How can a wife recover from the trauma of her husband's infidelity?
By my opinion, the infidelity is not the biggest problem in their marriage, never is. They should work together to concentrate on improvement of mutual communication, understanding each other and setting up their next life goals. They should start to focus on love which bonds them together.
What a majority of women cannot understand is, that is for the men more difficult to stay faithful in the marriage. Very often for men is the infidelity just a little game for getting more attention from someone new and more interesting, or deep hormonal urge written down in their genes, to have more sexual partners (women also sometimes behave on the same way).
Staying sexually faithful and in monogamous relationship is question of personal choice. And this choice gives the pleasure and feeling of contentment to both partners, if relationship is basically full of love and improvements.It is important that every partner has enough freedom in that relationship. If this is not a case, if somebody is not content with oneself and relationship as such, trying to find another partner seems like good way out from the prison, permanently or just temporary.
I have right to possess and claim ownership on only one body: and that is mine one. Nobody is my property. I do not own anybody, nobody owns me. With such attitude, I do not believe in possibility of infidelity. Being faithful in relationship is question of my choice, which is based on love and wisdom, not on pressure. In the area of freedom is easy to be and stay faithful.
I would suggest that your couple starts to concentrate on all good things that they gained in their marriage, on love and respect, and whatever they achieved together through the years, not to keep focus on the husband´s "mistake", if possible. If they want to move focus towards positivity in their relationship, they will be able to take step forward successfully and with deep mutual gratitude.
I wish you a lot of luck and success...with all my heart.
