Counseling services
or call 757.503.2819
Discovering an affair, or confessing one, can turn a relationship upside down. One partner may feel shock, anger and grief, while the other feels guilt, shame or fear of losing everything. Many couples are not sure whether they want to stay together, and that is okay.
Infidelity and affair recovery counseling at Artisan Counseling gives both partners a structured, safe place to talk about what happened, understand it and decide what comes next. Sessions are available at our Newport News and Suffolk offices and by telehealth anywhere in Virginia.
Couples seek affair recovery counseling after many kinds of betrayal, including:
Whatever form it takes, the core injury is the same: trust has been broken, and both partners need a way forward.
Monday – Saturday During Office Hours (Evening Sessions are limited)
* In-person and Telehealth Sessions
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*If you are having a mental health emergency, please proceed to your nearest emergency room, contact 988 or medical services at 911.
Steadying the crisis. Early sessions focus on getting through the first weeks: sleep, daily routines, any decisions that cannot wait, and how to talk about the affair without every conversation turning into a fight.
Understanding what happened. With your counselor's help, you talk about the affair and the state of the relationship before it in a way that is honest but not overwhelming. Your counselor makes sure both partners are heard.
Rebuilding, or separating well. If you choose to stay together, the work turns to rebuilding trust through openness, consistent follow-through and new ways of connecting. If you decide to separate, counseling can help you do it with less conflict, especially when children are involved.
The partner who was hurt may struggle with intrusive thoughts, trouble sleeping, anxiety or a sense that their world is no longer safe. These reactions are common after betrayal. Some people find that EMDR or individual counseling alongside couples sessions helps them process the hurt.
The partner who had the affair often carries guilt and confusion about why it happened. Counseling helps you take responsibility, answer questions honestly and understand the patterns that led there, without being defined by your worst choice.
Your counselor will choose an approach based on what happened and what the two of you need. Methods used in affair recovery include:
Gottman Method. Includes a structured approach to affair recovery built around atonement, attunement and rebuilding attachment.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Helps partners understand the emotional needs and fears underneath the hurt and rebuild a secure bond.
EMDR for betrayal trauma. When the discovery feels traumatic, EMDR may help the hurt partner process it and feel less overwhelmed.
Communication work. Structured ways to ask hard questions, answer honestly and listen without escalating.
Many couples do rebuild after an affair, though it takes time and effort from both partners. Recovery tends to go better when the affair has ended, the partner who had the affair is willing to be open and accountable, and both partners are willing to look honestly at the relationship.
Counseling cannot guarantee an outcome, and your counselor will not push you toward staying together or separating. The goal is to help you make a clear decision you can live with. Read more: how to rebuild trust after infidelity. For more on couples work, see our Couples & Marriage Counseling page.
Your counselor
Couples counselors at our Newport News and Suffolk offices. Not sure who to choose? Our intake team will help match you.
Dr. Ben NewmanPhD, LPC, CSAC · He/HimNewport News · Suffolk · Telehealth
Michele HaynamLPC, NCC, CSAC, CSOTPNewport News · Suffolk · Telehealth
Abby BrundageLCSW, CCTPNewport News · Suffolk · Telehealth
Megan AlfordLPC, ATR-BC · She/HerSuffolk · Telehealth
David FurlongLPC · He/HimNewport News · Telehealth
Alex ChirilaResident in Counseling · He/HimNewport News · TelehealthIn network with Aetna, Anthem, Sentara, UnitedHealthcare and several Virginia Medicaid plans.
Not sure about your plan? Call 757.503.2819 and we can help you check. Self-pay is also available.
Insurance and paymentMonday–Thursday 7:00 am–9:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday 7:00 am–2:00 pm
Evening and Saturday appointments are available with some counselors, and evening times are limited.
Request an appointmentThat is a decision only the two of you can make. Counseling gives you space to understand what happened and decide without pressure. Your counselor will not take sides or push you toward a particular outcome.
No. Forgiveness is personal and cannot be rushed. Counseling can help you work through anger and hurt at your own pace, whether or not you choose to forgive.
Yes. If your partner is not ready, or you are still deciding what you want, individual counseling can help you sort through your feelings and options.
Rebuilding trust is very difficult while an affair continues. Your counselor will talk with both of you about what needs to change for couples work to be helpful.
It varies. The pace depends on what happened and how both partners respond. Your counselor will review progress with you regularly and adjust the plan as needed.
It depends on your plan. We are in network with Aetna, Anthem, Sentara, UnitedHealthcare and several Virginia Medicaid plans, but coverage for couples counseling varies. Call 757.503.2819 and we can help you check your benefits. Self-pay is also available.
Yes. Sessions are available at our Newport News and Suffolk offices or by secure video, as long as both partners are in Virginia at the time of the session.
If you are ready to talk, request an appointment using the form on this page or call 757.503.2819. You can come together or start on your own. Our intake team will match you with a counselor who sees couples at our Newport News or Suffolk office, or by telehealth.
You do not need to know yet what you want for the relationship. Starting the conversation is enough.
Reach out when you feel ready. We will help you find a counselor who fits your needs, in person in Newport News or Suffolk, or through Telehealth.
In crisis? Call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.