Course

Infidelity is reportedly one of the most common problems in couple counselling and therapy, with a significant percentage of relationship partners seeking help to address the effects of an extramarital affair or other forms of infidelity. In many of these cases, infidelity can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on relationship partners and their relationship. At the same time infidelity is seen as one of the most difficult areas that couple counsellors and therapists work with, and one that they may feel ill-equipped to respond to.

This online course is intended for counsellors, psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners working with infidelity in their practice. The course provides evidence-based answers to the key questions around therapeutic work with infidelity:

• How do clients and practitioner perceive and define infidelity, and how has this changed over time?
• What are contextual factors and constellations for an affair and what impact does infidelity have onrelationship partners?
• What specific challenges and difficulties do practitioners face when working with individuals, couples and families affected by infidelity?
• What are helpful ways to work with infidelity as presenting issue?
• How do practitioners’ own beliefs and implicit theories about infidelity impact on their client work?

At the end of this online CPD course, participants will have a thorough understanding of infidelity and the impact it can have on individuals, couples and families. Participants will also have the confidence to support clients who present with this issue in their counselling and psychotherapy practice. The course uses reflective and interactive activities to help practitioners to explore and learn how infidelity can be defined and explained, how it affects relationship partners and how they can work effectively with individuals, couples and families who seek help for infidelity.

The course is badged and participants will get a statement of participation if they successfully completed the knowledge test and evaluation at the end of the course.

The course was produced by Dr Andreas Vossler and Dr Naomi Moller, both Senior Lecturers in Psychology at The Open University and trained practitioners. Andreas and Naomi have a long research and practice history of working with intimate relationships and the impact of affairs on relationship functioning.

The content has been reviewed by Relate's Senior Clinical Team and the course is being promoted within Relate's network.