Infidelity recovery / INF-A20-1
A Longer-Term Recovery Map — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind a longer-term recovery map and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Lee wants a plan that leaves the relationship outcome open.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Recovery may involve ongoing meaning-making, boundaries, and support.
The idea
Recovery may involve ongoing meaning-making, boundaries, and support.
An ordinary example
Lee wants a plan that leaves the relationship outcome open.
What this can look like
Create a flexible map of personal care, relational work if chosen, practical tasks, and review points without setting a forgiveness deadline.
Check the fit
What should remain open rather than decided for the sake of completing the plan? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
Understanding relationship context does not transfer responsibility for deception to the hurt partner or require a particular relationship outcome.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What should remain open rather than decided for the sake of completing the plan?
Conceptual background
Integrative Model of Affair Recovery — American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.