When sex addiction and betrayal trauma strike, the wounds are not limited to individuals—they ripple through relationships, leaving trust shattered and bonds broken. At the 2024 S.A. Lifeline Conference, Dr. Jake Porter introduced his groundbreaking Couple-Centered Recovery Model, a framework designed to help couples heal together rather than growing apart during the recovery process.
Dr. Porter challenges traditional recovery approaches that focus solely on the individual. While these models provide essential tools for personal healing, they frequently overlook the relational damage caused by betrayal. By prioritizing the relationship, Dr. Porter’s model fills a critical gap in the recovery landscape.
Why Relationships Matter in Recovery
Dr. Porter’s approach recognizes that betrayal doesn’t just harm individuals—it fractures the dyad, the two-person system at the heart of a relationship. Healing separately can lead to emotional distance, even if personal recovery is achieved. Instead, his model focuses on relational healing, rebuilding trust, and repairing attachment wounds.
Drawing from trauma theory, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), and affect regulation, Dr. Porter’s work emphasizes the importance of co-regulating emotions within the relationship. This means partners not only support each other but actively rebuild their bond, fostering a deeper connection through shared growth.
Core Principles of the Couple-Centered Recovery Model
- Safety and Stability
Betrayed partners need emotional and physical safety as a foundation for healing. Establishing boundaries, fostering honesty, and creating a secure environment are essential first steps. - Grieving Together
Betrayal is often an attachment wound, and grieving as a couple helps repair that bond. Shared grief allows couples to process emotional pain together, fostering empathy and connection. - Revisiting and Transforming the Relationship
After addressing past wounds, couples can reimagine their relationship, creating a shared vision based on mutual trust and deeper intimacy.
Dr. Porter’s model also addresses the concept of affect dysregulation—when individuals struggle to manage emotions, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms like addiction. By learning to regulate emotions together, couples can break free from destructive cycles and rebuild healthier relational dynamics.
Practical Tips for Couples in Recovery
- Engage in Joint Therapy: Work with a therapist trained in couple-centered recovery to guide individual and relational healing.
- Focus on Attachment Repair: Address emotional wounds to rebuild trust and foster secure attachment.
- Stay Curious About Each Other’s Growth: Share your healing journey with your partner to ensure you grow together, not apart.
Watch Dr. Porter’s Full Presentation By Subscribing To the Digital Recovery Library or see a shortened clip here:
For couples navigating the complex journey of healing from sex addiction and betrayal trauma, Dr. Porter’s session offers hope and actionable insights. His presentation, available in the Digital Recovery Library, provides practical tools and a clear roadmap to relational healing.
Stay tuned! S.A. Lifeline will release more of the 2024 conference in the Digital Recovery Library in the coming months! Subscribe today.