Marcus Aurelius, the Great Stoic Roman Emperor, wrote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” I can hear you saying, what exactly does that mean Terah? This quote is all about how an obstacle in the path you are taking can look like a disaster but turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you because it required you to forge a new path that ended up being your calling. That is exactly what happened with our guest today. She was in a marriage that she thought was going great and then out of the blue she found out that her husband had an affair. This was devastating to her on many different levels. In her search for understanding and what to do next her journey to find the help she needed fell flat. The only message she got from what to do next was leave him, forgive him or stay with him. She felt that this was incomplete and she forged her own path to become an expert on how to help people recover after an affair. She is recognized as the leader in this field and her books have helped millions of people recover from the violation of trust resulting from an affair. She clearly reflects the Marcus Aurelius quote. I bet she never would’ve guessed when she was at her low after her affair that she would help millions of people recover like she did.

Our guest today, Janis Abrahms Springs, Ph.D. is a board certified clinical psychologist and nationally acclaimed expert on issues of trust, intimacy, and forgiveness. Her first book, After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful, has sold more than a half million copies. Her second book, How Can I Forgive You? The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To, was a Books for a Better Life Award finalist in the category of Best Psychology Book and has sold more than one hundred thousand copies. Janis is a former clinical supervisor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University. She often serves as a guest expert in national media in places like Good Morning America, NPR, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Sirius XM Radio, and others like this amazing podcast. She presents regularly at venues such as The Smithsonian Institute, Harvard’s Continuing Education Conferences, and Smith College School of Social Work. I think you get the idea that she is a bad ass and you are in for a treat. If you have ever experienced an affair this is a special opportunity for you to learn how to forge your own path from the master. As a couples therapist, it was an absolute honor to talk with such an experienced, talented, and empathetic therapist as Janis.

www.janisaspring.com