Therapy Companion Journal for Affair Recovery

When trust is broken, where do you begin?
The Therapy Companion Journal for Affair Recovery is more than a guided workbook—it’s a lifeline for those trying to navigate the emotional wreckage of betrayal.

To say rebuilding trust after an affair is difficult is an understatement. It is hard work that takes determination, perseverance, deep self-reflection, patience, grace, and a willingness to be completely vulnerable.

Writing has always been one of my favorite pastimes, but I never knew it would help me survive one of the darkest times in my life. Originally, I created this journal for myself after my marriage suffered an affair. I wrote daily, documented my thoughts and feelings, arguments, and everything in between. I used it as a tool to help me keep track of our progress through therapy. You know the phrase, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees? Well, it’s hard to see progress when you’re wearing shit-covered glasses (honestly, that’s what it feels like when you begin digging in and doing the work to heal from something you didn’t do).

Therapy is hard enough by itself. Before I started the journal, I did my best to keep track of what we talked about in last week’s session, what happened yesterday and the fight I am absolutely bringing up next week – it felt impossible. I needed something to help me feel like my feet were on solid ground, a frame of reference if you will.

At first, I used the journal to document all the things that were wrong with my marriage and with my husband, and that’s fair because it’s what I felt. But, with our wonderful therapist’s guidance, she helped me learn how to channel my pain in productive ways that led to healing. And that’s what the journal became. A beautifully messy place of self-reflection, growth, pattern discovery, and curious compassion.

Because of how much the journal helped me, I wanted to make it available to everyone. I understand how impossible it is to wrap your brain around a new reality. And while I may not know what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, or the details of what you’re going through, I do know pain. And I want you to know you are not alone in yours.

This journal provides prompts that will help you reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns, a lot of which are uncovered during therapy.

It contains sections for you to:
• Document what happens during therapy
• List homework assigned by your therapist
• Write down your thoughts and feelings about therapy
• Reflect daily between therapy sessions (events, arguments, struggles, wins, etc.)
• Prepare for each therapy session by writing down important topics you want to discuss from the week
• Track daily and weekly trust (see the next page for more details)

My hope for you is that this journal serves you as well as it did me, offering a safe space to let your heart cry all over its pages, to be vulnerable in your discomfort, to feel the emotions that are, let’s be honest, terrifying to sit with, and to help you keep track of the amazing steps you’re taking to heal.

Here’s to the messy work you’re doing!