The Value of Change After Infidelity: Mastering the Steps of Affair Recovery
When infidelity is present, the relationship suffers from a hard hit. It is a punch that takes your breath away, your comfort, your security…your trust. I have walked many journeys of recovery with clients working their way through infidelity and it is painful and intense. Rebuilding trust is a byproduct of all of the work you do together, inside and outside of session. Trust takes time to heal and while we work hard at caring for that wound, we also have to be aware of the triggers in our environment that can throw us right back into those big painful feelings.
One powerful way to move forward in your healing journey is to create a new living space by changing your home environment. We want to shift our space from one that may trigger trauma to one that feels new and fresh to the relationship. This can look a variety of ways. Some clients find healing in moving the stuff they already have in their space around to shift the vibe while other clients may find that moving to a new space entirely and creating a completely different living space in a new home is the best option for them.
The value of change after infidelity doesn’t stop with our home environment; you may find the need to adjust the route you take while out and about to avoid any triggers you might run into as you drive around. We are not only avoiding triggers but also interactions with the affair partner/s. If infidelity happens within the work environment (where we find 60% of infidelity is initiated), then guess what - we are changing jobs too!
It is necessary to intentionally identify triggers and then plan to avoid them while also being compassionate with yourself and your partner when you discover a new trigger during your journey. Eventually our work together will put you and your partner in a position where openly communicating any triggers either of you run into will be totally welcomed and even encouraged. You will be able to work through them together, plan how to avoid that trigger in the future, and feel heard and supported by the time the conversation is over. You will be able to prioritize reconnecting with your partner and feel secure in that.
In the aftermath of an affair, prioritizing the healing journey of your relationship is key and that means it’s necessary to work through any inconvenience that comes your way. Trust is not an easy thing to rebuild and it shouldn’t be. The work we do in session provides the material needed to create a new foundation and start building a happier and healthier relationship. I have found that if both partners are willing to sit in the discomfort and do the hard work, they are able to build a relationship back that is healthier and stronger than they knew it could be.
My name is Jaimi Douthit and I’m a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate at the Center for Couples Counseling. I love working with couples and individuals who are ready and motivated to make changes in their lives and relationships, who can handle feedback and encouragement, and engage in using the tools I teach in therapy outside of the therapy room. At the Center for Couples Counseling, we specialize in couples therapy, infertility counseling, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, self-care and burnout, and perfectionism. We help couples and individuals in the League City and Houston areas in person, and all residents of the State of Texas online. Call us at (832) 827-3288 to schedule a free phone consultation.
Begin Affair Recovery in League City, TX
If you and your partner have experienced infidelity in your relationship, it's important to seek the help of one of our skilled therapists to begin the journey of affair recovery. Don't wait any longer to take action - begin the process of healing and rebuilding trust in your relationship with the Center for Couples Counseling, by following these three simple steps:
Meet with one of our skilled affair recovery therapists
Begin to heal your relationship and build trust with your partner in a healthy way!
Other Services Offered at Center for Couples Counseling
At the Center for Couples Counseling, we understand you or your relationship may be facing different challenges. To help you work on yourself and your relationship, our Texas practice offers individual therapy, infertility counseling, postpartum anxiety, and depression counseling, therapy for self-care and burnout, and therapy for perfectionism. For more about us check out our FAQs and blog!