Trust
The willingness to be vulnerable without checking all the time.
How it shows up
Trust isn’t the belief that nobody will hurt you. It is the judgement that the risk is worth taking — and the capacity to bear it if it goes badly. After a betrayal it isn’t restored by a promise but by repeated behaviour over time.
What we do with it in therapy
With couples after an affair we work in steps: transparency, predictability, repetition. There is no faster route, and every attempt at a shortcut postpones trust.
See also
Theory of mind
The ability to imagine that another person has their own thoughts, intentions and feelings, different from yours.
Acceptance and commitment therapy
An approach that, instead of fighting unpleasant thoughts, practises acting on your values despite them.
Perfectionism
A standard that is never met — not because you aren't precise enough, but because the line moves with you.
