Infidelity is a difficult hurdle to overcome in a marriage, but it is not impossible. No matter how long you’ve been married or how long the affair lasted, there is hope for you. One of the most effective ways to resolve conflicts after infidelity is through marriage counseling, like the confidential couples counseling services we offer at Family Counseling Associates. Let’s take a closer look at marriage counseling after infidelity so you can determine if it is right for you.
What to Expect from Marriage Counseling after Infidelity
If you have already been seeing a marriage counselor, the therapy sessions will proceed as normal. The infidelity will be a new challenge that you discuss in counseling, and your therapist will give you advice on how to work through your issues. If you are thinking about marriage counseling because of infidelity, here are some experiences to expect:
- Marriage counseling is 100% confidential and judgement-free.
- You and your spouse will talk about your thoughts, experiences, concerns and frustrations at your own pace.
- Your therapist will help you get to the root cause of your relationship issues – what sparked the infidelity, and how could it have been prevented?
- Together, you will find ways to improve your communication and rebuild your trust.
- You may pursue individual counseling in addition to marriage counseling to work through your personal struggles.
- Marriage counseling isn’t just about “fixing problems.” It’s about finding solutions that prevent conflicts in the future and create a better overall quality of life.
- You each get a turn to share your thoughts. Couples therapy encourages active listening and honest participation.
- Your marriage counselor will guide you every step of the way, but you remain in control of the process.
The first therapy session is mostly an icebreaker, where you get to know your therapist and your therapist gets a chance to know you. Your therapist may recommend some homework for you, such as writing down your thoughts in a journal or making a list of your biggest goals in the relationship. This gives you a starting point for the next therapy session. As you progress through marriage counseling, you will uncover new topics to discuss and new solutions to work on as a team. The therapy is personalized for your relationship.
Goals of Couples Counseling
Every couple is unique, but the general goals of marriage counseling remain the same.
- Identify issues in the relationship.
- Determine the root cause of those issues (they’re usually not what you think).
- Find personalized solutions for each issue.
- Create an honest flow of communication that resolve conflicts and diffuses disputes.
If you are seeking marriage counseling after infidelity, this will be incorporated in the goals of your counseling program. However, it’s important to note that the therapy will not be entirely focused on infidelity. There are most likely many other obstacles beneath the surface that you can resolve in your marriage. Uncovering those will help you move forward after infidelity and improve your relationship as a whole.
To learn more about marriage counselor or to schedule an appointment with a licensed marriage counselor, contact Family Counseling Associates at 978-222-3121.