Affair Recovery Tips for the Christian Couple

An affair can happen in any marriage even in a Christian marriage. With the desire to make the marriage work both people can save their marriage by working towards recovery. To help understand what type of impact an affair can have on a Christian couples marriage and for affair recovery tips, I have interviewed psychotherapist Keith Fussell, LMFT, LPC-MHSP.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

"I have a bachelors degree in Bible. I have two masters' degrees. One in religious counseling and one in professional counseling. I have two Tennessee licenses: one in professional counseling with the Mental Health Service Provider designation and the other in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. After spending almost 18 years as a counseling and family minister, I have now been in private practice for just over a year. I have been married for 26 years and have three children."

What type of impact can an affair have on a Christian couple's marriage?

"An affair can have a disastrous effect on a Christian couples marriage. (Or anyone's marriage for that matter!) I believe that most marriages can survive an affair but that marriage will never be the same. The boundaries of a recovered marriage after infidelity will be much more secure and look much different that they did pre-affair! The sense of trust and forgiveness take a minimum of a year of hard work in couples therapy."

What are some affair recovery tips for the Christian couple and what type of professional help is available for a Christian couple that is having a difficult time recovery from the affair?

"Affair recovery tips include working closely with a therapist for several months. I usually have couples work through Shirley Glass's Not Just Friends or Peggy Vaughan's The Monogamy Myth. Group sessions or intensive couples therapy is sometimes utilized with couples working through infidelity. For intensive couples therapy I recommend New Beginnings conducted by Family Dynamics or the programs of the National Institute of Marriage. Encouraging patience in this long process with allowances for the emotional roller coaster ride that characterizes infidelity recovery.

For Christian couples looking for infidelity therapy I would recommend looking for Christian members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. My colleagues will most likely possess the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) designation. The American Association for Christian Counselors can be helpful in finding Christian therapists."

Thank you Keith for doing the interview on affair recovery tips for the Christian couple. For more information on Keith Fussell or his work you can check out his website at www.bartlettchristiancounseling.com.

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