Port Macquarie Counselling

Learn positive coping tools, emotional connection skills and healthy outlets for anger, resentment, jealousy and anxiety in relationship counselling.

Why affair recovery can feel so overwhelming...

After an affair, many couples experience shock, emotional flooding, intrusive thoughts, anger, grief, numbness, confusion, and intense insecurity. One partner may feel shattered and unable to trust, while the other may feel guilt, regret, defensiveness, or fear that the relationship is beyond repair.

Even when both people want to stay together, the path forward can feel unclear. Conversations may become reactive, repetitive, or emotionally exhausting. You may both be hurting deeply — but in very different ways.

Recovery is not about pretending it did not happen. It is about creating enough honesty, emotional safety, and understanding for real healing to begin.

“Forgiveness is a process, not a decision. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to confront painful emotions in order to move forward.” Sue Johnson Psychotherapist and Author

What counselling can help with after an affair...

Affair recovery counselling can support couples who are trying to understand what happened, decide what comes next, and begin rebuilding trust where possible. I offer The Gottman Institute program for couples wanting to attend counselling, and my training includes many skills from a range of other top relationship trainers.

I have sat with many couples who have been through this scenario, so please don't worry about attending counselling, many other people have been through, or are going through what you are experiencing. There are so many big feelings involved, I am very comfortable hearing about them, and helping you navigate through them.

Some of the areas we may explore include:

• shock, betrayal, and emotional overwhelm
• intrusive thoughts and repeated questioning
• rebuilding trust and transparency
• understanding the impact of the affair
• repairing emotional and relational damage
• communication after betrayal
• boundaries, honesty, and accountability
• deciding whether and how to move forward

Rebuilding after betrayal

Recovery after an affair is rarely quick or simple. Trust often needs to be rebuilt slowly, and both people may need support in understanding not just what happened, but what the relationship needs now.

Therapy can help create a more structured and supported space for those conversations. It can help reduce blame cycles, clarify needs, and support the rebuilding of emotional safety and repair.

Not every relationship survives an affair — but many people benefit from support whether they are trying to repair the relationship, make sense of what happened, or decide what comes next.

After an affair it's not about fixing a relationship. It's about building an entirely new one.

If you are both wanting support after an affair, counselling can help you move through the crisis with more clarity, care, and direction.

deep listening is one of the keys to repair

What Working Together Looks Like

Affair recovery work is structured, supportive, and paced carefully. I help couples slow things down, understand what is happening, and begin rebuilding safety and communication where possible.

1. Reach Out

Give me a call to arrange an appointment. If your relationship has been impacted by infidelity or betrayal, support can help you move through the initial crisis more clearly.

2. First Session

We’ll talk about what has happened, how things are currently affecting each of you, and what support would be most helpful. The first priority is emotional safety and stabilising communication.

3. Ongoing Sessions

Sessions are shaped around rebuilding trust, emotional repair, communication, and relationship clarity. My approach is practical, compassionate, and grounded in relationship recovery work.

Meet Your Therapist

Hi, I’m Kareen Fellows, a degree-qualified counsellor passionate about helping individuals and couples move through painful and emotionally complex relationship experiences.

My approach is warm, thoughtful, and collaborative. I aim to create a space where people can slow down, feel safe, and begin making sense of what has happened — without judgment or pressure.

I have a special interest in relationships and in helping couples work through rupture, disconnection, and emotional pain.

I draw on my formal training from The Gottman Institute, Relational Life Therapy, and Emotional Freedom Technique, along with practical relationship insight and experience.

For more information on my therapy background - click here.

Recovery From an Affair