@drkathynickerson: If I could give cheating partners just ONE piece of advice to help their betrayed partners heal after an affair, it would be this: Validate their feelings and reassure them FIVE TIMES more than you think you need to. Infidelity doesn’t just damage trust. It can shatter your partner’s entire sense of safety, security, and reality. Suddenly, everything they thought they knew about you, your relationship, and even themselves feels uncertain. And that is a terrifying place to be. If you’re the partner who cheated, one of the most healing things you can do is help your partner feel emotionally understood. But here’s where so many people get stuck. They think saying “I understand” or “I’m sorry you feel that way” is enough. It’s not. Real validation means explaining WHY your partner’s feelings make sense. Try saying something like, “Of course you’re scared when I leave the house. I lied to you about where I was going before, and now you don’t know when you can trust me. I understand why that makes you anxious, and I’m so sorry I created that fear. I want to help you feel safe again.” That’s the kind of response that helps rebuild emotional safety. When your partner feels deeply understood instead of dismissed, something powerful can begin to happen. Their defenses can soften, their nervous system can settle, and connection can slowly become possible again. If you’re recovering from an affair, please give this a try. Listen, validate, reassure, and then do it all over again. Betrayal creates the wound. Consistent empathy, reassurance, and trustworthy actions help create the conditions for healing. Have you experienced the healing power of emotional validation after infidelity? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Sending you both a big hug. #infidelityrecovery #infidelityhealing #affairrecovery #betrayaltrauma #cheatinghusband
Dr Kathy Nickerson
Region: US
Wednesday 21 October 2026 16:30:42 GMT
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Scottt :
What if your cheating partner is an avoidant and can't reassure?!
2026-10-25 22:37:14
4
dan_l_longo :
As a betrayed, reassurance from someone who lied and gaslit me for 2 yrs means as much as a coupon from a store that closed. Talk is nothing. Behavior and true CHANGE is the only thing that will make ANY impact on their and my recovery.
2026-10-21 19:14:06
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user3686836216263 :
Reaaasurance from a cheater is like taking a loan from Al Capone.
2026-10-21 17:05:51
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Jeanette :
found out 3 months ago. my advice is no trickle truths - lay it all out, easiest way to start establishing trust. comfort and show up for your partner whatever that looks like day to day. and most importantly go to therapy to figure out your internal machinery that allowed you to cheat.
2026-10-23 17:03:14
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petrichorkitty :
can you do a video for betrayed people who still struggle, after seeing their partners changed for good for years? my husband has authentically worked on himselves and is showing up as trustworthy and consistent for years and yet I still have such bitterness in my heart.
2026-10-22 23:32:41
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charm :
On his fyp Please
2026-10-21 21:10:52
3
Danyel :
I try being transparent with him and he said responds with “ I’m not keeping track of you”
2026-10-21 21:49:46
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grubs :
They do not understand your feelings.
2026-11-05 20:35:00
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NeverTheSame :
However as the betrayed, we don’t always want a hug, or to be close to the person that broke us. When I get a trigger, I don’t need the comfort of a hug from this person. I can’t even look at him in the eye
2026-10-30 15:34:02
2
Itsme41124 :
Yeah reassurance is just words. The lying man I was seeing, who turned out to be married, was reassuring me his wife knew, had her own other person and they agreed to stay together until their daughter finished school. Turns out he was reassuring her it was over between us.
2026-10-22 12:20:41
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zild :
thank you for this dr. kathy. reassurance indeed calms down the hyper vigilance and reassurance leads the betrayed partner back to safety
2026-10-21 17:04:24
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Heather :
Right up there is NO TRICKLE TRUTH
2026-10-21 21:55:36
3
LisaAAA :
How can the cheater promise it won’t happen again?
2026-10-21 17:25:54
5
MCK :
Leave. Can you live with resentment? Gave someone something promised to someone else. Nope. Not going to wonder when it will happen again. Go be free
2026-10-22 11:50:29
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mark_veto :
I didn’t do the betraying but I’m the one trying to save the relationship. Over a few years I would become moody if we didn’t have intimate time - and occasionally send messages questioning the relationship. This led to internalised resentment and her initiating sex just to keep me from falling back into that pattern. I understand the damage this has done, completely regret it and we are going “no sex” - I believe this led to the affair as she felt seen and heard by the other man. Help!
2026-10-22 09:51:42
1
marybutler674 :
I completely agree. Heartfelt, ongoing, consistent reassurance with transparency helps so much.
2026-10-21 21:01:14
0
breeyana✿ :
his fyp
2026-11-03 04:05:09
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GMaRobin :
After going through this for the last four months and my husband, being truly remorseful and doing everything he can to make things up to me… apologizing every day… reassuring me every day…. There are moments and different times that it almost sounds contrived….. It is difficult to believe him and want to believe him after what he did for a year that he never thought I’d find out because no one else found out….. but the way I found out was definitely a God thing being that my beliefs and my Christianity was stronger than his and probably still is but he did give full repentance and is trying very hard. However it doesn’t mean the apologies always sounds sincere because sometimes it sounds like it’s for him and not for me… so it is difficult to be reassured. Thanks for reading… and thank you Dr. Kathy. Your book is really helping both of us through this situation.
2026-10-21 20:39:47
1
WesT 1 :
reassure the partner;
after trust is broken,
what about the vows,
your world has been destroyed.
Should have loyal before.
2026-10-21 17:11:51
4
Groatswerth :
What if you don’t regret the affair? I feel like I should feel regret. I don’t because my life is objectively better after my affair. I am now in a stable, loving, affectionate relationship that has gratitude and mutual respect. We have 3 children and a great family life. I learned to set the boundaries I didn’t set with my ex that makes it possible for her to respect me. My life is better in every way. The only thing that worries me is that I don’t feel guilty.
2026-10-23 13:22:09
1
Brown'schoice445 :
The advice I would give to a cheater is you’ve already made the decision that your relationship doesn’t mean anything to you and your partner doesn’t mean anything to you so don’t be surprised when they’re done with you
2026-10-21 19:09:06
5
Brotha luv! :
You mean keep lying to your partner.
2026-10-21 20:36:10
3
Brilynn York :
So you're advising people to stay after cheating?
2026-10-21 18:43:20
1
hotgirlneighbor227 :
@
2026-10-21 18:25:57
2
user8213208464567 :
😂😂😂
2026-11-07 19:55:01
0
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