You’re trying to move on from infidelity, but trusting again feels impossible. You’re afraid of getting hurt, and you can only imagine history repeating itself—no matter how much your partner tries to show you it won’t. Cheating can be deeply traumatic, but infidelity therapy can help you heal.
Cheating in a relationship or marriage often destroys trust and emotional intimacy. Affairs can shake the foundation of a relationship and cause deep emotional pain, making them one of the most complex challenges to address in couples therapy. Yet, with the right support, couples can work through betrayal and reconnect.
At our Deerfield counseling practice, we specialize in affair recovery, providing a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your feelings, fears, and frustrations—and to work through the complex emotions they bring. In time, you’ll reconnect with each other and rebuild trust with ease and confidence.
Common Challenges Infidelity Therapy Can Help With
Infidelity therapy or infidelity marriage counseling can help couples facing various relationship issues.
It’s especially recommended for couples who are:
Trying to rebuild trust.
Experiencing betrayal trauma.
Struggling with the ongoing impact of infidelity (e.g., hypervigilance, avoidance, blame, anger, shame).
Feeling stuck in a painful cycle.
More specifically, an infidelity therapist can help with:
Rebuilding trust and intimacy.
Emotional healing and regulation.
Developing tools for healthy conflict resolution
Grief and loss over the relationship before the affair.
Cognitive symptoms (e.g., intrusive thoughts, doubt, confusion) and physical symptoms (e.g., insomnia, digestive issues, headaches).
Start Infidelity Therapy in Deerfield, IL
It’s possible to recover after an affair—with commitment, honesty, and support, you can rebuild trust and grow stronger together. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
How Affair Recovery Can Help You
Cheating can completely disrupt a relationship or marriage, making it feel impossible to heal. For the partner who’s been betrayed, feelings of shame or self-blame are common—and while it may feel isolating, many go through the same experience.
Your specialized infidelity therapist will provide the tools to help you reach your goals—whether that’s rebuilding trust, processing painful emotions, or figuring out how to move forward.
Our goal is to build a collaborative relationship grounded in trust and mutual respect—one where you feel supported, understood, and truly heard. Together, we’ll develop strategies to help you heal emotional wounds and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Our Approach to Infidelity Therapy in Deerfield, IL
At Ammirati Counseling Group, we specialize in the Gottman Method, an evidence-based approach supported by over 40 years of research. Widely recognized as the Platinum Standard in couples therapy, it offers proven strategies for lasting connection and growth.
However, we tailor our approach to each couple’s unique situation and may incorporate additional techniques as needed, especially when trauma is involved.
Some of the approaches we incorporate include:
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
This evidence-based approach is grounded in the Sound Relationship House theory, which specifies nine elements of a healthy relationship. It aims to foster intimacy, respect, affection, and understanding while reducing conflict and removing barriers to connection.
The process begins with an assessment led by your infidelity therapist, designed to understand how you interact as a couple. Your therapist may also meet with each of you individually to gain deeper insight.
Within Gottman Method Couples Therapy, a specialized approach for couples recovering from infidelity is the Trust Revival Method, which includes three phases: Atonement, Attunement, and Attachment. While its effectiveness is still being studied, it offers a powerful framework for rebuilding trust and emotional connection—and may be incorporated into your therapy.
Your infidelity therapist will suggest therapeutic strategies tailored to your goals and challenges as a couple. This marks the beginning of your personalized therapy journey, where you’ll work together to strengthen your relationship and heal from betrayal.
Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy
Infidelity can cause emotional trauma, and this approach acknowledges how that trauma affects your ability to connect, communicate, and trust one another. By learning to identify and manage triggers, you can improve emotional regulation. Over time, your communication, understanding, and trust can grow—helping you feel safe in your relationship again.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples
EFT is a structured approach based on attachment theory that helps you address the affair in a healthier way that prevents communication marked by blame, shame, or conflict. Over time, you’ll find a way to work together, rather than against each other, and work on what you need to do to rebuild security, trust, and safety.
Get Started with Affair Recovery in Deerfield, IL
Looking for infidelity therapy or infidelity marriage counseling in Deerfield, Bannockburn, or the North Chicagoland area? Taking the first step can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to guide you through it with care and understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of therapy is best for infidelity?
The best approach to affair recovery or infidelity marriage counseling depends on each couple’s unique needs and goals. However, research shows that the Gottman method of couples therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) are among the most effective options.
Is it possible to overcome infidelity?
Yes! Healing from such a painful experience is possible, though it takes time, effort, and a long-term commitment to address the underlying issues and rebuild trust. It involves honest communication and taking accountability.
Recovery from an affair is deeply personal, but many couples emerge stronger and more connected than before.
How to heal the trauma of infidelity?
Along with infidelity therapy or infidelity marriage counseling—which help address underlying issues and rebuild trust—there are several things you can do to support your healing:
- Process your emotions (for example, through journaling).
- Prioritize self-care and establish healthy routines.
- Build a support system with trusted friends or support groups.
What are the stages of affair recovery?
Recovering from infidelity often mirrors the stages of grief—discovery, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Another helpful framework is the Gottman Trust Revival Method, which divides recovery into Atonement, Attunement, and Attachment.
Regardless of the model, common themes include the initial shock, processing trauma, rebuilding trust, and ultimately moving forward.
What is the 80/20 rule in infidelity?
The 80/20 rule is a concept used to explain why infidelity can occur. It suggests that people often overlook 80% of the positive aspects of their relationship and focus on the 20% they feel is lacking. This can lead them to seek outside the relationship for someone who meets their needs, sometimes justifying their actions to themselves in the process.
