The Affair Recovery Podcast

Ep. 017 | Trauma or Emotional Abuse? Gaslighting, deception, and lack of empathy with Dr. Hawkins

You've tried everything but nothing changes. You may be wondering whether something deeper is going on. Dr. David Hawkins, clinical psychologist and founder of the Marriage Recovery Center, joins our expert therapists in Episode 17 to unpack the spectrum from narcissism to emotional immaturity, clarify what real remorse actually looks like, and work through a key question: is my mate in a season of affair fog, or is what I'm seeing a pervasive pattern? In this episode: * The real difference between narcissism, emotional abuse, and emotional immaturity — and why it matters for your recovery * What real remorse actually looks like, and why an apology without accountability isn't one * How to find your own identity again after years of feeling like you're disappearing Dr. David Hawkins, Founder and Director of the Marriage Recovery Center and the Emotional Abuse Institute, has brought healing and restoration to thousands of marriages throughout his forty-plus-year career as a clinical psychologist, speaker, and best-selling author. Recognized as an expert in the field of treatment for narcissism and emotional abuse, he developed The Comprehensive Core, a one-of-a-kind program that has helped thousands of men heal from narcissism and emotional abuse.  He also offers training for mental health professionals on navigating narcissistic and emotionally abusive dynamics within the context of relationships. In addition to authoring more than 40 books on marriage and relationships, Dr. Hawkins is the host of the Marriage Rehab Podcast, available anywhere you get your podcasts. Connect with Dr. Hawkins: * 🌐 Website: https://marriagerecoverycenter.com/ [https://marriagerecoverycenter.com/]  * 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriagerecoverycenter/ [https://www.instagram.com/marriagerecoverycenter/]  * 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drdavidbhawkins [https://www.youtube.com/@drdavidbhawkins]  * 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marriagerecoverycenter/ [https://www.facebook.com/marriagerecoverycenter/]  * 🎁 Free Quiz: IS HE/SHE A NARCISSIST? Take the quiz developed by Dr. Hawkins to find out: https://marriagerecoverycenter.com/NARCISSISM-QUIZ/ [https://marriagerecoverycenter.com/NARCISSISM-QUIZ/]  📞 +1 (737) 227-5014 [tel:+17372275014] Share a question for future episodes ‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer [https://www.affairrecovery.com/affair-analyzer-0]: Understand your situation 🥾 Sign up for the FREE First Steps Bootcamp [https://www.affairrecovery.com/surviving-infidelity/first-steps-bootcamp]: Take the first step to heal 👥 Explore Our Courses [https://www.affairrecovery.com/programs-and-courses]: Get the support you need to recover ⚠️Disclaimer: Our resources are curated by experts but do not substitute for professional therapy. If you need personalized help, please seek out a qualified therapist or counselor. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services in your area. Transparency note: Some links above and in the comments may be affiliate links, which allow us to continue providing valuable resources for your recovery journey.

Ep. 016 | How to Heal the Anger That Won’t Let Go After Infidelity

The rage that comes after infidelity can make you feel like you've become someone you don't recognize, capable of words, actions, and emotional spirals you never thought possible. In Episode 16, our expert therapists, joined by EMS Weekend Clinical Contributor Brett Hart, LPC, open up with their own deeply personal stories of breaking down in anger and what they learned in the journey through it. If you're feeling stuck in anger you can't seem to shake, or watching it come out sideways in places it doesn't belong, this episode is a reminder that you're not crazy, you're not alone, and there is a way through. In this episode: * The raw, vulnerable stories of anger from our therapists themselves, before they had the tools * What's often sitting beneath the rage: fear, shame, grief, and trauma * Practical ways to channel anger without doing more damage to yourself or the people you love 👀 WATCH [https://www.affairrecovery.com/podcast/ep-016-how-heal-anger-wont-let-go-after-infidelity] the Episode 📞 +1 (737) 227-5014 [tel:+17372275014] Share a question for future episodes ‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer [https://www.affairrecovery.com/affair-analyzer-0]: Understand your situation 🥾 Sign up for the FREE First Steps Bootcamp [https://www.affairrecovery.com/surviving-infidelity/first-steps-bootcamp]: Take the first step to heal 👥 Explore Our Courses [https://www.affairrecovery.com/programs-and-courses]: Get the support you need to recover ⚠️Disclaimer: Our resources are curated by experts but do not substitute for professional therapy. If you need personalized help, please seek out a qualified therapist or counselor. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services in your area. Transparency note: Some links above and in the comments may be affiliate links, which allow us to continue providing valuable resources for your recovery journey.

Ep. 015 | Therapy, Groups, and Intensives: What Actually Works After an Affair?

