From Heartbreak to Hope

Your Guide to Surviving and Healing After an Affair

Jeff Murrah, LPC, LCDC, CMNCS

Jeff Murrah, LPC, LCDC, CMNCS

Jeff Murrah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) with over 45 years of experience. After experiencing the devastation of infidelity firsthand, he dedicated his career to helping families overcome similar challenges.

A pioneer in online counseling since 1999, Jeff's work has been featured on Wall Street Journal Radio and the Larry Elder Show. In 2010, he was selected for inclusion in the "Counseling Courier's Marriage Counselor Hall of Fame" as one of the top 15 marriage and family counselors. Jeff is also a Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist (CMNCS) and Farm Response Certified.
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​​​​​​​A sixth-generation Texan, Jeff earned his degrees from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Married since 1985, he and his wife Peggy have three sons and two granddaughters and reside in the Texas Hill Country.

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Stylized portrait of a contemplative man with intense, expressive eyes, set against a vibrant, abstract background, capturing a moment of deep reflection and emotional intensity.
Affair Recovery Understanding Affairs

When Will My Husband Get Over My Affair?

"How long will it take for my husband to get over my affair?" It's a question many struggle with after infidelity. The truth is, healing takes time, and every relationship is different. But with honest communication and patience, there is hope for rebuilding what's been broken.

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Emotional Recovery Understanding Affairs

How does being cheated on change you?

Being cheated on is more than just a betrayal—it's a life-altering event that reshapes your identity, trust, and the very foundation of your marriage. The question isn't just about how it changes you, but how you choose to rebuild and move forward.

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Stylized image inspired by Gustav Klimt, depicting the emotional turmoil of gaslighting after an affair. The image features abstract figures intertwined with patterns, symbolizing the confusion, manipulation, and fractured trust that often accompany the aftermath of infidelity.
Emotional Recovery Understanding Affairs

Beyond "Side Effects" and Gaslighting of Affairs

When it comes to affairs, there's no such thing as "side effects." Just as with medications, the so-called side effects are very real and can be just as damaging—if not more so—than the affair itself. Understanding the full impact of infidelity on your family, health, and relationships is essential to making the right choices for your future.

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Recovery and Self-Care Understanding Affairs

How to Overcome Trauma and Self-Criticism After an Affair

Are you caught in a loop of self-blame, constantly asking, "What's wrong with me?" It's time to break free. When trauma and relationship struggles lead you to question your worth, the real issue isn’t what’s wrong with you—it’s what happened to you. Learn how to shift your focus, reduce guilt, and begin your healing journey.

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Emotional Recovery Recovery and Self-Care

How Trauma Influences Your Perception of Infidelity and Healing

What if the way you see your relationship is clouded by past trauma? Discover how the lens of trauma shapes your understanding of infidelity and why acknowledging it is the first step to healing.

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Affair Recovery Confronting the Cheater

How Failing Can Save Your Marriage

Failing can be a wake-up call, especially in marriage therapy. But did you know that many couples sabotage their own progress? Discover how honest communication and a willingness to change can turn things around, even when it feels like your marriage is failing.

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Stylized illustration of a couple in formal attire, symbolizing the challenges and complexities of rebuilding a marriage after infidelity.
Affair Recovery Recovery and Self-Care

Can Your Marriage Survive Infidelity?

Infidelity doesn’t have to mean the end of your marriage. With the right approach and commitment, a long-term marriage can not only survive but thrive after an affair. Here’s how to make it happen.

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Affair Relapse Confronting the Cheater

Battling Affair Temptations and Staying True to Your Relationship

Temptation doesn’t disappear when the affair ends; for some, it lingers like a shadow, constantly pulling them back toward the brink. If you’ve ever found yourself torn between the thrill of excitement and the deep distaste of betrayal, you’re not alone. The battle against temptation is real, but with the right tools and support, you can reclaim control and move toward a healthier future.

