Discovering that your partner has cheated on you can be one of the most excruciating experiences you can face. Many people in the throes of trying to recover from a partner’s affair go through an agonising time. Although every couple’s experience is uniquely challenging, there are some similar patterns to how recovery takes place.

Some time back, I met a British expat who had moved from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur with his partner. He learned about my occupation as a marriage and family therapist and asked, “Do you think moving to a different country with your partner can inject a healthy fresh-start to your relationship?” I replied, “It depends.”