Life after Infidelity – Counseling for Adultery in Georgetown, TX

It is hard to turn on the TV or go online without hearing about another celebrity or politician who has had an affair. Clickbait promises to give the salacious details of who was involved, how it happened, how it was discovered, and what the couple will do now. People understandably take the bait, click on the link or buy the magazine to find out. Adultery, infidelity, and affairs capture people’s attention.

However, when you are the one caught cheating or you have been cheated on, infidelity rarely feels juicy or glamorous. No, it is usually a moment of crisis.

Adultery can end a marriage, but sometimes, partners reconcile. Which is the right way? That decision belongs to the people in the relationship. But after an affair, couples can understandably want help making tough choices. A professional counselor can give couples the support they need to recover from adultery, regardless of whether they continue the relationship or not.

The therapists at Thriveworks Georgetown, TX understand that adultery is more than material for clickbait—it is a difficulty reality that many people face. They know how to guide couples through the devastation that infidelity may cause and onto a better relationship.

Infidelity and Its Effects

Cheating. Adultery. Infidelity. An affair. Whatever people call it, the concept is the same: someone broke the expectations of a committed relationship. The expectations may be marriage vows or they may be agreed-up standards by long-term life partners. Either way, the effects can be crushing.

Part of the reason infidelity is so harmful is that it almost always involves deception and a breach of trust within a relationship that should be the most honest and safe.

Because the context for infidelity is relationships, an affair always affects other people—extended family, friends, and (at times) community members.

Generally, the uninvolved spouse and the children (if any) receive the bulk of the harm.

• The Spouse: Many spouses who have been cheated on describe the experience as traumatic. Some may have post traumatic stress symptoms. Adultery can turn a person’s world upside down: the person who was once a source of safety, fun, and companionship has wounded them deeply. After a spouse’s betrayal, the whole world can feel tainted by lies and deception. It is often hard for the uninvolved spouse to trust anything, much less their partner.
• The Children: When children know that one parent has committed adultery, they feel the betrayal as well. Sometimes, it is not appropriate for children to know, if they are too young to understand. Even in these cases, children intuit the disruption in safety. Children may even internalize the disturbance and blame themselves for the family’s problems.

The harm adultery causes is severe. Victims of adultery may experience anger, anxiety, distrust, and depression. The wound from the betrayal is deep, and treatment must be extensive.

Infidelity Recovery

No magic words can heal a marriage or relationship that infidelity has broken. Saying, “I’m sorry” may be a first step, but it is the first step on a long road of recovery. Forgiveness may be a possibility. Trust may even be a possibility. An experienced therapist can guide a couple toward the work that it takes to rebuild a healthy marriage or to divorce as amicably as possible.

Therapists can lead couples through exercises and give them tools that will help them move forward with their lives. A few of these may include …

• Improving Communication – After adultery, both partners may vacillate between cold silence and heated shouting matches. While understandably, these strategies are neither helpful nor healthy for either spouse.
• Clarifying Objectives – After an affair, it may be hard for the couple to know what they want. Working with a therapist can bring clarity. The couple can then set specific goals for their relationship and evaluate the relationship’s health.
• Re-establishing Trust – Infidelity always breaks trust between the couple, but also, the uninvolved spouse may also begin to distrust himself or herself. A skilled therapist can help the couple make boundaries or incorporate accountability that may re-establishes trust.

Contacting Thriveworks Georgetown, TX for Infidelity Counseling

Is your marriage on the rocks because of an affair? Are you doing your best, but you think professional guidance could help? We understand. Thriveworks Georgetown, TX counselors understand the instability and chaos infidelity can introduce into a family.

Dealing with the aftermath of an affair can be chaotic, but scheduling therapy should not be. When you call Thriveworks Georgetown, TX here are a few things you can expect from our office.

1. A person will answer your call, and that person can schedule your appointment, often for the next day.
2. We do not keep wait lists so you will never be put on one.
3. If you need an evening or weekend appointment, they are available.
4. We work with many major insurance companies.

We get that infidelity can be devastating. We have also helped many clients regain safe, healthy relationships after experiencing an affair—whether they rebuild the marriage or not. Ready to get started? So are we. Call today.