Affair Recovery
Rebuilding trust after infidelity.
The discovery of an affair can turn a relationship upside down. There is shock, anger, grief, shame, and a long list of questions. Many couples wonder whether the relationship can survive, and whether they even want it to. You do not need to have that answer before we begin.
Who this is for
Couples who want to understand what happened and decide, together, what comes next
Partners who have been betrayed and need space to be heard
Partners who had the affair and want to take responsibility and repair the damage
Couples dealing with emotional affairs, online relationships, or repeated breaches of trust
Working with the partner who strayed
Much of the help available focuses on the betrayed partner, and for good reason. Repair also depends on the partner who had the affair: understanding how it happened, staying present with their partner's pain without defending or withdrawing, and becoming someone who can be trusted again. I have particular experience helping people do this work honestly and steadily.
How the work unfolds
Affair recovery usually moves in stages. Early sessions focus on steadying the crisis and creating enough safety to talk. From there we look at what led to the affair, what each of you needs, and the patterns in the relationship that left room for distance. The later work is rebuilding: trust, intimacy, and a relationship that both of you choose. My couples work is experiential and often draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
About individual sessions
I may meet with each of you individually along the way. I follow a no-secrets policy in couples work: please do not share anything privately that you would not want raised in a couples session. If something comes up that I believe belongs in the room, we will talk first about how to bring it in.
What to expect
Sessions are in person at my Davidson, NC office or virtually anywhere in North Carolina. For couples who want concentrated time, weekend intensives are also an option. I am an out-of-network provider. I provide superbills for possible reimbursement, and HSA/FSA cards are accepted. Please check with your plan about out-of-network mental health benefits.