Finding out that your partner has been cheating on you can feel like the ultimate betrayal. You might start to question everything about your relationship and wonder if you even know your significant other at all. After learning that you have been lied to so many times, it might feel impossible to forgive them or remain in the relationship at all. If this feels all too familiar to you, we encourage you to book an appointment with a counselor to begin the recovery process.
Whether your partner cheated on you once and insisted that it was a moment of weakness or your partner has been caught in a lengthy affair, you have a right to feel hurt, betrayed, and angry. However, it’s also not healthy to wallow in these emotions and let them make you bitter and resentful. If you need clarity and support after learning about a loved one’s infidelity, couples counseling may be able to help guide you through the five stages of forgiveness:
- Recognize the situation. Admit to yourself that the cheating happened and that you must face the consequences of your partner’s betrayal.
- Take responsibility. This stage is all about taking responsibility for your own healing. Recognize that you’re in complete control over how you react to difficult events.
- Find a release. Counselors often recommend writing a letter or calling the person who betrayed you to let them know that you forgive them. Another technique is to pretend that your partner is sitting in an empty chair across from you and talk to them as if they were really there. Explain how they hurt you but that you ultimately forgive them.
- Start rebuilding. If you’d like, this is a good time to start couples counseling to repair the relationship. Otherwise, you can move on and look forward to new relationships.
- Enjoy a fresh start. After overcoming a tough relationship, you’ll begin to feel more emotionally intelligent, compassionate, and self-assured. This newfound perspective can give you the strength to enjoy your life once more.
If you and your partner want to seek couples counseling together, please book an appointment at Georgia Family Crisis Solutions today