In this episode we discuss the differences between "fantasy love" or "limerence" and "companionship love" or "real love".  We explain how limerence is an intense, emotionally volatile form of love driven by attraction and fantasy, while companionship love is a deeper, more stable form of love built on mutual commitment, trust, and shared values.  The speakers emphasize that companionship love, while less flashy, is ultimately more sustainable and fulfilling in the long run.

We are available to help you heal broken trust.  We have several ways to get help. 

Couples Workshops:  https://healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

Stop My Divorce: https://healingbrokentrust.com/stop-my-divorce

Help for the Betrayed: https://healingbrokentrust.com/betrayed-spouse-masterclass

Help for the Unfaithful: https://healingbrokentrust.com/healers-workshop

Podcast Resources: https://healingbrokentrust.com/podcast

You can call our office at 918-281-6060 Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM CST.  Contact us on the web at healingbrokentrust.com.  

Friendships are a normal and healthy part of life. We all need people outside of our romantic relationships who support us, make us laugh, and share our interests. But sometimes, a close friendship can slowly turn into something more—even without us realizing it.

Emotional affairs don’t happen overnight. They start off innocent—just good conversations, just inside jokes, just feeling understood. But over time, the emotional connection deepens, secrets start forming, and the lines get blurry.

The trcky part? Emotional affairs don’t always involve physical intimacy, making them harder to recognize—and even harder to admit. You might tell yourself it’s nothing, even as you hide texts, crave their attention, or feel guilty about how much you think about them.

So, how do you know if your friendship is just a friendship or if it’s damaging your relationship? The key is spotting the differences between the two.

Check out our blog HERE: https://healingbrokentrust.com/blog/friendship-or-emotional-affair-how-to-tell-the-difference

We are available to help you heal broken trust.  We have several ways to get help. 

Couples Workshops:  https://healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

Stop My Divorce: https://healingbrokentrust.com/stop-my-divorce

Help for the Betrayed: https://healingbrokentrust.com/betrayed-spouse-masterclass

Help for the Unfaithful: https://healingbrokentrust.com/healers-workshop

Podcast Resources: https://healingbrokentrust.com/podcast

You can call our office at 918-281-6060 Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM CST.  Contact us on the web at healingbrokentrust.com.  If you live out of the US talk to our staff about

Trigger warning: this episode can be difficult to hear especially for those who are still raw after discovery.

If that is you consider reading the transcript on our blog here:

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT >>>

Get the podcast downloads here:

PODCAST DOWNLOADS >>>

Join us for the next couple's workshop here:

SIGN UP FOR THE COUPLE'S PROGRAM >>>

In episode 76 Brad and Morgan discuss a new way to look at negative cycles. 

If you haven’t yet listened to episode 3 called “Why Do We Fight and Avoid Difficult Topics” that episode will help you understand negative cycles.

You can check that out HERE: https://healingbrokentrust.com/podcast-blog/ep-3-why-do-we-fight-or-avoid-talking-about-the-affair

We are available to help you heal broken trust.  We have several ways to get help. 

Couples Workshops:  https://healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

Trauma Intensives: https://marriagesolutions.as.me/trauma-intensives

Stop My Divorce: https://healingbrokentrust.com/stop-my-divorce

Help for the Unfaithful: https://healingbrokentrust.com/healers-workshop

1-on-1 coaching/therapy: https://healingbrokentrust.com/coaching

Podcast Resources: https://healingbrokentrust.com/podcast

You can call our office at 918-281-6060 Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM CST.  Contact us on the web at healingbrokentrust.com.  If you live out of the US talk to our staff about discussing options via zoom.

Every couple I’ve encountered as a relationship therapist has been dealing with this specific issue, but they didn’t have a concept for it to describe or explain it.  This episode will help you do that.

Before we jump into our episode I wanted to take a moment to speak to those of you who are looking for resources.

Some of you are in therapy or coaching and you’re finding:

• Your therapist is nice but the issue of betrayal or trauma isn’t being addressed. 
• You run out of time in your sessions
• A lot happens in between sessions which can feel like progress is stunted. 
• It takes way too long to get somewhere in therapy or coaching.

