Question Description
I’m working on a social science discussion question and need support to help me understand better.
Infidelity in relationships rarely has one universal cause; however, often a variety of underlying reasons may be present through many cases. Furthermore, infidelity typically creates a significant crisis in a couple’s relationship, and many couples end their relationships once infidelity is revealed. Some individuals or couples, however, desire to maintain their relationship and attempt to work through the issues that arise in relation to the infidelity.
These clients may seek counseling services to help them deal with the aftermath of infidelity. As a helping professional, your beliefs and values related to infidelity can impact your ability to work with these clients.
Day 4
Post by Day 4 a summary of underlying reasons for infidelity connected to a couple’s needs. Then, decide whether it is possible for couples to recover when one or both partners have had an affair. If yes, explain how counseling can facilitate that recovery. If not, explain what individual counseling needs might arise for each partner.
Day 6
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Respond by Day 6 to at least two of your colleagues’ postings with a different explanation as yours, offering and supporting an opinion gained from your reading.
Colleague 1: JENNIFER WILSON
RE: Discussion – Week 11
REASONS FOR INFEDLITY
Reasons for infidelity can vary. Some suffer from a narcissistic and antisocial personality disorder. Others have alcohol and substance abuse disorders. Sometimes if the marriage has run its course and the individual is ready to leave, they may engage in extramarital affairs (Levine, et al., 2016).
POSSIBILITY OF RECOVERY.
I believe that one may recover depending on the relationship that existed between the couple. If there were additional issues that caused these affairs, it could influence whether a person could recover. If one person has already checked out of the marriage and is no longer interested, the other may never recover and hold resentment towards that partner. One may cheat because they feel neglected and need attention. However, each person reacts differently; some can forgive but not forget (Levine, et al., 2016).
COUNSELING FOR RECOVERY
A way to facilitate recovery for a couple would be to establish a place where the client will feel safe and trustworthy. Secondly, demonstrating your competence on the subject is essential, and thirdly provide a treatment model. At the beginning of treatment, the discussions must remain focused and limit any aggressive behavior toward one another. It is also essential to stay equal between the two. During recovery, couples must learn boundaries, self-care, teach them techniques to disengage and vent when it becomes too much. They must be able to discuss what the affair has done to them physically and emotionally. More importantly, they must understand why the affair occurred so they can move on. When they can do this, it will determine whether the couple will choose to work things out or end the marriage. If they decide to stay together, they can begin to work on the things that led to the infidelity. They must also focus on forgiveness and letting go so they can move forward. They will have to make changes to strengthen their relationship and rid of the things that negatively impacted it (Levine, et al., 2016).
REFERENCES:
Levine, S. B., Risen, C. B., & Althof, S. E. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge
Colleague 2: Tyrus Ballard-Bradford
RE: Discussion – Week 11
Infidelity is when a spouse is being unfaithful to the other, which can cause severe problems in a relationship. Some reasons for infidelity could stem from lack of sex from a partner, a spouse always gone/not available, or emotionally disconnected. Speaking from the experience of a friend, I think it is possible to recover from infidelity. Through counseling you get to find out underlying reasons and communicate how the infidelity made them feel in a judgement free zone. Emphasizing the spouse’s detrimental pain as a form of PTSD will help the spouse that cheated have more tolerance with the healing process (Wedge, 2013). Counseling can facilitate how to effectively listen and communicate. In addition, the counselor can facilitate a conversation about expectations from each other and individual expectations.
Reference
Wedge, M. (2013). After the Infidelity: Can Counseling Help? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/suffer-the…
