Better After Betrayal: Healing and Recovery from Affairs and Infidelity for Clients and Therapists
There is life after betrayal. Here’s where healing begins.
You Can Heal After Betrayal
Your Relationship Can Be Stronger Than Before.
An affair doesn’t have to be the end. With the right tools, many couples not only repair but grow into a more honest, connected, and secure relationship. We’ll guide you through the first steps of healing and beyond.
Research shows that therapists trained in affair-specific therapy achieve far better outcomes than treatment-as-usual approaches.
Healing with Better After Betrayal: The Power of Affair-Specific Training
- Significant gains in rebuilding trust
- More effective conflict management strategies
- Increases in relationship satisfaction
- Significant improvements in sexuality and intimacy
When Therapy Lacks Affair-Specific Training
- Some improvement in trust, but slower and less reliable
- Conflict often remains stuck despite modest gains
- Relationship satisfaction tends to plateau
- Limited or inconsistent improvements in sexuality and intimacy
Free Call Back: Talk to an Affair Recovery Specialist
Get a confidential call back from a therapist specially trained in affair recovery through the Better After Betrayal Model. This no-cost consultation connects you with an expert who understands the shock of betrayal and can guide you toward immediate support, stabilization, and next steps.
Better After Betrayal: Your Guide Through Affair Recovery
Get immediate access to this self-paced online course designed to stabilize you after the shock of infidelity and guide you through the healing process. Inside, you’ll find Betrayal First Aid to calm overwhelming emotions, along with step-by-step direction for moving through affair recovery with clarity and confidence. Grounded in research-based methods and the Better After Betrayal model, this course equips you with tools that go beyond coping—helping you rebuild trust, regain your footing, and move toward renewal.
Broken Trust: How to Recover from Betrayal, Affairs and Infidelity
Description
A self-affirming course for answering the difficult questions about healing from affairs, infidelity, betrayals, and shattered trust. Embrace a living learning experience where questions are welcomed.
Better After Betrayal Training for Therapists
Better After Betrayal: A New, Trust-Focused Approach to Affair Recovery
Many therapists admit they feel underprepared and hesitant when faced with couples dealing with infidelity. It’s not because they lack skill—it’s because most training offers little beyond generic tools, leaving both therapist and couple stuck in cycles of mistrust. Better After Betrayal was designed to change that.
Developed by Steven Dromgool, one of Australasia’s leading voices in affair recovery, this training introduces new models that place trust at the centre of therapy—giving practitioners both clarity and confidence. Rather than working reactively, you’ll learn how to make intentional, trust-building interventions that move couples forward.
Key Innovations in the Better After Betrayal Model:
- Borrowed Trust – how to steady couples when their own trust is gone by leaning on the therapist’s presence until they can re-establish safety.
- Mapping the Why – using Sexual and Developmental Blueprints to help clients make sense of betrayal, creating understanding instead of blame.
- Trust-Focused Disclosure – a structured, compassionate way to approach disclosure that restores dignity and reduces ongoing harm.
- Relational Brain Model – a practical framework built on Safety, Identity, and Reality, allowing you to match interventions to the way trust was broken.
- Fidelity Agreement – a positive, forward-looking pathway to recommitment and safety in the relationship.
At its heart, Better After Betrayal is about restoring hope and rebuilding trust—not only for couples, but for therapists too. With clear models and strategies, you can feel confident that you’re guiding clients on a path where real repair and renewed connection are possible.
See How Trust can Be Rebuilt
In this short video, Steven Dromgool introduces the Better After Betrayal Introduction and the proven frameworks therapists can rely on in betrayal work.
Discover the Possibility of Rebuilding Trust: CE/OPD
At the PORT Institute and Relate, we recognise the depth of the challenge. Mistrust is pervasive—with nearly half of individual therapy clients struggling with relationship issues, and almost half of couples in therapy dealing directly with broken trust. For many clinicians, these cases can feel overwhelming, with no clear roadmap forward.
