Trust Issues in Relationships: How to Build Trust (or Rebuild It)
You're checking their phone again. Or maybe you're on the other side—watching your partner's eyes scan your screen every time a notification pops up.
Either way, something feels off. The easy comfort you once had is gone. Now there's a wall between you. It might be invisible to everyone else, but you feel it every day.
Trust issues dont show up overnight. They build slowly, like water damage behind a wall. By the time you notice the problem, the structure of your relationship might already be weakened.
I'm Kayla Crane, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at South Denver Therapy. I've worked with hundreds of couples in Castle Rock and throughout Douglas County who came to me saying the same thing: "I love my partner, but I cant fully trust them."
Some had clear reasons—an affair, financial secrets, or broken promises. Others couldn't point to anything specific. They just knew something wasn't right.
Here's what I've learned: Trust issues are rarely just about one person being untrustworthy. They're about two people caught in a painful cycle neither fully understands.
This guide will help you understand what's really happening when trust breaks down. You'll learn the 5 types of trust problems couples face, how to identify where your relationship struggles, and specific steps to rebuild the security you've lost.
Quick Answer
Trust issues are patterns of doubt, suspicion, or difficulty relying on your partner that interfere with relationship security. They can stem from past trauma, childhood experiences, or betrayals within your current relationship.
The 5 types: Emotional trust, physical trust, fidelity trust, financial trust, and decision-making trust. Most couples struggle with more than one type.
The Hidden Cost of Trust Issues
Research from the Gottman Institute shows that trust is the single greatest predictor of relationship success. Couples with high trust levels report 67% greater relationship satisfaction and are 3 times more likely to describe their relationship as "very happy."
But here's what most people miss: Trust isn't just about big betrayals like affairs. It's built—or destroyed—in tiny moments throughout your day.
Dr. John Gottman calls these "sliding door moments." Your partner shares something vulnerable, and you have a choice: lean in and connect, or turn away and dismiss.
When you lean in, trust grows. When you turn away—especially repeatedly—trust erodes. A thousand small moments of turning away can damage trust just as much as one major betrayal.
This is why some couples struggle with trust even when nothing "big" has happened. The damage accumulated through countless missed opportunities to connect.
5 Types of Trust Issues in Relationships
Not all trust problems are the same. Understanding which type you're dealing with is the first step toward solving it.
The 5 Types of Trust Issues
Emotional Trust
"Is it safe to share my feelings?" • Vulnerability punished • Feelings dismissed • Secrets used as weapons
Physical Trust
"Do I feel safe in their presence?" • Unpredictable anger • Intimidating behavior • Walking on eggshells
Fidelity Trust
"Will they stay faithful?" • Fear of cheating • Phone checking • Suspicion of friendships • Past affairs unresolved
Financial Trust
"Are they honest about money?" • Hidden accounts • Secret debt • Unilateral decisions • Broken financial promises
Decision-Making Trust
"Can I count on their judgment?" • Impulsive choices • Poor track record • Need to double-check everything
Most couples experience issues in 2-3 of these areas. Identifying your specific struggles helps target your repair work.
Type 1: Emotional Trust Issues
Emotional trust is about safety with your feelings. Can you share your fears, insecurities, and deepest thoughts without them being used against you later?
Signs of emotional trust issues:
You hold back your real feelings because you're afraid of your partner's reaction
Past vulnerable moments were met with criticism, dismissal, or anger
Your partner brings up old hurts during arguments as ammunition
You feel like you have to be "on guard" emotionally
Sharing good news doesn't feel safe because it might be minimized
Emotional trust breaks when vulnerability is punished. Maybe you opened up about a childhood wound and your partner made a joke. Maybe you shared an insecurity and they threw it back at you during a fight.
Once this happens enough times, the brain learns: Vulnerability is dangerous here.
[Learn more about creating emotional safety in our guide to building emotional intimacy.]
Type 2: Physical Trust Issues
Physical trust goes beyond whether your partner would physically hurt you. It includes feeling safe in their presence—both physically and through their tone, volume, and energy.
Signs of physical trust issues:
Your body tenses when your partner gets frustrated
Raised voices make you feel unsafe, even without threats
You find yourself managing their moods to keep the peace
Their anger feels unpredictable or explosive
You avoid certain topics because of how they might react physically
Even if your partner has never been violent, aggressive body language, slamming doors, or intimidating behavior can erode physical trust. Your nervous system doesn't distinguish between actual danger and the feeling of danger.
