How to Deal With a Cheating Spouse

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Joe Cuenco with Family Resources. We're talking about how to improve our relationship skills today, specifically, how to deal with a cheating spouse. Just how do you deal with a cheating spouse? Hopefully this is something that know one will ever have to deal with but basically there's a lot at stake here, it is your marriage so it really needs to be dealt with specifically and critically. What is really at the root cause? What is the root cause of your spouse cheating? Are they not getting something at home? Is there another issue, is it a relationship issue that needs to be examined? A real relationship inventory really needs to be taken. Perhaps it's your spouse, does your spouse have a confidence issue, low self-esteem or is there other things going on? Perhaps, your spouse needs to have some counseling or some professional help. There's the other side of the coin, is there excesses in some instances? Is there drug use, is there alcohol use or something else going on that's addiction wise that's causing your spouse to be unfaithful? Realistically, those attitudes and behaviors need to be dealt with. There's things that you could and just keep that person out of the environments where may lead to some problems. Keep them out of bars, or strip clubs, or wherever the areas that create problems. Realistically, you have to ask yourself why would you want to deal with this situation because life is too short. Realistically, a cheating spouse displays a gross lack of respect for the family, for you and we know, from successful couples, that trust is a paramount issue. Trust is the first gate, beyond that, all the other dimensions, love, friendship and follow. We have to recognize that some behaviors and some people will never change and then you have to make a decision on what you want to do and that's a very personal one. Again, don't take that lightly, use a counselor or some professional help to help you through that, make that decision. Sometimes it's a one time thing where somebody gets involved in a situation where a party or whatever and realistically, it was just situational. Many couples have been able to work through that successfully and be stronger. That's how we have to deal with a cheating spouse. Hopefully you'll never have to do that but if you do, you have those tips. I'm Joe Cuenco, with Family Resources, Relationships for Life."