That’s why we’ve created the Better After Betrayal Introduction Course. This no-cost resource introduces therapists and social workers to the core concepts of the Better After Betrayal model, including ideas like Borrowed Trust, Mapping the Why, Trust-Focused Disclosure, the Relational Brain Model, and the Fidelity Agreement.
In this introductory course, you’ll see how these frameworks work together to offer something new—a practical, trust-centred approach to affair recovery. You’ll come away with a clearer picture of what’s possible: that even after deep betrayal, trust can be rebuilt, and connection can be restored.
Better After Betrayal Introduction: Hope & Trust for Therapists
Description
Better After Betrayal: Hope & Trust for Therapists
United States and Canada: For US approved Continuing Education - Register through our US Based CE Partner Engagedmindsce.com
Earn 2 CE (U.S.) Approve through NASW, ACA and NY Board of Psychology - Full Details
5 OPD (Australia) · Approved Register on this Page
Self-paced • Mobile-friendly • Lifetime access • Free course
Therapists rebuild trust. Trust rebuilds relationships. In under two hours, learn practical, brain-based tools to help clients—and quietly strengthen the relationships that matter most in your own life.
The first two lessons are the videos to the left.
What you’ll be able to do
- Describe how intimate partner betrayal affects the brain, relationships, trust, and attachment.
- Identify at least three common therapist errors that can unintentionally reinforce mistrust after an affair.
- Explain how brief emotional “repair” moments work as micro-interventions in betrayal recovery, using client-centered examples.
- Recognize the value of a structured betrayal-recovery model and what it means for long-term relationship repair.
Who is Better After Betrayal for?
Counselors, social workers, psychologists, pastoral counselors, and both couples and individual therapists (new grads and seasoned clinicians alike).
Quick facts (CE & logistics)
- Credits: 2 CE (U.S.); 1 OPD (Australia). Approvals pending.
- Certificate: Print instantly at completion.
- Assessment: 20-question quiz, 80% to pass. Retakes allowed.
- Format: 100% self-paced video + 4 printable PDFs.
- Access: Lifetime; watch anywhere—quizzes work on your phone.
- Support: Email us; typical reply 1–2 business days.
- Price: Free. No catch—built to give hope, clarity, and momentum.
Curriculum at a glance
1) Why Trust Is the Real Therapy Goal (Not Just Symptom Relief)
• Why healing after betrayal is possible • Self-survey on how trust shows up in your work • From insight to intervention
2) How Mistrust Shows Up—and How to Spot It Early
• Why trust is hard today • The relational brain, practically • Choice in rebuilding love • How betrayal shatters trust • The betrayal cascade • Your map forward
3) Four Micro-Interventions to Begin Rebuilding Trust Today
• Borrowed trust • Trust-focused disclosure • Sexual & developmental blueprint • From assumptions to agreements • What therapists are saying
4) When Emotions Are High and Trust Is Low—You Still Have a Path Forward
• Live demonstration • Big “B,” little “b” betrayals • Rebuilding safety, identity, reality • Ethics of voice & presence (text) • Skills for angry, hurt clients • When not to begin work (text) • Critical moments
5) What It Looks Like When Repair Begins
• Taming criticism/defensiveness • Presence & authenticity • Navigating anger • Working with shame • If you’re the kind of therapist who…
6) From Shut Down to Seen: How the PORT Model Sparks Emotional Safety
• Helping avoidant partners open up • Present-moment needs • Turning betrayal into connection • A new way to see trust
7) Can Love Return After Betrayal? What’s Possible
• Trust with the relational brain in mind • Emotional safety first • Enjoying therapy again • Why betrayal is often the core issue
8) Your Next Step: Go Beyond Insight and Into Action
• A participant’s perspective • How trust issues drive anxiety, depression, trauma • Resources for continued growth
Instructor: Steven Dromgool
Steven brings warmth, humor, and deep clinical structure to one of the most emotionally difficult forms of couples therapy. He developed the PORT method to help therapists stop “winging it” and start transforming stuck betrayal dynamics into structured healing.
