Aging lothario Ken Barlow has had yet another affair.
It seems that Ken and Deirdre just can't remain faithful to each other. If it's not Ken who's playing away, then it's Deirdre's turn to do the dirty. You would think that, after all these years, this pair would have either decided to go their separate ways or have worked out a way of dealing with the gaps in their relationship.
Sadly, for many couples, serial cheating becomes a way of life and the underlying problems are never really worked on.
If this destructive pattern is ever going to be broken, the couple have to take a good look at the underlying issues that led to the affairs and decide if they are willing and able to do work that is necessary to make things work for the future.
Here is some advice for couples who are trying to get over an affair: Start by asking do you really want to make a go of things with this person? If either of you isn't sure, then this has to be worked on before you can move on.
It could be that the affair was a way of getting out of the relationship. If this is the case, you may be better calling it a day, but make sure you talk things through first.
Whether you're consumed with anger or remorse, it's important that you find an effective way of communicating. Silent treatment, shouting or pretending that nothing has happened won't help you get past the affair. This is the time to talk openly. This can be very difficult when there is so much hurt and anger around.
Getting past an affair involves being willing to listen to what your partner is saying -- even if it's something you don't want to hear. Many couples find counseling necessary after an affair. There is likely to be a lot of blame around after an affair, but blaming each other stops you being able to look at problems in your relationship that led to it. Remember the underlying issues that led to an affair are rarely one-sided, so you both have to take responsibility for the way your relationship works. If you have been unfaithful, you should be completely honest with your partner and answer all their questions, many of which are likely to be detailed questions about the affair itself. Your partner has to go through this process and answering their questions honestly is the best way to help them move on. Look at what led to the affair and try to make sense of what is going on in the relationship. Maybe there are unresolved emotional issues that get in the way of long-term commitment, or maybe the affair acted as a substitute for something that was missing in the relationship? Have there been any changes that might have affected your relationship recently or are there significant patterns in how each of you behaves generally? Once you understand what led to the affair, you have to decide if you want to work together to change things in your relationship so it won't happen again. As long as you are both willing to work on your relationship, there can be life after an affair. Rosemarie Lynass is a member of the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
