Infidelity in a marriage can evoke a range of emotions from the couple. When a wife cheats, she may be feeling remorse, anger, sadness and loneliness. Her husband may also be feeling resentment, anger, disappointed and hopeless. To rekindle the marriage, it’s important for the couple to foster open and honest communication, coupled with marriage counseling. In fact, many couples survive infidelity and grow closer when they seek counseling to work out emotions and communication problems.

As a committed partner in a relationship, if you have cheated, your husband deserves to know that it is over. End the affair and cease contact with the other person to help rebuild the trust in your marriage. If necessary, avoid visiting places where you could run into this person out of respect for your husband. Once you reassure your husband that the affair and your feelings for this person are over, you can both work to move forward.

You may not want to relive the infidelity, but if your husband has questions about the affair, it’s important to answer them. When you refuse to answer, it will only cause more doubt within the relationship. Your husband may begin to imagine the worst, suspect that the affair is still going or distance himself from you. Although it may be difficult to answer tough questions, to rekindle your marriage, it is necessary to reestablish trust between you.

Although your husband is aware of your indiscretion, he needs to know that you have owned your actions. Offer a sincere apology and validate your husband’s feelings. Showing remorse for cheating can help build trust and show your commitment to the marriage. If you reassure your husband that you are willing to work on the marriage and move past the affair, he may be more willing to rekindle the love you both once shared.

It is true that actions speak louder than words. Although you may have expressed that you are sorry for cheating, your husband needs to see your remorse firsthand. Make your marriage a priority by scheduling one-on-one time for conversations with your husband. Show you appreciate him with romantic gestures and displays of affection. A sweet smile, caress and embrace can say much more than words. Plan date nights to reignite the spark in your marriage and reconnect with your spouse.

The emotions you both feel are likely intense at times. Work through these feelings and create strategies to repair your marriage with the help of a marriage counselor. Therapists and counselors can help mediate disagreements and pinpoint patterns or actions that have disrupted the bond within your marriage.