CE details & compliance
- Approvals: U.S. CE (2 hours) and Australian OPD (1 unit) approval pending—most state renewals are satisfied, but please confirm via our partner’s website, EngagedMinds.
- Completion: Pass the 20-question assessment at 80%, complete the course evaluation, and print your certificate immediately.
- Recordkeeping: Retain your certificate for your records per your board’s guidance.
- Scope & ethics: Educational content only; not a therapeutic relationship. Accessibility includes captions and transcripts.
What you get (free)
- Short, tightly produced lessons you can apply tomorrow.
- 4 printable PDFs (checklists & mini-tools) for session use.
- A hopeful, trust-first lens that calms chaos and builds momentum.
- A clear next step into the 20-hour Therapist Edition if you want mastery.
FAQ
Will this satisfy my state renewal?
For most licenses, yes—but always verify on EngagedMinds (our approval partner).
How/when do I get my certificate?
At completion. You can print it instantly.
What’s the pass score? Can I retake the quiz?
80% on a 20-question assessment; retakes allowed.
Is this appropriate for new grads?
Absolutely. It contains new information on the neurobiology of trust and is equally useful for experienced clinicians.
How much does it cost?
It’s free.
What’s the format and access?
Self-paced video + PDFs, lifetime access, mobile-friendly, and quizzes run on your device.
How fast is support?
Email us; we respond within 1–2 business days.
I'm having trouble accessing the course. What do I do?
If you have already registered, but are struggling to access the course click here to access your courses.
Ready to go?
Enroll free
You’ll finish confident, hopeful, and equipped with trust-building moves that change sessions—and outcomes.
Considering the full path?
After you complete this course, unlock Better After Betrayal: Therapist Edition (20 hours) for in-depth skills, protocols, and case work.
Ready to Register? Click Add to Cart at the top of the screen.
Go Deeper with the Better After Betrayal Intensive
The Better After Betrayal Introduction Course introduces you to the core ideas—Borrowed Trust, Mapping the Why, Trust-Focused Disclosure, the Relational Brain Model, and the Fidelity Agreement. It’s designed to show you what’s possible when therapy puts trust at the centre.
But the course is just the beginning. It does not cover demonstrations, structured session work, or the “how-to” of applying these concepts in practice.
That’s where the Better After Betrayal Intensive: Mapping the Journey to Trust comes in. This advanced training gives you:
- In-depth demonstrations of the models in action.
- Step-by-step guidance for using the frameworks in real clinical sessions.
- Comprehensive strategies to help couples move from betrayal and mistrust to lasting safety, commitment, and renewed intimacy.
If the Introductory course sparks hope, the Intensive equips you with the full set of tools to create transformation in the therapy room. (If you register for the Intensive, we will refund the cost of the introductory course email admin@relate.online).
Better After Betrayal Intensive: Mapping the Journey to Trust (Levels 1 & 2)
Description
Better After Betrayal Intensive Level 1 & 2 - Early Registration $995 (full price will be $1295)
Participants will get full access to Level 1 at registration. Level 2 will start September 1, 2026 at 12 Noon NZ time / 10 AM Sydney time. See calendar here.
Continuing Education: Approved by the Australian Counselling Association for 10 OPD Points
Supporting couples after an affair is some of the most challenging therapeutic work we face. Clients arrive dysregulated, frightened, shame-filled, or defensive. Sessions can escalate quickly. Therapists must hold safety, track multiple states, manage disclosures, guide regulation, and maintain clarity all at once.
This 20-hour Intensive gives you a complete, structured model for safely and confidently guiding clients from the initial shock of betrayal through to genuine repair, reconnection, and secure attachment.
Developed and taught by PORT Clinical Director
Steven Dromgool, this course brings together:
- neurobiology
- attachment science
- developmental mapping
- structured disclosure
- somatic co-regulation
- trust repair protocols
- live demonstrations
- practitioner tools and templates
You’ll walk away with clarity, structure, and confidence for when it matters most.
