Beyond Betrayal: Understanding the Psychological Functions of Infidelity in Clinical Practice (2 CE Hours, 2026)

Course Description:

Infidelity is often approached in clinical work as a single phenomenon requiring a standardized recovery model centered on disclosure, accountability, and rebuilding trust. While these
interventions can be important, they may be insufficient when the underlying psychological and relational functions of different types of affairs are not adequately understood. This training reframes infidelity as a set of distinct emotional, relational, and erotic strategies rather than a single form of betrayal. Drawing from contemporary psychoanalytic thinking,
attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, and sex therapy, participants will be introduced to five psychological types of affairs, each organized around different emotional conflicts, regulatory needs, and relational dynamics. Particular attention will be given to presentations involving a “secret sexual self,” including compulsive sexual behavior, anonymous sexual encounters, and paid sexual relationships, where secrecy may function less as a pursuit of attachment and more as a strategy for affect regulation, dissociation, shame management, or compartmentalization. Clinical case examples will be used throughout to help participants differentiate types of infidelity, assess underlying psychological function, and consider treatment approaches that move beyond generalized recovery models.

Learning Objectives:

• Compare at least five psychological types of infidelity based on their underlying emotional, attachment, and erotic functions.
• Describe how differing psychological functions of infidelity influence assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning.
• Identify trauma-informed and sex therapy interventions relevant to presentations involving secrecy, shame, compulsive sexual behavior, and relational rupture.
• Apply a more differentiated clinical framework to infidelity recovery work with individuals and couples.

Activity Schedule:

TBD

Speaker Bio:

Juliane Maxwald, LP, is a psychoanalyst, couples therapist, and certified sex therapist. For over two decades, she has helped individuals and couples move through challenges like low desire, infidelity, anxiety, burnout, and compulsive behaviors — while also uncovering the deeper truths that shape how we love, work, and connect. Her approach combines insight with action, bringing clarity and change that lasts.

She serves on faculty at the New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and the Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, where she teaches, supervises, and mentors clinicians nationwide.

She is also the author of two forthcoming books, Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality: A clinician’s guide to working with erotic symptoms, fantasy, trauma, and relational repair, and Talking About Sex: A Guide to Confidence, Connection and Communication: A practical, warm companion for individuals and couples who want to feel more at ease with their sexuality and each other.

Class originally recorded: upcoming

Social workers completing this course receive 2 general continuing education credits.