What is the theory behind this surviving infidelity worksheet?

Infidelity occurs when one partner in a marital or intimate connection has a sexual or emotional relationship with someone who is not that partner’s spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. It may result in emotional harm that results in the loss of security, faith, trust, self-worth, and affection. 

How will the worksheet help?

Infidelity leads to an emotional trauma causing depression, anxiety, denial and many more psychological issues. Acceptance is one of the major steps in the path of recovery from emotional trauma. This worksheet helps clients to work on the denial phase by making them able to identify and acknowledge their loss and feelings related to it.    

How to use the worksheet?

The therapist can use this worksheet during sessions with clients to make them aware of their feelings related to loss. 

Surviving Infidelity Worksheet

Infidelity leads to feelings of loss. The feeling of loss differs from person to person. Identify your feeling of loss and briefly describe the feeling related to it. 

Different types of loss are given in the table for your reference.  ✔️Loss of trust                      ✔️Loss of hope ✔️Loss of intimacy                ✔️Loss of faith ✔️Loss of security                 ✔️Loss of affection ✔️Loss of love                       ✔️Loss of self esteem

Type of loss	Feelings asociated with the loss
SampleLoss of self esteem	SampleI feel bad, rejected and unlovable as he/she chooses someone else over me.

References

Heintzelman, Ashley & Murdock, Nancy & Krycak, Romana & Seay, Larissa. (2014). Recovery From Infidelity: Differentiation of Self, Trauma, Forgiveness, and Posttraumatic Growth Among Couples in Continuing Relationships. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. 3. 13. 

Moore, M. (n.d.). Long-term psychological effects of infidelity. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/long-term-psychological-effects-of-infidelity#the-pain

You can download this worksheet here.