Betrayal & Broken Trust
Discovering an affair, hidden sexual behavior, or significant deception can leave you questioning what happened and what you can trust. You may be looking for answers, trying to manage everyday life, or wondering what this means for your relationship.
At Known, we help partners work through the impact of betrayal and find support for themselves. We also work with people who have caused the hurt and couples who choose to work on their relationship.
When you've been betrayed
Betrayal can affect your sense of safety, your confidence in your partner, and the way you see yourself. We take those effects seriously and help you work through what you're experiencing, identify your needs, and establish boundaries.
You can come to us on your own, whether or not your partner is seeking help. You don't need to know what you want for the relationship before getting support for yourself.
We won't pressure you toward forgiveness, reconciliation, or a particular decision. We'll help you consider your options and make decisions at a pace that works for you.
When you've caused the hurt
You may want to repair what has happened while feeling unsure about how to begin. We'll help you understand the patterns behind your choices, become more honest, and take responsibility for their impact.
The work includes addressing the behavior, following through on commitments, and learning to respond to your partner's hurt and questions without minimizing them or rushing the healing process.
Working on the relationship
For couples who choose to work toward repair, rebuilding trust involves words meeting actions over time. We help you translate that into honest conversations, clear agreements, and consistent follow-through.
We make room for both partners' experiences while keeping responsibility for the betrayal clear. Understanding the relationship's difficulties does not make the betrayed partner responsible for the other person's choices.
Together, we'll identify what needs attention first and what support would be helpful for each of you and the relationship.
Therapeutic disclosure
When information has come out in pieces, it can be difficult to know whether you have a clear understanding of what happened. In appropriate situations, therapeutic disclosure provides a structured process for sharing relevant information, with preparation and support for both partners.
Our team has specialized experience guiding this work. We'll help you understand whether it fits your situation and what support would be needed before and afterward.
Getting support
Whether the discovery is recent or you've been living with its impact for a while, you can reach out for support. Tell us a little about what's happening, and we'll help you find a place to begin.