In fact, if the average couple needs around 15-30 sessions that works out to about 4-8 months if nothing big happens in between sessions.  And then there are the individual needs that will often require more time.

That’s why we host monthly workshops.  You can join us in person here in Tulsa, OK, or online via zoom from anywhere in the world, and you’ll even have access to a pre-recorded version as well as the master classes and small group meetings.

This workshop provides you with actionable steps you can take immediately to see huge changes in your relationship AND in how you feel.

It’s the jump start you need.  We take what would be months of therapy or coaching, pull out the most useful and important parts, and deliver it to you in 2.5 days.

It is truly transformative.

But don’t take my word for it, at the end of this episode you will have the opportunity to hear from a couple who came to one of the workshops.  You can also see some here>>>

These workshops allow you to get what you need without the frustration of lost time and resources.

They are private and no one has to share anything with the group to see results if you don’t want to.  Although we find that many couples love that they can make new and supportive friends if they want to.

Check it out at healingbrokentrust.com

Also download "21 Things the Unfaithful Want to Tell You But Don't Know How to Say" Here>>>

Erik Rasmussen shares with Brad Robinson how he found hope after discovering his wife's infidelity. Erik shares what those early days were like and what he did that created the transformation he was looking for. 

Get the 21 Things the Unfaithful Want to Tell You But Don't Know How to Say free download here: https://healingbrokentrust.com/21-things-the-unfaithful-want-to-tell-you

Attend a 3 day Healing Broken Trust couple's workshop register here: https://healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

Listen to the free podcast here: https://healingbrokentrust.com/podcast

Already participated in our workshop?

Consider 1-on-1 help here: https://healingbrokentrust.com/coaching

This episode sheds light on what your spouse was thinking about you and your relationship during their affair.  Did they love you?  Did they love the affair partner?  Could they have loved you both?  

Enroll in our 3 day workshop here: https://healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

Brad and Morgan outline 20 things the unfaithful partner want the betrayed partner to know but don't know how to say it.  We can help you find your voice and that is the goal of this episode.  To help you find the words you've been looking for.  Listen to the very end because you'll have a chance to hear from other couples.

Look for more resources at healingbrokentrust.com

Start your transformation by joining our workshop and program at healingbrokentrust.com/hbtworkshop

This episode is like a mini-letter to the unfaithful spouse.  Our goal is to help you articulate many of the things you might be feeling but can't seem to put your finger on.

Also, you may have heard about our workshops and master class programs…

You may be listening to this wondering why would we join the Healing Broken Trust workshop and program?

“We’re already in counseling, or something else, and I mean Brad and Morgan cover everything they have to say in the podcast anyways, right?”

Well not quite.

First of all, if you’re in counseling right now you still need the workshop.

Individual counseling doesn’t solve marriage issues.  And I bet your marriage counselor is working on the marriage and missing all the glaring affair recovery issues you haven’t yet dealt with.

In addition to that…we deal with so much more in the program that we’ve never covered on the podcast.

Such as:

• When sharing emotions is not enough,
• When being the healer doesn’t solve the trust issues,
• Or when your spouse isn’t helping you heal at all,
• When cutting off the affair partner isn’t simple or straightforward in your situation,
• When you’ve decided to re-engage and work on the relationship but the underlying causes for the affair aren’t dealt with,
• When you think you know why the affair happened and then you are given new information,
• When you have blind spots and can’t see what you’re missing,
• When you’re not used to sadness so you do everything not to experience it, but in the process, you loose all access to intimacy.
• You’re super positive, sure of the solution, thinking everything is explainable, but do you really understand why your spouse decided to look outside the relationship for some need to be met?  What need were they trying to meet?

These are just some of what we help couples deal with in our workshop and program.

So go to healingbrokentrust.com now and join us for the next workshop before it fills up.

Dan and Lynn are participants in the Healing Broken Trust program and they talk about their experience healing after infidelity.  A memorable moment in the conversation was when Lynn talked about how people comment on how others are noticing the changes in them.  Join the HBT program at healingbrokentrustworkshop.com