If physical safety is a concern in your relationship, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Type 3: Fidelity Trust Issues
This is what most people think of when they hear "trust issues"—concerns about cheating or inappropriate relationships with others.
Signs of fidelity trust issues:
Constant worry about who your partner is talking to
Checking their phone, email, or social media
Anxiety when they spend time with certain people
Difficulty believing them even when they're telling the truth
Past infidelity (yours or theirs) hasn't been fully processed
Fidelity trust issues can stem from an actual affair, from a partner's inappropriate boundaries with others, or from wounds carried from previous relationships.
Sometimes the issue isn't what your partner has done—it's what a previous partner did. Unhealed betrayal trauma can make you scan for threats even in a trustworthy relationship.
Type 4: Financial Trust Issues
Money problems are the second leading cause of divorce in the United States. When partners hide spending, lie about debt, or make major financial decisions without input, trust crumbles fast.
Signs of financial trust issues:
Discovering hidden purchases, accounts, or debt
Different values around saving, spending, or generosity
One partner controls all the money
Financial decisions are made without discussion
Broken promises about money management
Financial infidelity—hiding money matters from your partner—affects an estimated 44% of couples. The betrayal often cuts as deep as sexual infidelity because money represents security, future plans, and shared values.
Type 5: Decision-Making Trust Issues
This type involves trusting your partner's judgment. Can you count on them to make reasonable decisions, especially under pressure?
Signs of decision-making trust issues:
Your partner makes impulsive choices without thinking through consequences
Past decisions have significantly harmed your family
You feel like you have to double-check everything they do
Important information gets "forgotten" or filtered
You don't trust them to handle things when you're not around
Decision-making trust erodes when partners repeatedly demonstrate poor judgment—whether through impulsive spending, risky behavior, or choices that prioritize their wants over family needs.
🔍 Trust Issues Self-Assessment
Check the statements that apply to your relationship:
Emotional Trust Issues
Fidelity Trust Issues
Communication & Safety Issues
Your Results
0-2 checked: Mild trust concerns — proactive work can strengthen your bond
3-5 checked: Moderate trust issues — couples therapy may be helpful
6+ checked: Significant trust issues — professional support recommended
Where Do Trust Issues Come From?
Trust problems don't appear from nowhere. They have roots—and understanding those roots helps you address them effectively.
Root 1: Attachment Wounds from Childhood
How your caregivers responded to your needs as a child shapes how you approach trust in adult relationships.
If your caregivers were inconsistent—sometimes warm and present, other times distant or unavailable—you may have developed anxious attachment. This can show up as needing constant reassurance, fearing abandonment, and reading threat into neutral situations.
If your caregivers were consistently unavailable or dismissive, you might have avoidant attachment. This can look like difficulty depending on others, emotional walls, and discomfort with vulnerability.
Understanding your attachment style isn't about blaming your parents. It's about recognizing the lens through which you see relationships—and deciding whether that lens serves you.
Root 2: Past Relationship Betrayals
If a previous partner cheated, lied, or betrayed you, those wounds don't automatically heal when you enter a new relationship. Your brain learned that romantic partners can be dangerous, and it stays on alert.
This is especially true if the betrayal was never fully processed—if you "moved on" without actually working through the grief, anger, and shattered assumptions about relationships.
Root 3: Betrayals Within This Relationship
Sometimes the trust issues are clearly connected to something your current partner did: an affair, lies, broken promises, or boundary violations.
When trust is broken by your partner's actions, rebuilding requires both people to change. The one who broke trust must take full responsibility and demonstrate consistent trustworthy behavior. The one who was hurt must eventually become willing to be vulnerable again—without guarantees.
Root 4: Gradual Erosion Through Missed Moments
This is the sneaky one. No single event broke the trust. Instead, hundreds of small moments accumulated:
Bids for connection that were ignored
Feelings that were dismissed as "too sensitive"
Promises that weren't kept (the everyday kind)
Needs that were consistently deprioritized
Emotional unavailability during hard times
Each individual moment seems small. But together, they create a pattern that tells your brain: I cant count on this person.
Where Trust Issues Come From
Childhood Attachment Wounds
Inconsistent caregiving creates patterns of anxious or avoidant attachment that affect adult relationships. Your childhood taught you whether people could be counted on.
