How To Work With Infidelity in Sex Therapy

This course is approved by AASECT for 1 CE units.

It is easy to get lost in trying to define infidelity.  When it comes down to it, most people say that it wasn’t the behavior that was painful (whether they had sex or just talked).  Betrayal – the fact that you were deceived and lied to – is what hurts.  Instead of getting into an argument about whether or not something should be considered as an infidelity, focus on the fact that being lied to and betrayed is what hurts.  People that have cheated will often say that the reason they did it was that they were unhappy sexually.  Yes, it sucks to be sexually dissatisfied but you have two choices:  tell your partner about your dissatisfaction and come to a new agreement or cheat.   The person that was unfaithful entered into a contract stating that he/she would be faithful. If they find they cannot abide by that contract, then they should re-contract.    

In this course I go over the following:

1. Defining infidelity
2. Why people cheat
3. The process the couple engages in after infidelity
4. Typical symptoms to address
5. Therapeutic interventions in each step of the process
6. Case example from my practice