Who This Course Is For
Designed for practitioners across Australia and New Zealand:
- Counsellors
- Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Social Workers
- Family Therapists
- Mental Health Practitioners
- Relationship & Couples Therapists
- Individual clinicians who frequently see betrayal themes
If you support clients navigating infidelity, mistrust, confusing disclosures, emotional volatility, or complex attachment injuries; then this training is for you.
What You’ll Be Able to Do After This Training
By the end of this program, you will:
- Confidently structure all four phases of betrayal recovery
- Stabilise highly reactive couples using somatic and relational co-regulation strategies
- Identify gaslighting dynamics and manage reality distortion safely
- Conduct structured disclosure without escalating harm
- Understand the neurobiological impact of betrayal (shock, identity collapse, threat perception)
- Guide couples toward predictable, safe relational rhythms
- Rebuild attachment using the baby/child/adult brain model
- Support clients to develop “Relationship 2.0”—a meaningful, more secure partnership
- Reduce therapist overwhelm using clear session maps and tools
The Pre-Course Foundations
Three essential primers are included in this training. These prepare you for the concepts of the full 20 hour course.
- 5 Challenges Couples Face After an Affair
- Betrayal First Aid
- Mapping the Why
These provide critical context for the full framework and help ensure you start the Intensive prepared and grounded.
Four Demonstration Sessions With Clinical Commentary
Watch real clinical footage of
Steven Dromgool working with betrayal dynamics.
See, moment-by-moment:
- how to track nervous system states
- when to scaffold safety
- how to intervene without escalation
- how to restore connection organically
- what to say (and not say) during critical moments
These are rarely offered in betrayal-focused trainings and are consistently cited as the most transformative part of the program.
Practitioner Toolkit (Downloadable Templates & Guides)
Includes:
- Safety plan and session structure templates
- Fidelity contract framework
- Structured disclosure preparation worksheets
- Co-regulation scripts & prompts
- Developmental/sexual blueprint tools
- Therapist checklists for each phase of recovery
Everything you need to support clients immediately.
Relational Brain Model: Clinician Guide
A practical, easy-to-apply model integrating:
- attachment theory
- nervous system regulation
- polyvagal principles
- pacing and timing of interventions
- truth-testing and congruence tracking
Transforms complex neuroscience into accessible, session-ready strategies.
Certificate of Completion
Supports annual CPD requirements across major Australian and New Zealand professional bodies. Approved by the ACA for 10 OPD points.
Level 1 Course Format
- 20 hours of video content
- Structured modules with guided practice
- Demonstration sessions
- Printable resources
- Self-paced
- Mobile-friendly
- Lifetime access
-Certificate on completion
Level 1 Course Format
- 8 Weekly live training
- 2.5 Hours per week to enhance learning
- Practice the most important trust building skills
- Learn to manage anxiety and stress during intense betrayal therapy
- 1 Week Break: See Full Schedule
About the Instructor
Steven Dromgool
Clinical Director, PORT (Presence-Oriented Relationship Therapy)
Steven is a leading clinician in betrayal recovery, known for his structured, safety-focused, neurobiologically-informed approach to couples therapy. He brings warmth, clarity, and over 15 years of specialist experience helping couples rebuild connection and secure attachment after affairs.
Professional FAQs
Is this course suitable for new graduates?
Yes. Early-career practitioners often report this training gives them clarity and confidence they wish they’d had from day one.
Is this recognised for CPD/OPD?
Australian Counselling Association: Approved for 10 OPD Points
Most practitioners use this for annual CPD hours, please check your accrediting body’s guidelines.
Is it relevant for individual therapy?
Absolutely. Betrayal issues appear frequently in individual work.
How practical is the training?
Extremely. You receive scripts, templates, checklists, and real-session demonstrations.
Do I need the short course first?
It’s helpful, but not required. If you register for the Better After Betrayal Introduction, and decide to register for the intensive, we will refund the cost of the introduction course. Email admin@relate.online.