Affair Recovery

Recovering a relationship that has been damaged by an affair is very possible. Affairs can be emotional and / or sexual. With proper guidance and professional support, couples can experience individual and relationship healing. When an affair is found out, it becomes the visible and obvious problem in the relationship. Yet, there are usually long-standing underlying issues in the relationship that have been ignored and potentially set the stage for infidelity.  Affair recovery happens in 3 phases: responsibility, reconnection and reinforcement.  Responsibility involves acknowledging the reality of what has taken place without minimizing the behavior or the impact it has had on the relationship. This phase also includes acknowledging the problems that have contributed to the affair. The Reconnection phase involves remorse for the offense, forgiveness of the offense and rebuilding trust. All three of these components must take place for healing to occur.  Reinforcement is the implementation of ongoing healthy relationship interactions that strengthen the marriage bond and protect it from future betrayal. The key to success in all 3 phases of recovery is the desire to fix the relationship and the commitment to stick with the process, even when it is difficult.