How It Works - Spouses

Spouses are also affected by their partner's decisions. Dealing with the feelings and trauma associated with their partner's actions runs deep and can have long term negative impact on the family. That trust is lost, and it needs to be earned, not just given back. That's why our Betrayal Trauma and Family Support program works hand in hand with the user program because studies show that when couples work on their own recovery AND work together on their relationship, both are more likely to recover sooner and longer. For example, when a user opens up about their actions, it can have devastating effects on the spouse. We have the users practice sensitivity and true apologies without shirking their responsibility in all of this. At the same time, the spouse is practicing how to hear what the user has done and be able to deal with these things in a healthy way without believing some of the myths that they may think about themselves.