ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode of Split Decisions, Amanda Bell and Joanna Harrison are joined by psychoanalyst and author Juliet Rosenfeld to explore the deeply human and often devastating reality of affairs. Drawing on the real stories from her book Affairs: True Stories of Love, Lies and Desire, Juliet shares what infidelity can reveal about our childhood wounds, relationships and capacity for intimacy.
Together, they unpack why affairs happen, the shockwave they create inside families and communities, and whether relationships can truly recover after betrayal. Through a dilemma involving an affair within a school parent community, they explore the emotional fallout of infidelity, the impact on children, and the importance of slowing down before making life changing decisions in the immediate aftermath of discovery.
We explore:
• Why affairs are rarely just about sex or attraction
• The unconscious childhood wounds that can shape adult relationships
• Why betrayal can feel so psychologically shattering
• The impact of affairs on children and family systems
• The humiliation and claustrophobia of affairs within close communities
• Why communication often breaks down before an affair begins
• Whether couples can rebuild trust after infidelity
• How therapy can help individuals and couples process betrayal
• Why some relationships emerge stronger after an affair
• The difference between understanding behaviour and excusing it
Links:
Learn more about SeparateSpace: https://www.separatespace.co.uk/
Follow Amanda at SeparateSpace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/separatespace/
Follow Joanna Harrison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannaharrisoncoupletherapy/
Juliet Rosenfeld’s book Affairs: True Stories of Love, Lies and Desire and wherever books are sold.
Follow Juliet Rosenfeld on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julietrosenfeldpsychoanalyst/
