Couples Therapy After an Affair: Outcome and Prognosis

Jill-Squyres-Groubert

Private practice, Arvada, Colorado

Key Points

  1. In this case, couples therapy resulted in a successful outcome, with Lisa and Mark working hard on their marriage and following their agreed plans.
  2. Mark explored new career options and started a successful consulting firm, while Lisa decided to continue working in the city but with reduced hours.
  3. Their progress extended beyond therapy, with increased emotional and physical intimacy, resolution of conflicts, and a solid recommitment to their relationship.
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Outcome for the Couple

The couple’s treatment yielded a highly favorable outcome. Despite some challenges along the way, both Lisa and Mark rededicated themselves to their marriage and faithfully followed their agreed plans. They found joy in sharing meals and discussing their days over video calls. However, the outcome was made more complicated by what happened regarding Samantha.

Mark and Lisa jointly confronted Samantha’s relentless pursuit of the affair. She made repeated contact with Mark through various means, including social media, email, and even use of other people’s phones. Mark openly shared all of these attempts with Lisa, which greatly contributed to rebuilding her trust. As Lisa gradually learned of Samantha’s predatory nature, it aided her in forgiving Mark and gaining a deeper understanding of what had transpired.

When Samantha realized that Mark would not return to her, she resorted to a smear campaign at work, accusing Mark of sexual harassment and involving the Human Resources department. Due to Mark’s exemplary work history, he was given the choice to either resign voluntarily or face termination without references. Surprisingly, Mark felt relief rather than devastation.

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