It Doesn't Have to Be This Way.
A weekly, virtual or in person therapy group for partners.
The 'Her Story, Her Frame' group is a weekly therapy group for wives/partners who are experiencing betrayal trauma. The term 'betrayal trauma' is coined for a wife who is in a relationship with a sexual addict or who has been betrayed by her husband's pornography usage and/or sexual acting out. Remember: this is not your fault! You cannot fix, manage or control his addiction. But there is another path toward healing...
When trust is broken at the core of a marriage, a wife will need individual support along with the safe environment of a community. This group will foster and nurture a space where wives can be heard, explore their needs and understand the impact of his infidelity. The group work will give practical ways to move forward, heal and come out of loneliness. The therapeutic group work is led by Anna Jett MS, LMFT who is trained in the ERCEM model of recovery. Here is a recent blog post about betrayal trauma by Anna: Appreciate your Anger.
The Details
Sexual Addiction Induced Trauma (SAIT or Betrayal Trauma) includes several symptoms that are too burdonsome for a wife to carry by herself. A few of them include:
Discovery trauma: finding the remnants of his sexual addiction on your own.
Disclosure trauma: the details given by the husband to the wife, which can be partial truths or dribble disclosure over months or years.
Hypervigilance: an 'on-guard' state including triggers that send a wife's body into emotional shock, anger or shut down.
Intrusive memories: dreams or thoughts of the infidelity on anniversary dates or by a certain look on his face.
A wife has been compromised spiritually, psychologically and bodily from an addict's deceptive, compartmentalized behaviors. His defensiveness, avoiding and manipulating over the years may have her feeling like she is 'crazy.' Wives often feel like something is wrong with their identity, that she is at fault somehow or she isn't good enough. These behaviors by the husband are called gaslighting, one of the many tools an addict uses to keep his secrets.
If you are experiencing symptoms such as these, this workshop will help jump start your journey toward healing for your mind, emotions and body: a wholistic approach towards putting the pieces together. There are answers to this suffering you are experiencing. It will take time and commitment. Remember, you are worth it...
PHASE 1 - SAFETY AND STABILIZATION
Learn how to...
- Identify your strengths
- Develop your vision
- Increase your resilience
- Identify feelings
- Create guidelines for accountability and integrity
- Connect with your inner self
PHASE 2 - WORKING THROUGH THE ANGER, GRIEF AND MOURNING
Learn how to...
- Identify, work through, and grow from conflict
- Develop a new sense of self-awareness
PHASE 3 - RESTORATION OF SELF
Learn how to...
- Restore self and work towards post-traumatic growth
- Live your life to the fullest
The book we will be using is: Unleashing Your Power: Moving Through the Trauma of Partner Betrayal by Carol Juergensen Sheets Use code EC25 for a discount! Please purchase the book prior to the first session.
The fee for each group session is $65. The client will be charged after each session. The early bird fee is $60 per session which saves $60 total for all 12 weeks.
Anna asks for a commitment to all 12 sessions. This helps to foster a safe environment for healing with expectations and boundaries. It provides consistency and familiarity, which encourages participants' willingness to be vulnerable, and a place for community, which is much needed after the partner betrayal. Thus, being present for each session is important.
If you miss a group session, you will still be charged for that session at the $65 rate. If you drop out of the group, you will still be charged for the remaining sessions at the $65 rate.
Participants can show up in person at the Center for Healing offices or attend online. Anna has the equipment necessary to facilitate this hybrid approach, so feel free to choose either option!