When Trust Is Broken, But You Still Love Them

You don’t have to decide right now. But you do need support—and real tools—to heal the damage and figure out what’s next.

You still love them—but everything feels different. You don’t know what’s real anymore. You replay old conversations in your head. You wonder if you missed red flags. You might feel embarrassed, angry, or numb. You might be holding it together for the kids, for your image, or because part of you still believes there’s something worth saving.

At Poole Conflict Solutions, I work with couples who are navigating this exact kind of heartbreak. There’s no quick fix. But there is a way forward—if both of you are willing to do the work.

What It Means When Trust Is Broken

Trust isn’t just about fidelity. It’s about emotional safety. Honesty. Feeling like you’re not being kept in the dark.

Betrayal can come in many forms—cheating, lying, hiding things, emotional affairs, secrecy around money. But no matter how it happens, the impact is the same: your sense of stability is gone. You’re no longer sure if you can rely on the person who was supposed to have your back.

And it changes everything. Not just how you see them, but how you see yourself. You start doubting your instincts, your decisions, even your worth.

You Can Still Love Them—And Be Hurt

One of the most confusing parts of betrayal is how you can still love the person who hurt you.

You might feel crazy for staying. Or weak. Or ashamed. But love doesn’t disappear just because trust is gone. That kind of emotional split—loving someone while feeling deeply hurt by them—can leave you feeling stuck and alone.

It’s okay to be in this in-between space. You don’t need to make a decision today. You don’t need to justify your feelings to anyone. This is your relationship, and it’s okay to want to fight for it, even if it’s hard.

What Healing Actually Looks Like

Time helps, but it doesn’t fix it on its own.

Healing trust takes structure, effort, and honesty. It means:

• The person who broke the trust has to show up with full accountability—no excuses.

• The person who was hurt needs space to process, ask questions, and feel heard.

• The relationship has to build a new foundation: more transparency, better communication, and clear boundaries.

This kind of work is hard. It requires emotional safety. And most couples can’t do it alone without spiraling into blame, defensiveness, or shutdown.

That’s where therapy comes in.

Why You Shouldn’t Do This Alone

Trying to heal from betrayal on your own is exhausting.

You keep circling the same argument. One person wants to move on, the other still has questions. You end up re-injuring each other in the process of trying to repair. That’s why so many couples end up quitting—not because they didn’t love each other, but because they didn’t have the right support.

In therapy, you’ll get the tools and structure to rebuild trust in a way that actually works. You’ll learn how to communicate without shutting each other down. How to rebuild emotional safety. How to move forward—together or separately—with clarity.

How We Help at Poole Conflict Solutions

At Poole Conflict Solutions, we offer discreet, structured therapy for couples facing betrayal, trust issues, and emotional disconnection.

I specialize in helping high-conflict couples, couples recovering from infidelity, and parents who feel like their relationship has become too hard to navigate on their own.

We serve clients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC—all online, so you can attend sessions privately and conveniently from home.

Whether you’re trying to stay together or just figure out what’s next, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help you move forward—one honest conversation at a time.

If you’re still in love with someone who broke your trust, I want you to know that doesn’t make you foolish. It makes you human.

This kind of pain doesn’t just go away. But with support, structure, and commitment, it can get better.

At Poole Conflict Solutions, we specialize in helping couples work through betrayal and rebuild stronger, more honest relationships. We offer online couples counseling in Maryland, Virginia, and DC—and we’re here when you’re ready.