The Infidelity Spectrum: Treating Digital Affairs, Emotional Betrayal, and Intimacy Breakdown (4 CE Hours)
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The Infidelity Spectrum: Treating Digital Affairs, Emotional Betrayal, and Intimacy Breakdown (4 CE Hours)

$160.00

Presented by: Anna Elton, Ph.D., LMFT

4 CE Hours

Available on demand via recording

AASECT Category: Human Sexuality Education, Section K

The Infidelity Spectrum with Dr. Anna Elton!
The Infidelity Spectrum: Treating Digital Affairs, Emotional Betrayal, and Intimacy Breakdown

 

Description

This webinar explores how technology reshapes intimacy and expands the definition of infidelity. From secretive messaging and pornography to emotional affairs and compulsive digital use, clinicians will learn how to assess the spectrum of digital betrayal, understand its psychological underpinnings, and implement boundary-based communication strategies to restore trust and connection.

 

Learning Objectives

  • Define key forms of digital infidelity and compulsive technology use in intimate relationships.
  • Identify clinical indicators of intimacy disruption related to digital behaviors.
  • Describe psychological mechanisms underlying digital addiction and emotional disengagement.
  • Apply therapeutic strategies to rebuild trust, establish boundaries, and promote reconnection.

 

Speaker Bio

Anna Elton, PhD, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and clinical sexologist specializing in intimacy, infidelity, and the impact of technology on modern relationships. She is the author of the upcoming books The Formula of Desire and Couples Therapy in the Digital Age. Dr. Elton is the host of Life, Love, Etc., a nationally streamed relationship show, and a contributing writer for Psychology Today, where she explores themes of emotional connection and relational repair. Her work has been featured on PBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX.

 

Activity Schedule

I. Redefining Infidelity in the Digital Age (45 minutes)
• Emotional, virtual, parasocial, and interactive infidelity
• The Infidelity Spectrum: from curiosity to compulsion
• Exploring values, expectations, and ambiguous violations
• Cultural shifts and tech-enabled secrecy

II. Psychological Drivers of Digital Infidelity (45 minutes)
• Neurobiology of tech compulsion
• Attachment and displacement
• Emotional disconnection vs. erotic drift
• Technology as validation, fantasy, control
• Case vignette

Break (15 minutes)

III. Communication Breakdown and the Role of Secrecy (45 minutes)
• Digital secrecy and avoidance
• Miscommunication loops
• The “Meaning vs. Message” repair tool

IV. Boundary Restoration and Repair Strategies (60 minutes)
• Setting healthy digital boundaries
• Agreements around tech use
• Erotic vs. emotional safety boundaries
• The Digital Boundaries Dialogue
• Rituals and reconnection

V. Clinical Tools and Case Integration (30 minutes)
• Infidelity Impact Mapping
• Disclosure Decision Tree
• Erotic Repair vs. Emotional Closure
• Partner-specific interventions
• Case vignette

Q&A (15 minutes)


Class originally recorded: 8/16/2025.

Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits.

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MSTI is an approved CE organizational provider for IBOSP, AASECT, and ASWB. Modern Sex Therapy Institutes is part of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No.6901. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

MSTI is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI), provider #1787, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/7/22-1/7/26].

Attendees must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit

For Live Courses: To obtain CE credits, attendees must attend the entire course and complete an evaluation to receive credit.

For asynchronous/recorded courses, Attendees must pass the multiple choice posttest with a minimum score of 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded immediately upon course completion.