Think about it. Without trust between partners, every moment would become anxiety-provoking and filled with uncertainty. Many times, when we think of trust being broken, we automatically think of cheating on our partner. However, trust can be broken in many ways: not picking up the kids on time from school, spending more money than you stated you would, not keeping your word with paying the bills on time, and more. It isn’t always the “big” things that can break trust, but it can be an accumulation of small things that build up over time. The interesting thing about trust is that it goes both ways. To be fully trusting of your partner, you have to be trustworthy. It is completely unfair for you to be doing all the dirt—lying, cheating, and sneaking—and then expect for your partner to trust you fully. Trust is reciprocal. Trust cannot be demanded. Let’s dive into some signs that you or your partner may have issues with trust in your relationship. The bottom line is, building trust is a two-way process. Both partners must be willing and ready to put in the work after there has been a major breach of trust in the relationship. If one partner is not ready to change and do better, the likelihood of the relationship surviving is minimal. If you are willing to make the necessary changes, then let’s discuss how to do that from both perspectives. No matter where you are on this journey—whether the betrayal just happened or you have been holding on to this issue for years—know that if you want healing bad enough, it is available for you. As a relationship therapist in private practice at KW Couples Therapy, Jackson helps couples heal their relationship, prevent divorce, and keep families together while increasing sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. She has helped countless couples increase their intimacy, learn effective two-way communication, and heal after affairs.