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Affairs and Popular Culture Reducing the Risk

The Power of Truly Listening to Your Partner

Listening may sound simple, but in relationships, it's anything but. The subtle choices in words and how we communicate can make all the difference between feeling loved and feeling disconnected. Are you truly hearing what your partner is saying?

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Affairs and Popular Culture Emotional Recovery

Why Affairs Rarely Lead to Lasting Relationships

Think an affair can lead to true love? The odds are stacked against you. Find out why relationships born out of infidelity rarely stand the test of time, and what you can do to build a healthier future instead.

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Reducing the Risk Swinging and Affairs

When Fun and Games in Swinging Lead to Relationship Nightmares

What happens when the thrill of swinging turns into a relationship nightmare? Discover the unexpected dangers lurking behind the allure of 'the lifestyle' and how they can wreak havoc on your marriage.

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Freddy Fender turned heartbreak into a classic
Affair Recovery Affairs and Popular Culture

How Freddy Fender Turned Heartbreak Into a Classic Hit

When life hit Freddy Fender hard, he didn’t just endure the pain—he turned it into a classic song that would resonate for generations. Learn how heartbreak and despair gave birth to a timeless anthem of survival and hope.

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A serious-looking woman with red hair, dressed in a dark, fitted jacket, standing against a backdrop of a calm sky. The image conveys a sense of determination and reflection, possibly related to a complex situation involving infidelity and trust.
Affairs and the Ministry Affairs in the News

The Painful Consequences of Infidelity in Trusted Relationships

When betrayal comes from the most trusted places, the pain is even more profound. Imagine seeking guidance from a trusted mentor, only to discover they’ve crossed unforgivable boundaries. This is the devastating reality of infidelity within trusted relationships—where the betrayal cuts deeper and the healing journey is even more challenging.

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Affair Recovery Affairs and Popular Culture

Boundaries vs. Ultimatums in Affair Recovery

Setting boundaries can be the key to rebuilding trust after an affair, but there's a fine line between boundaries and ultimatums. Understanding the difference could make all the difference in your recovery journey.

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Affair Recovery Affair Recovery Resources

How to Overcome the Scars of Adultery

Trauma can leave lasting scars, but those scars don't have to define you. Whether it's the pain of adultery or another life-altering event, you have the power to take charge of your healing journey. It's time to move beyond victimhood and reclaim control over your life. Will you rise above the trauma, or let it continue to hold you back?

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A contemplative woman gazes forward, symbolizing the fading passion in a relationship, as affairs often fizzle out after the initial excitement fades.
Emotional Recovery Understanding Affairs

Why Affairs Fizzle Out: How Dopamine Drives Cheating

Have you ever wondered why the thrill of an affair burns bright at first, only to fizzle out? The answer lies deep within the cheater's brain—where dopamine takes control, fueling an intense yet fleeting passion. But what happens when the high fades? Let's uncover the truth behind this emotional rollercoaster and how it impacts affair recovery.

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A black-and-white image of a woman standing outdoors with a white cloth wrapped around her head, covering her eyes as if she is blindfolded. The image symbolizes blindness or the inability to see something clearly.
Emotional Recovery Rebuilding Your Marriage

How Affair Blindness Keeps You from Seeing the Signs Until It's Too Late

You may think you'd notice the signs of infidelity right away, but what if your own mind is working against you? Affair blindness is more common than you think, and it could be preventing you from seeing the truth until it’s too late. Let's dive into how this happens and what you can do about it.

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A stylized illustration of a couple in an intimate embrace, with a sense of tension in their expressions, symbolizing the underlying conflict that can arise from self-righteous attitudes in a relationship
Affair Recovery

The Hidden Dangers of Self-Righteousness in Affair Recovery

In the aftermath of an affair, self-righteousness might feel like a shield protecting your wounded heart. But what if this very shield is the barrier to true healing? Dive into the hidden dangers of self-righteousness and how it can derail your journey to recovery.

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