Past Relationship Betrayals
Wounds from previous partners don't automatically heal in new relationships. Unprocessed betrayal trauma keeps your brain scanning for threats.
Betrayals in This Relationship
Affairs, lies, financial secrets, or broken promises. When your current partner breaks trust, rebuilding requires both people to change.
Gradual Erosion
No single event—but hundreds of small moments accumulated. Ignored bids for connection, dismissed feelings, broken everyday promises. The sneaky one.
13 Warning Signs of Trust Issues in Your Relationship
How do you know if trust issues are affecting your relationship? Here are the patterns therapists recognize:
⚠️ 13 Warning Signs of Trust Issues
1. Checking their phone, email, or social media
2. Assuming the worst about their intentions
3. Difficulty believing them even with evidence
4. Keeping emotional walls up constantly
5. Interrogating them about their day/activities
6. Unable to relax when they're away
7. Testing them to see if they'll lie
8. Bringing up past hurts repeatedly
9. Difficulty accepting compliments or affection
10. Keeping secrets "for protection"
11. Hypervigilance about their behavior
12. Feeling relieved when they're not around
13. Planning exit strategies "just in case"
If 5+ signs apply to your relationship, professional support can help you break these patterns.
How Trust Issues Affect Your Relationship
Unaddressed trust issues don't stay contained. They spread into every part of your relationship:
Communication breaks down. When you don't trust your partner, you filter what you share. You hide parts of yourself. Conversations become surface-level because real vulnerability feels too risky.
Intimacy suffers. Both emotional and physical intimacy require trust. If you're guarding yourself emotionally, you cant fully connect. This often leads to feeling disconnected even when you're physically together.
Conflict escalates. Without trust, you interpret your partner's words and actions through a negative lens. Innocent comments become evidence of their worst intentions. Small disagreements become major battles.
Anxiety and hypervigilance develop. You're constantly scanning for threats. Checking their phone. Analyzing their tone. Reading into every text. This exhausting state keeps your nervous system activated and makes genuine relaxation impossible.
Resentment builds. Feeling unsafe with your partner breeds resentment. You start keeping mental lists of their failures. Gratitude disappears. You notice everything they do wrong and minimize what they do right.
How Trust Erodes Over Time
Stage 1: Secure Connection
Both partners feel safe. Bids for connection are met. Vulnerability is honored. Trust account is full.
Stage 2: Small Withdrawals
Occasional dismissals. "Sliding door moments" missed. Partner turns away more often. Minor concerns dismissed.
Stage 3: Protective Walls
Vulnerability feels risky. Partners stop sharing as openly. Emotional distance grows. Suspicion begins.
Stage 4: Negative Sentiment Override
Even neutral actions interpreted negatively. Partners assume worst about each other. Conflict escalates quickly.
Stage 5: Crisis Point
Trust severely damaged. May include betrayal or simply complete disconnection. Relationship at crossroads—repair or end.
The good news: This pattern can be reversed at any stage with intentional repair work.
How to Build Trust in a New Relationship
If you're entering a relationship with trust issues from your past, here's how to build a healthy foundation:
Start with self-awareness. Know your triggers, patterns, and attachment style. Understand how past wounds might affect your current perception. This awareness helps you distinguish between real threats and old fears.
Communicate your history—appropriately. You don't need to share every detail of past betrayals on the first date. But as the relationship deepens, letting your partner know that trust is something you work on helps them understand your reactions.
Watch for consistency. Trust is built through repeated small actions over time. Pay attention to whether your partner's words match their behavior. Do they follow through? Are they reliable in small things?
Take appropriate risks. Building trust requires some vulnerability. Share something small and see how they respond. If they honor that trust, share something slightly more. Let the relationship earn your deeper trust gradually.
Don't punish your new partner for old wounds. Your new partner isn't your ex. They deserve to be seen for who they are, not treated with suspicion they haven't earned. If you cant separate past from present, consider working with a therapist before entering a new relationship.
🧱 Trust Building Blocks for New Relationships
🔍
Self-Awareness First
Know your triggers, attachment style, and how past wounds affect your perception. This helps you distinguish real threats from old fears.
💬
Appropriate Disclosure
Share your history as the relationship deepens. "Trust is something I work on" helps them understand your reactions without oversharing too early.
👀
Watch for Consistency
Trust builds through repeated small actions. Do their words match their behavior? Are they reliable in small things? Let the pattern speak.
