><\/span>5. Facebook<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-35707 size-full\" title=\"Facebook\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"Facebook\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a lot of local infidelity support groups on Facebook. &nbsp;Run a search to check your local area or nearby major cities for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be careful when interacting on Facebook. You will need an active profile to be accepted by most group moderators. It exposes your identity and your spouse to social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your privacy settings, engaging in posts in a Facebook group can also reflect in common friend newsfeeds.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-tguhv-79elbk h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-tguhv-1n7m0yu\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col pb-9 text-sm\">\n<div class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-5\">\n<div class=\"px-4 py-2 justify-center text-base md:gap-6 m-auto\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-1 text-base mx-auto gap-3 md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem] group final-completion\">\n<div class=\"relative flex w-full flex-col lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)] agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"f4a250b3-8e96-4a1b-948d-f1135178c020\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>Psychologist &#350;eker highlights the significant impact of social media, noting that<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The role of social media in facilitating access to social support networks is huge, exemplified by platforms like Facebook.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6-Infidelity-Survivors-Anonymous-ISA\"><\/span>6. Infidelity Survivors Anonymous (ISA)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This group is the one that closely follows the AA model. They are sectarian neutral and have their own version of a 12-step program to help cope with trauma from betrayal and other consequences of infidelity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meetings are closed and only for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isurvivors.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">survivors<\/a>. Events are usually in the states of Texas, California, and New York, but it is possible to sponsor meetings in different areas in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They hold annual 3-day retreat workshops that include meditation sessions, fellowship gatherings, and normally a keynote speaker.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7-Daily-Strength\"><\/span>7. Daily Strength<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a general support group with several subcategories including infidelity. It is a forum type support group with thousands of members.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystrength.org\/group\/infidelity\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Daily strength<\/a> is good for people that have multiple problems from the domino effect of infidelities such as thoughts of suicide, and alcoholism.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8-Meetupcom\"><\/span>8. Meetup.com<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet up is a platform that&rsquo;s used mainly by individuals to find others in their local area with the same hobbies and interest. There are Infidelity support groups on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/login\/?returnUri=https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/topics\/infidelity-support\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Meetup<\/a> platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meetup support groups for betrayed spouses are informal, and the agenda is set by the local organizer. Do not expect a time-tested 12\/13-step program like the ones in AA.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9-Andrew-Marshall-Events\"><\/span>9. Andrew Marshall Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/andrewgmarshall.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew<\/a> is a UK marital therapist and author of self-help books on marriage and infidelity. Since 2014, he goes around the world and sets up one-time small infidelity support group therapy sessions hosted by him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out his website if there is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/what-to-expect-first-therapy-session\/\">therapy session<\/a> in your area.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-Betrayed-Wives-Club\"><\/span>10. Betrayed Wives Club<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-35713 size-full\" title=\"Betrayed Wives Club\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Betrayed-Wives-Club.jpg\" alt=\"Betrayed Wives Club\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It began when an infidelity survivor Elle Grant began a blog to vent her feelings after being victimized by what she calls a &ldquo;<a href=\"http:\/\/thebetrayedwivesclub.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">homewrecker<\/a>.&rdquo; She used the blog to eventually forgive her husband and the third party after coming into terms with her own feelings through the blog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It eventually gathered a lot of followers and they started their own community.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11-Mankind-Initiative\"><\/span>11. Mankind Initiative<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a UK-based Phone helpline to help men survive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mankind.org.uk\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">infidelity<\/a> and other domestic abuse. It is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers and donations.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12-Infidelity-Recovery-Institute\"><\/span>12. Infidelity Recovery Institute<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel you need a more formal setting with actionable steps to recovery based on the AA model. The IRI offers self-help materials including one for men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also offer online courses similar to educational classes to help you and your spouse cope with your<a href=\"https:\/\/infidelityrecoveryinstitute.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> infidelity<\/a> problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Support-groups-can-really-help-overcome-the-pain\"><\/span>Support groups can really help overcome the pain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Support Groups are not a silver bullet to overcome the pain from betrayal and infidelity. Time heals all wounds and there will be days when individuals need another person to lean on. Ideally, this person should be your spouse, but a lot of partners do not want to rely on them at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s quite understandable to get away from the source of the pain and reach out for helping hands elsewhere when dealing with infidelity issues. After all, they broke their trust and destroyed their faith in you as a person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Support groups can provide such helping hands. But if you truly want to recover, then it should be temporary. Your spouse is the person you should trust the most, the first candidate when you need a shoulder to cry on. Both partners will have to walk the long hard road to recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will not happen if both parties do not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/infidelity\/how-to-regain-trust-in-your-partner-after-infidelity\/\">regain their trust<\/a> with each other. Support groups for betrayed spouses will do all that they can to help, but ultimately, it is up to both partners to do the heavy lifting and pick up where they left off.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-tguhv-79elbk h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-tguhv-1n7m0yu\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col pb-9 text-sm\">\n<div class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-7\">\n<div class=\"px-4 py-2 justify-center text-base md:gap-6 m-auto\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-1 text-base mx-auto gap-3 md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem] group final-completion\">\n<div class=\"relative flex w-full flex-col lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)] agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7979b03b-218d-49f6-8f73-da61ffacdef4\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>Psychologist &#350;eker asserts that,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Trust is pivotal in relationships and that betrayal profoundly disrupts it. Rebuilding trust necessitates time (varying by individual), therapy, and social support, emphasizing the importance of not feeling isolated during recovery. While social support alone isn&rsquo;t a cure, it offers significant positive effects.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where most support groups fail. A lot of people believe that the group should do the work for them. Support by definition only provides guidance and assistance. You are still the protagonist of your own story. It is the main character&rsquo;s job to defeat the demons.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alcoholics Anonymous or AA is one of the most successful support groups in the world. Today, following the AA model, there are support groups for everything. Everything from drugs addiction, fallen warrior families, porn, and video games. But are there support groups for betrayed spouses and infidelity? Psychologist Mert &#350;eker states that, While spousal betrayal can undermine trust, it is repairable. Open and honest communication is crucial as a first step. Understanding and addressing the underlying issues of the betrayal is the second step. Gradually rebuilding trust and reaffirming commitment constitutes the third step. This process demands concerted effort from <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":630,"featured_media":35706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[2688],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35702"}],"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\/630"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35702"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95427,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35702\/revisions\/95427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}