Abstract
In this chapter I will present a couples’ treatment model that utilizes a social justice framework and integrates spirituality. Many couples seeking therapy come to treatment for an affair. There is extensive literature available on how to work with affairs, yet the intersectionality between spirituality, infidelity, and couple recovery is less known. The literature has only recently begun to address issues of relational justice as it relates to gender and power in affair recovery. Regarding spirituality in infidelity treatment, some models focus on forgiveness, but specifically how spirituality influences treatment and recovery is unknown. Additionally, how to incorporate spiritual interventions from a social justice lens is virtually nonexistent in the marriage and family therapy literature. I will address these intersections through an extended case example, offering specific suggestions in how to address issues of gender, power, spirituality, and affairs in couples treatment and recovery.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Atkins, D. C., Baucom, D. H., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Understanding infidelity: Correlates in a national random sample. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 735–749.
Brown, E. (2005). Split self affairs and their treatment. In F. Piercy, K. Hertlein, & J. Wetchler (Eds.), Handbook of clinical treatment of infidelity (pp. 55–69). New York: Routledge.
Esmiol Wilson, E. (2018). From assessment to activism: Utilizing a justice-informed framework to guide spiritual and religious clinical interventions. In E. Esmiol Wilson & L. A. Nice (Eds.), Socially just religious and spiritual interventions: Ethical uses of therapeutic power, AFTA Springer Briefs. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Esmiol Wilson, E., Knudson-Martin, C., & Wilson, C. (2014). Gendered power, spirituality, and relational processes: Experiences of Christian physician couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 13, 312–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2014.953652
Fife, S. T., Weeks, G. R., & Stellberg-Filbert, J. (2011). Facilitating forgiveness in the treatment of infidelity: An interpersonal model. Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2011.00561.x
Glass, S. P. (2003). Not just friends: Rebuilding trust and recovering your sanity after infidelity. New York: Free Press.
Goldner, V. (1985). Feminism and family therapy. Family Process, 24, 31–47.
Hare-Mustin, R. T. (1978). A feminist approach to family therapy. Family Process, 17, 181–194.
Knudson-Martin, C., & Mahoney, A. (Eds.). (2009). Couples, gender, and power: Creating change in intimate relationships. New York: Springer.
Lammers, J., Stoker, J., Jordan, J., Pollmann, M., & Stapel, D. (2011). Power increases infidelity among men and women. Psychological Science, 221–227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611416252
Moultrup, D. (2005). Undercurrents. In F. Piercy, K. Hertlein, & J. Wetchler (Eds.), Handbook of clinical treatment of infidelity (pp. 31–40). New York: Routledge.
Olmstead, S., Blick, R., & Mills, L. (2009). Helping couples work toward the forgiveness of marital infidelity: Therapist’s perspectives. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 37, 48–66.
Snyder, D. K., Baucom, D. H., & Gordon, K. C. (2007). Treating infidelity: An integrative approach to resolving trauma and promoting forgiveness. In P. Peluso (Ed.), Infidelity: A practitioner’s guide to working with couples in crisis (pp. 99–125). Philadelphia: Routledge.
Snyder, D. K., & Doss, B. D. (2005). Treating infidelity: Clinical and ethical directions. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 1453–1465.
Treas, J., & Giesen, D. (2000). Sexual infidelity among married and cohabitating Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 48–60.
Weeks, G. R., Gambescia, N., & Jenkins, R. E. (2003). Treating infidelity: Therapeutic dilemmas and effective strategies. New York: W.W. Norton.
Williams, K. (2011). A socio-emotional relational framework for infidelity: The relational justice approach. Family Process, 50, 516–528.
Williams, K., Galick, A., Knudson-Martin, C., & Huenergardt, D. (2012). Toward mutual support: A task analysis of the relational justice approach to infidelity. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00324
Williams, K., & Knudson-Martin, C. (2012). Do therapists address gender and power in infidelity: A feminist analysis of the treatment literature. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00303.x.14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 American Family Therapy Academy
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Williams, K. (2018). Reconnecting After an Affair: Relationship Justice, Spirituality, and Infidelity Treatment. In: Esmiol Wilson, E., Nice, L. (eds) Socially Just Religious and Spiritual Interventions. AFTA SpringerBriefs in Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01986-0_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01986-0_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-01985-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-01986-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)