🌱
Gradual Vulnerability
Share something small, see how they respond. If honored, share something slightly more. Let trust be earned step by step.
⚖️
Separate Past from Present
Your new partner isn't your ex. They deserve to be seen for who they are, not treated with suspicion they haven't earned.
🛠️
Do Your Own Work
If you can't separate past from present, consider individual therapy before a new relationship. Unhealed wounds will surface eventually.
How to Rebuild Trust After Betrayal: The 6-Step Roadmap
When trust has been broken by your partner's actions, rebuilding is possible—but it requires both people to commit to a structured process.
Step 1: Full Acknowledgment
The partner who broke trust must fully acknowledge what happened. This means:
No minimizing ("It wasn't that big a deal")
No blame-shifting ("If you hadn't been so distant...")
No defending or explaining away
Simply owning the impact of their actions
This acknowledgment often needs to happen multiple times. The hurt partner may need to revisit the betrayal as they process it. The response to these revisits matters as much as the first conversation.
Step 2: Complete Transparency
Rebuilding trust requires radical transparency from the partner who broke it:
Answering all questions honestly, even painful ones
Providing access to phones, accounts, or information if requested
Sharing whereabouts and plans proactively
Being open about feelings, doubts, and temptations
This transparency is temporary—not forever. But in the early stages of rebuilding, it provides the safety the hurt partner needs.
Step 3: Consistent Follow-Through
Trust rebuilds through consistency. The partner who broke trust must demonstrate reliability in small things and large:
Following through on every commitment
Being where they say they'll be
Communicating proactively about changes
Making their partner's security a priority
One slip in this stage can undo weeks of progress. Consistency isn't about perfection, but about demonstrating that trustworthy behavior is the new normal—not the exception.
Step 4: Processing the Pain
The hurt partner needs space to grieve, rage, and process what happened. This isn't "dwelling" or "not letting it go." It's necessary emotional work.
The betraying partner's job during this phase is to witness their partner's pain without becoming defensive. To hear "I'm hurting because of what you did" without trying to fix it or make it stop.
Learn more about processing relationship wounds in our guide to healing from betrayal.
Step 5: Understanding the "Why"
Eventually, the couple needs to understand how the betrayal happened. This isn't about excusing it, but about identifying vulnerabilities in the relationship that created conditions for betrayal.
Common vulnerabilities include:
Unaddressed conflict patterns
Individual struggles (depression, addiction, self-esteem issues)
Life transitions that weren't navigated together
Gradual growing apart without either partner noticing
Understanding these patterns helps prevent future betrayals and informs what needs to change.
Step 6: Creating a New Relationship
The old relationship—the one where the betrayal was possible—is over. Couples who successfully rebuild don't go back to what they had. They create something new.
This new relationship is built on:
New ways of handling conflict
New levels of honesty and transparency
New commitments to prioritizing the relationship
Ongoing work to maintain what's been rebuilt
🗺️ The 6-Step Trust Rebuilding Roadmap
Full Acknowledgment
The partner who broke trust must fully own what happened. No minimizing, blame-shifting, or defending. Just ownership of impact.
Complete Transparency
Radical openness: answering all questions, providing access to information, sharing whereabouts proactively. Temporary but necessary.
Consistent Follow-Through
Trust rebuilds through reliability in small and large things. Every commitment kept. Every promise honored. Consistency becomes the new normal.
Processing the Pain
The hurt partner needs space to grieve and process. The other partner witnesses this pain without becoming defensive. Not "dwelling"—healing.
Understanding the "Why"
Exploring how the betrayal happened—not to excuse it, but to identify vulnerabilities that allowed it. What needs to change going forward?
Creating a New Relationship
The old relationship is over. You're building something new—with new communication, new conflict patterns, new commitments, and ongoing work.
This process takes 18 months to 3+ years for serious betrayals. Couples who complete it often report stronger relationships than before.
What to Say: Conversation Scripts for Trust Issues
Talking about trust issues is hard. These scripts give you language to start the conversation:
💬 What to Say: Conversation Scripts
To Start the Conversation About Trust Issues:
"I want to talk about something that's been on my mind. I've noticed I have some walls up in our relationship, and I don't want that. I think I have some trust issues I need to work through—some from before us, and some from things that have happened between us. Can we talk about this together?"
