309 | The Missing Ingredients to Helping Sexually Betrayed Couples Heal: An Introduction to the Early Recovery Couples Empathy Model

One of the most challenging aspects of counseling couples dealing with sexual betrayal is how to effectively navigate the pain caused by pornography and sexual addiction, or what the World Health Organization calls Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder. Individuals struggling with these issues often lack empathy due to repeated deception and an underlying loss of integrity, resulting in extreme self-interest and a lack of consideration for the impact on the partner’s emotional wellbeing. Without a clear plan, couples may split, stay angry, become stuck, or settle into disconnected cohabitation in an attempt to keep the family intact. In this workshop, psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, and ministry leaders will identify how three key components- empathy, ownership, and truth-telling- are essential for healing. Participants will assess the Early Recovery Couples Empathy Model (ERCEM), a straightforward approach that guides couples through the stages of safety, grief, and growth. Participants will analyze the eight steps of the Empathy Cycle, including listening, validation, containment, and safety, which foster co-occurring change and rebuild a positive self-image for both partners.