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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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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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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| author | Scott R. Woolley Réka Koren |
| author_facet | Scott R. Woolley Réka Koren |
| author_sort | Scott R. Woolley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d8da3cf355e451dbef07b90741f325e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1788-7119 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Semmelweis University Institute of Mental Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0d8da3cf355e451dbef07b90741f325e2025-02-03T12:38:10ZengSemmelweis University Institute of Mental HealthEuropean Journal of Mental Health1788-71192025-01-01200035110https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.20.2025.0035Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused TherapyScott R. Woolley0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8388-5944Réka Koren1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-7164Couple and Family Therapy Program, Alliant International University, USAInstitute of Mental Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, HungaryIntroduction: 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.https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/300affair infidelity eft motivations typology treatment |
| spellingShingle | Scott R. Woolley Réka Koren Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy European Journal of Mental Health affair infidelity eft motivations typology treatment |
| title | Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy |
| title_full | Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy |
| title_fullStr | Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy |
| title_short | Using the Woolley Motivation Typology to Heal Infidelity With Emotionally Focused Therapy |
| title_sort | using the woolley motivation typology to heal infidelity with emotionally focused therapy |
| topic | affair infidelity eft motivations typology treatment |
| url | https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/300 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT scottrwoolley usingthewoolleymotivationtypologytohealinfidelitywithemotionallyfocusedtherapy AT rekakoren usingthewoolleymotivationtypologytohealinfidelitywithemotionallyfocusedtherapy |