To Express a Specific Trust Concern:
"When [specific situation], I felt [emotion]. My brain started telling me [fear/worry]. I know that might not be what's actually happening, but I need to share this with you because keeping it inside makes it bigger. Can you help me understand what was going on from your perspective?"
To Acknowledge Your Partner's Trust Concerns:
"I hear that you're having trouble trusting me, and I understand why given what's happened. That makes sense. I want you to feel safe with me, and I'm willing to do what it takes to rebuild your trust. What would help you feel more secure right now?"
To Request Professional Help:
"I love you and I want this relationship to work. But I think we need more support than we can give each other right now. I'd like us to see a couples therapist to work through these trust issues together. Would you be open to that?"
The Trust Building Daily Practice
Research shows that trust builds through small, consistent moments—not grand gestures. Here's a daily practice that strengthens trust over time:
✓ The Daily Trust Practice
Small consistent actions that rebuild trust over time
Share your day ahead
Brief overview of your plans. This builds predictability without being controlling.
One genuine check-in
A text, call, or message that says "thinking of you." Not surveillance—connection.
Respond to one "sliding door moment"
When your partner shares something—turn toward them. Ask a follow-up. Show you're listening.
Express one appreciation
Something specific from that day. "I noticed you..." Appreciation feeds trust.
One trust conversation
"How are we doing on trust this week?" Regular check-ins prevent issues from building.
Trust is built in tiny moments, not grand gestures. Consistency over time is what matters.
How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Trust?
One of the most common questions I hear is: "How long until I can trust them again?"
The honest answer: longer than most people want.
Research suggests that rebuilding trust after a major betrayal takes 18 months to 3 years of consistent effort. For deep wounds like infidelity, some couples report the process taking 3 to 5 years before trust feels fully restored.
This doesn't mean you'll feel suspicious and hurt for years. Most couples notice significant improvement within 6-12 months of dedicated work. But full restoration—where the betrayal no longer colors daily interactions—takes longer.
Factors That Affect the Timeline
Severity of the betrayal
How long the betrayal continued
Whether there were multiple betrayals
Quality of the repair attempts
Both partners' commitment to the process
Whether professional help is involved
The good news: couples who do the work often report their relationship is stronger after rebuilding than it was before the betrayal. The crisis forced them to address issues they'd been ignoring and build something more intentional.
⏱️ What Affects Trust Rebuilding Time?
💔
Severity of Betrayal
Bigger breaches take longer. A lie vs. a years-long affair vs. financial devastation—all different timelines.
📅
Duration
How long did the betrayal continue? Longer deceptions create deeper wounds and longer recovery.
🔄
Pattern or Isolated?
Multiple betrayals require more time than a single incident. Patterns are harder to trust won't repeat.
🛠️
Quality of Repair
Half-hearted repair attempts extend the timeline. Full accountability and consistent change speed healing.
🤝
Both Partners' Commitment
Rebuilding takes two. If one person isn't fully invested, the timeline extends indefinitely.
🧠
Professional Support
Couples with therapist support typically rebuild faster and more completely than those going it alone.
Typical Timelines
Minor trust issues: 3-6 months | Moderate betrayals: 12-18 months | Major betrayals (infidelity): 2-5 years
When Trust Issues Signal Deeper Problems
Sometimes trust issues point to something beyond normal relationship struggles:
Trauma responses: If you experienced childhood abuse, betrayal trauma, or other significant trauma, your trust issues may need specialized treatment like EMDR therapy before relationship work can be fully effective.
Anxiety disorders: Generalized anxiety, OCD, or attachment anxiety can create trust issues that don't respond to relationship-level interventions. If your suspicions seem out of proportion to the evidence, individual therapy may help.
Personality factors: Some people struggle with trust due to personality traits that require individual work rather than couples therapy alone.
Abusive dynamics: If your trust issues stem from ongoing gaslighting, control, or abuse, the solution isn't rebuilding trust—it's safety planning. Trust shouldn't be rebuilt with someone who is actively harming you.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consider working with a couples therapist if:
Trust issues are affecting your daily life and wellbeing
You've tried to address the issues on your own without success
A specific betrayal happened that you cant move past
The trust issues are creating constant conflict
One or both of you feels hopeless about the relationship
You're not sure if the relationship should continue
A trained therapist can help you identify the specific trust issues in your relationship, understand their roots, and create a structured plan for rebuilding.
