Monique ThompsonLicensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor & Infidelity Recovery Specialist

Deciding To Stay Or Leave Because Your Partner Cheated

31 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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1:03

In this brief video, Dr. Monique Thompson addresses the emotional turmoil that follows a partner’s infidelity. She describes how the betrayed individual experiences multiple internal “parts” – the part that wants to stay, the part that wants to leave, the part that wishes the betrayal never happened, and the part that doubts future happiness. These conflicting parts create mental chaos, making it hard to think or communicate, both internally and with the cheating partner. Dr. Thompson explains that trauma‑focused therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, brainspotting, and polyvagal theory can help resolve these internal conflicts. She emphasizes that effective recovery requires treating both the betrayed partner and the cheating partner, positioning herself as a specialist who helps couples navigate and heal from infidelity.

Chapters

There's a part of you that wants to stay. There's a part of you wants to leave. There's a part of you that just wishes this never ever happened. And there's a part of you that wonders, will I ever be happy again? Parts work is part of the work that you do when you come in to deal with the trauma of being betrayed. Your partner cheats on you and you can't settle your mind. You can't think. These different parts of you are arguing. You can't get even the internal conversation to work out. Let alone conversation with your partner. Internal family systems, EMDR, brain spotting, polyvagal theory, all the trauma family come together when it comes to recovering from your partner cheating on you. The first step is to treat the person who was hurt, which is typically both the betrayed partner and the partner who cheated. I'm Dr. Monique Thompson. I help couples recover from infidelity. I'd love to see you soon.