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) · Approval pending 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.

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What you’ll be able to do

1. Describe how intimate partner betrayal affects the brain, relationships, trust, and attachment.
2. Identify at least three common therapist errors that can unintentionally reinforce mistrust after an affair.
3. Explain how brief emotional “repair” moments work as micro-interventions in betrayal recovery, using client-centered examples.
4.  Recognize the value of a structured betrayal-recovery model and what it means for long-term relationship repair.

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Who is Better After Betrayal for?

Counselors, social workers, psychologists, pastoral counselors, and both couples and individual therapists (new grads and seasoned clinicians alike).

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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.

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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 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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—this training is for you.

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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

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What’s Included — The Full Better After Betrayal System

This isn’t just a course, it’s a complete clinical framework for betrayal recovery.

The Complete 20-Hour Training Program

Eight in-depth modules covering:

• Stabilisation in the shock phase

• Managing mistrust, defensiveness & emotional volatility

• Navigating gaslighting, minimisation, and self-deception

• Handling staggered disclosure safely

• The relational brain model (polyvagal-informed)

• Identity repair after betrayal

• Developmental & sexual blueprinting

• Trust repair and reconnection

• Building “Relationship 2.0”

You’ll gain the full step-by-step map used by PORT clinicians.

The Pre-Course Foundations 

Three essential primers:

• 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 (20 CPD Hours)

Supports annual CPD requirements across major Australian and New Zealand professional bodies.
(OPD recognition pending final approval.)

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

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.

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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.