Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@toniandryanpodcast
Topics: Australia, Health, Mental Health, Psychology
Callum Jones
Topics: Australia, Health, Mental Health, Psychology
A psychologist was left shocked after discovering her husband was having an affair with her patient.
Relationships are a tricky business, and there are plenty of reasons as to why someone may cheat.
Nonetheless, someone is getting hurt when such an act is committed, and in this case it was a psychologist.
The Australian medical expert was left utterly devastated after discovering her husband was leaving her for a patient.
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On top of that, the anonymous mental health professional says she ignored the warning signs for weeks.
The psychologist wrote into the Toni and Ryan podcast to share the story that has turned her life upside down.
Referring to the first red flag, she said: "A patient of mine told me she was sleeping with a married man and the guilt was eating her alive.
"The patient said the man was going to leave his wife for her, but [she was conflicted]."
The physiologist advised her patient the best she could, not thinking twice about the confession she had just heard.
I mean, it could be any man, right?
But it was only later that week the woman realized she was directly involved with the affair.
"Later that week, my husband told me he's leaving me for a woman he's been sleeping with," she explained.
"My husband was having a fling with my patient and I couldn't tell either of them - or anyone - because of the confidentiality clauses, but I need to tell someone and I just need to scream."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the podcast hosts were left in utter shock at the anonymous message.
While cheating is often looked down upon, a therapist has previously revealed the most common ‘justifications’ to have for betraying their partner.
Clara Zelleroth, a licensed psychologist and couples therapist, told the Metro: "As unfaithfulness is a break of the mutual understanding, or 'contract' of the relationship, it is often seen as a form of betrayal.
"This is also why we would not call any excuses for cheating in relationship counselling 'valid.'"
The 'it just happened' excuse is often brought into play, though Clara does say there's some validity to it.
She explained: "This decision is typically influenced by factors such as alcohol or a time of high stress, making a person more likely to cheat when the opportunity occurs.
"In the aftermath, individuals often describe the scenario as 'it just happened'."