At South Denver Therapy, we work with couples throughout Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, and the South Denver area. Our approach combines evidence-based methods like the Gottman Method with practical tools you can use immediately.
Struggling with Trust in Your Relationship?
Trust issues don't have to control your relationship. At South Denver Therapy, we help couples in Castle Rock, Parker, and Highlands Ranch rebuild security and connection—whether you're recovering from betrayal or addressing long-standing trust patterns.
Most couples see significant improvement within 6 months of dedicated therapy.
Trust Issues: A Summary
Trust issues in relationships are painful but not permanent. They can stem from childhood attachment wounds, past relationship betrayals, or accumulated small hurts within your current relationship.
Understanding which of the 5 types of trust issues you're facing—emotional, physical, fidelity, financial, or decision-making—helps you target your repair efforts effectively.
Building or rebuilding trust requires:
Self-awareness about your patterns and triggers
Open communication about trust needs
Consistent follow-through on commitments
Willingness to be vulnerable again
Often, professional support
The work is hard. It takes time—often years for serious betrayals. But couples who commit to the process frequently report stronger, more intimate relationships than they had before.
You dont have to figure this out alone. Help is available.
📌 Key Takeaways
Trust issues fall into 5 types: emotional, physical, fidelity, financial, and decision-making. Most couples struggle with more than one.
Roots vary: Childhood attachment, past betrayals, current relationship breaches, or gradual erosion through missed "sliding door moments."
Trust rebuilds through consistency, not grand gestures. Small reliable actions over time matter more than dramatic apologies.
The 6-step roadmap (acknowledgment → transparency → consistency → processing → understanding → new relationship) provides structure for healing.
Timeline is 18 months to 5 years for serious betrayals. Most couples notice improvement within 6-12 months of dedicated work.
Professional support accelerates healing and helps couples avoid common mistakes in the rebuilding process.
Kayla Crane, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Kayla specializes in helping couples rebuild trust after betrayal, navigate communication breakdowns, and create secure emotional connections. She works with couples throughout Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, and the greater South Denver area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trust Issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Can trust issues be fixed?
Yes, trust issues can be fixed, but it requires commitment from both partners and often professional support. Research shows that couples who engage in structured trust-building work can develop even stronger bonds than before the trust was broken. The key factors are full accountability from the partner who broke trust, willingness to be vulnerable again from the hurt partner, and consistent follow-through over time.
How long does it take to rebuild trust in a relationship?
Rebuilding trust typically takes 18 months to 5 years depending on the severity of the betrayal, the quality of repair attempts, and both partners' commitment. Most couples notice significant improvement within 6-12 months of dedicated work, but full restoration—where the betrayal no longer colors daily interactions—takes longer. Working with a therapist can accelerate this timeline.
What causes trust issues in relationships?
Trust issues can stem from four main sources: childhood attachment wounds from inconsistent caregiving, past relationship betrayals that haven't been fully processed, betrayals within your current relationship (affairs, lies, broken promises), or gradual erosion through accumulated small hurts and missed opportunities to connect. Often, multiple factors combine to create trust problems in a relationship.
What are signs of trust issues?
Common signs include checking your partner's phone or social media, assuming the worst about their intentions, difficulty believing them even with evidence, keeping emotional walls up, interrogating them about their activities, testing them to see if they'll lie, bringing up past hurts repeatedly, and feeling relieved when they're not around. If you recognize 5 or more of these patterns, professional support may help.
Can a relationship survive broken trust?
Many relationships not only survive broken trust but become stronger. Research shows that couples who do the work to rebuild often report deeper intimacy and more intentional connection than before the betrayal. However, success requires both partners to commit fully to the repair process. The partner who broke trust must take complete responsibility, and the hurt partner must eventually become willing to be vulnerable again.
When should you see a therapist for trust issues?
Consider couples therapy if trust issues are affecting your daily life and wellbeing, you've tried to address them without success, a specific betrayal has occurred that you can't move past, the issues are creating constant conflict, one or both partners feels hopeless, or you're unsure if the relationship should continue. A trained therapist can help identify the specific trust issues in your relationship and create a structured plan for rebuilding.
Related Articles in This Series
Signs of an Emotional Affair
19 red flags that a friendship has crossed the line
Betrayal Trauma Symptoms
14 symptoms and how to heal the wound
Trust Exercises for Couples
10 therapist-approved activities that rebuild security
How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Trust?
Realistic timeline from a therapist's perspective
