Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy
Introduction: Infidelity is a common challenge in couple therapy and requires nuanced understandings and interventions tailored to the underlying motivations of the affair. Areas covered: This paper offers a practical framework for addressing infidelity by integrating Woolley’s (2011) motivation-bas...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Semmelweis University Institute of Mental Health
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/300 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Infidelity is a common challenge in couple therapy and requires
nuanced understandings and interventions tailored to the underlying
motivations of the affair.
Areas covered: This paper offers a practical framework for addressing infidelity
by integrating Woolley’s (2011) motivation-based typology of affairs
into the practice of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Attachment
Injury Repair Model (AIRM). The typology categorizes infidelity into three
broad categories, and seven specific types based on motivations, offering a
lens through which couple therapists can focus their approach.
Expert opinion: This article provides both general and specific treatment
recommendations for each of the motivational types, which can help clinicians
more effectively assist in ending affairs, reducing blaming, healing
emotional wounds, creating safe emotional connection, and preventing
future infidelity.
Conclusion: This article helps fill these gaps by laying out how the Woolley
(2011) motivational typology can be used to guide treatment. |
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| ISSN: | 1788-7119 |