In any committed relationship, there is an explicit or implicit commitment regarding intimacy. The nature of each couple’s commitment is unique; however, it typically includes both sexual and emotional loyalty to one’s partner and regulates interactions both within and outside of the relationship. Infidelity is any form of betrayal to the implied or stated contract between partners regarding intimate exclusivity. With infidelity, emotional and/or sexual intimacy is diverted away from the committed relationship without the other partner’s consent. A violation of the commitment impacts the relationship on many levels and often results in a loss of trust, confusion, and immense pain. The discovery of infidelity is often the initiating event that brings couples to therapy.

Couples are often aided when therapists provide a “map” to help them understand common emotional reactions, what they might experience following the revelation of infidelity, and the process of forgiveness and healing. They are more likely to engage in the various stages of treatment if they know what to expect and trust that therapy can help them heal.

Infidelity is one of the most common presenting problems for couples seeking therapy. The 7 Step Infidelity Recovery Method is a couple counseling technique for infidelity recovery. The systematized framework supports the healing process, and can help “hold” the therapist as she or he seeks to hold their clients through this painful time.  The therapist (or Infidelity Recovery Specialist) uses behavioral techniques, such as coaching, directing or educating, can be usefully incorporated into a psychoanalytic model.

The 7-Step Infidelity Recovery Method was developed for several reasons:

  1. To provide a step-by-step method for both therapist and couple to work through the affair recovery process.
  2. To educate couples on how to repair the relationship after the crisis of infidelity
  3. As a industry of helping professionals, we are socially responsible to continuously improve couple counseling techniques, and measure the effectiveness of these methods with data (such as the number of divorces this year.)

The good news is that the majority of marriages not only survive infidelity, but IRI therapists & coaches have observed that many marriages can become stronger and more intimate after 7-Step Infidelity Recovery Coaching.

 

The 7 Steps to Affair Recovery