Building a Home: The Psychology of Pornography and Lasting Intimacy
Pornography and betrayal trauma can leave couples feeling emotionally shattered, disconnected, and unsure how to move forward together. For some, it creates cycles of secrecy, shame, anger, confusion, or emotional distance that seem impossible to untangle.
For others, it raises painful questions about trust, safety, intimacy, and whether healing is even possible after the rupture.
Yet beneath the hurt, many couples still deeply want the relationship to survive. They just do not know how to find their way back to each other.
In this honest, compassionate, and deeply insightful session, David Dodini introduces the House Model of Intimacy, a practical framework that helps couples understand that intimacy is not something couples either “have” or “lose,” but something intentionally built over time through emotional safety, honesty, connection, and repair.
Rather than approaching pornography through fear, shame, or blame alone, this session explores the deeper emotional, psychological, and relational patterns that often drive these struggles and what genuine healing actually requires.
Couples will learn why many traditional approaches focused only on stopping behaviors often fail long-term and how curiosity, emotional honesty, accountability, and shared values can begin creating a healthier path forward.
This session also addresses betrayal trauma with great care, validating the pain of the betrayed partner while helping couples understand how repair can happen without minimizing harm or rushing forgiveness.
Attendees will leave with practical tools, meaningful reflection exercises, and a hopeful vision for rebuilding trust, emotional safety, and lasting intimacy together.
Learning Objectives
Better understand the emotional, relational, and psychological factors that can contribute to pornography struggles without minimizing accountability or increasing shame.
Learn practical tools for shifting away from shame, avoidance, and disconnection and toward healthier coping, honesty, and meaningful connection.
Use the House Model of Intimacy to identify where trust and connection have broken down and explore practical next steps toward rebuilding emotional safety and intimacy together.
Participate in guided reflection and couples exercises designed to help partners better understand patterns of disconnection, emotional needs, and what helps rebuild trust and intimacy.
Work through the House Model of Intimacy together, helping couples identify where they currently feel stuck and explore practical next steps toward greater emotional safety and connection.
Leave with practical take-home resources including the House Model framework, connection exercises, values-based reflection tools, and recommended resources for ongoing healing and relationship growth.