Healing from Extramarital Affairs

Extramarital affairs are common and generally shake the foundations of a marriage or relationship. Whether a one-time sexual encounter or a longstanding relationship, affairs can violate norms of commitment, loyalty, honesty, and sexual fidelity. Treating the resulting relational crises that follow in the wake of aptly named “infidelity” can be one of the most complex and challenging situations we face as therapists.

In this 2-hour continuing education webinar for therapists, Dr. Arthur Nielsen--psychoanalyst, couple therapist, and author of Integrative Couple Therapy in Action---will discuss the psychology of the offended and offending partners and make concrete suggestions about paths to recovery after infidelity. 

This introductory web conference is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. Describe the damage to individuals and relationships that extramarital affairs generally create.
2. Describe practical steps for handling the crisis stage after an affair is discovered.
3. Describe the complex psychologies of trust and forgiveness and the paths by which, when merited, trust can be restored and forgiveness achieved.
4. List the components of optimal apologies.
5. Identify the many motives (marital and nonmarital) that lead to “cheating” which can inform treatment of the “offending spouse.”

Statement of program material’s accuracy, utility, and risks: The presentation is based in large part on the author’s extensive experience with couples reeling in the wake of affairs and is the subject of a chapter in his book, Integrative Couple Therapy in Action. The program discusses strategies for applying the concepts taught in a clinically responsible manner, although the presenter may not know how to apply all principles discussed to every situation or person. A body of research surveyed in the program suggests that the methods are effective and safe for diverse populations. As always, however, misapplication of the concepts with various populations could lead to unintended outcomes. Course references will be provided to participants.

Declaration of conflicts of interest and commercial support: None.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. To receive CE credit hours for an archived recording, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events are generally considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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