Not all therapy is created equal – and after an affair, finding the right kind of help can feel like searching in the dark. In Episode 15, our expert therapists are joined by special guest, Candace, to talk about what quality care actually looks like and what to think about the rising trend of AI therapy. We live in a world overflowing with content — but discover why community is what actually heals. * Learn what to look for in a therapist trained specifically for infidelity recovery and betrayal trauma — and the difference it makes * Discover holistic care beyond the therapy room: sleep, community, spiritual practices, and what to do when finances are a barrier * Find out why AI can't replace human connection in healing — and what real community offers that no chatbot ever can 📌 Download the Finding Quality Care [https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media.affairrecovery.com/podcast/Finding+Quality+Care+-+Episode+15+Resource.pdf] guide 👀 WATCH [https://www.affairrecovery.com/podcast/ep-015-therapy-groups-and-intensives-what-actually-works-after-affair] the Episode 📞 +1 (737) 227-5014 [tel:+17372275014] Share a question for future episodes ‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer [https://www.affairrecovery.com/affair-analyzer-0]: Understand your situation 🥾 Sign up for the FREE First Steps Bootcamp [https://www.affairrecovery.com/surviving-infidelity/first-steps-bootcamp]: Take the first step to heal 👥 Explore Our Courses [https://www.affairrecovery.com/programs-and-courses]: Get the support you need to recover ⚠️Disclaimer: Our resources are curated by experts but do not substitute for professional therapy. If you need personalized help, please seek out a qualified therapist or counselor. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services in your area. Transparency note: Some links above and in the comments may be affiliate links, which allow us to continue providing valuable resources for your recovery journey.

Bonus Episode | The Hidden Cause of Affairs: Finding Answers with Jay Stringer

Whether your desires led you to regret, or you're grieving desires that have gone unmet because of someone else's choices — your relationship with desire is closer to the center of your recovery than you might think. In this bonus episode, therapist and author Jay Stringer unpacks his new book Desire and why curiosity, not condemnation, is the path through. * Discover what our desires are actually trying to tell us about our story, our wounds, and our path to healing * Hear about the hidden cause of infidelity and what to do about it * Learn how to practically move away from condemnation to curiosity as a means of moving forward Jay Stringer is a licensed mental health counselor, researcher, and speaker who helps people uncover the unexpected meaning hidden in life’s hardest challenges. He is the award-winning author of Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing and lives in New York City with his wife, Heather, and their two children. * 🌐 Website: jay-stringer.com [http://jay-stringer.com/] * 📚 Get the Book: Desire [https://www.amazon.com/Desire-Longings-Journey-Connection-Purpose/dp/0593728270/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jFh_EEozAMmSu5msT8qTnsewkRNa4qo36i7L4rqZ-zDcW0lM8_GCcE5cC0TS1X84WscKbYxFAfDwLiAk7_GP8rPxBcUG-9m-2c_yHYiVIb_Nyt2WAHhIyXvpkO4g3z0Ph8pAkBq0wjQxtRtFoHrMU80W4INSXjDn55Ast6qGig-HZ3T1hYKk_yCyjwM6dsTnXPxXovkZk065ccaNmtr8BPZLdm2WcJdM6BIhObUtEKg.xBYMN9zwYhEKtLS_bST0jD5koggrbEw6YVMd5uwPDHE&qid=1776698955&sr=1-1] * 📸 Instagram: @jay_stringer_ [https://www.instagram.com/jay_stringer_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] * 🎁 Special Offer/Resource: Desire Quiz [https://yourdesireprofile.com/] 📞 +1 (737) 227-5014 [tel:+17372275014] Share a question for future episodes ‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer [https://www.affairrecovery.com/affair-analyzer-0]: Understand your situation 🥾 Sign up for the FREE First Steps Bootcamp [https://www.affairrecovery.com/surviving-infidelity/first-steps-bootcamp]: Take the first step to heal 👥 Explore Our Courses [https://www.affairrecovery.com/programs-and-courses]: Get the support you need to recover ⚠️Disclaimer: Our resources are curated by experts but do not substitute for professional therapy. If you need personalized help, please seek out a qualified therapist or counselor. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services in your area. Transparency note: Some links above and in the comments may be affiliate links, which allow us to continue providing valuable resources for your recovery journey.

Ep. 014 | Top Barriers to Recovery: When Pain Doesn't Fade, Trickle Truth, and Healing Without the Full Story

Recovery after infidelity rarely follows a clean path and sometimes the very things meant to bring healing become the barriers to it. In Episode 14, our expert therapists answer real listener questions on the most painful obstacles to healing – including trauma, trust, trickle truth and affair partners. * Hear why pain that should be fading still feels fresh — and what severe trauma actually requires to heal * Learn how to navigate trickle truth, affair partners who are family members, and the whipsaw of partial responsibility * Discover how to keep healing and reclaim your life, even when your spouse won't do the work alongside you 👀  WATCH [https://www.affairrecovery.com/podcast/ep-014-trauma-trickle-truth-trust-top-barriers-recovery] the Episode 📞 +1 (737) 227-5014 [tel:+17372275014] Share a question for future episodes ‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer [https://www.affairrecovery.com/affair-analyzer-0]: Understand your situation 🥾 Sign up for the FREE First Steps Bootcamp [https://www.affairrecovery.com/surviving-infidelity/first-steps-bootcamp]: Take the first step to heal 👥 Explore Our Courses [https://www.affairrecovery.com/programs-and-courses]: Get the support you need to recover ⚠️Disclaimer: Our resources are curated by experts but do not substitute for professional therapy. If you need personalized help, please seek out a qualified therapist or counselor. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services in your area. Transparency note: Some links above and in the comments may be affiliate links, which allow us to continue providing valuable resources for your recovery journey.