Katie Bates Enters Therapy After Travis Clark’s Affair Admission

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Katie Bates is focusing on self-care during a difficult time.

Katie Bates, known from the show Bringing Up Bates, has started intensive therapy. This comes about a month after her husband, Travis Clark, confessed to infidelity shortly after she experienced a miscarriage.

Katie shared on Instagram on February 23rd that she’s been wanting to talk about a difficult year. She explained that things didn’t go as planned and she’s been dealing with a lot of unexpected emotions. While some days are manageable, others make it hard for her to even leave home.

She added that she’s just focusing on getting through each day as it comes. She wanted to express her gratitude, saying the support she’s received – the love, prayers, and messages – has been incredibly meaningful. While she doesn’t always know the right thing to say, she sees and appreciates everything people have sent her.

The 25-year-old, who shares two children – Hailey, age 2, and Harvey, 16 months – with Travis, explained her reasons for starting therapy.

Katie said she’s preparing for her first four-day therapy intensive. She feels like she needs support to get through it and believes addressing her issues in a healthy way is crucial, otherwise she won’t be able to focus on other things.

Having Hailey and Harvey and starting to rebuild a normal life has been incredibly stabilizing for me. It’s hard for me to talk about my feelings, so this might not make a lot of sense, but I’m finding strength and peace through my faith.

The reality star finished her post by saying she might share less of her personal life in the future, but she’s grateful for all the support she’s received.

I’m not sure exactly how much I’ll be able to share as I go through this process, or what form it will take, but I wanted to express my gratitude for all your kindness and understanding. It really means the world to me.

Katie’s update comes a month after Travis first shared that he had an affair.

Okay, so he finally addressed it on Instagram, and honestly, it was… devastating. He basically admitted everything – that he cheated on his wife, had a full-on affair, and just completely betrayed her trust, over and over. He said there’s absolutely no excuse, and that it’s all on him. He took full responsibility, which… I guess is something? It’s just… heartbreaking to see it all laid out like that. I’ve been following him for years, and it’s just so shocking and sad. He really messed up, and he knows it.

I realize words can’t fully convey how much I’ve hurt her, but I am sincerely sorry,” he said. “I deeply regret the pain, embarrassment, and betrayal I caused my wife with my actions. I know an apology isn’t enough to fix things, and I don’t expect her to forgive me.

Two days after the incident, Katie shared that Travis’s actions had severely damaged their marriage and shattered her trust. Despite this, she expressed a desire to try and save their relationship.

We’re handling this situation privately, getting advice both as a couple and on our own, to figure out what’s best for our family. I also have a lawyer helping me. It’s a complex process, and I’m approaching it with serious consideration.

Keep reading for more on the Bates family…

William “Gil” Bates, a wrestling champion from South Carolina, met his future wife, Kelly Callaham, while both were students at Anderson University. Kelly was assigned to tutor Gil in Chemistry, and they quickly connected. They got engaged in October 1987 while attending Carson-Newman University in Tennessee and married just two months later. While they didn’t plan to have a large family, they chose not to use birth control, trusting that God would determine how many children they had. Gil later told Dateline in 2011 that they initially expected to have only two or three children.

The couple’s first child, Zachary Bates, was born shortly after their wedding, and their 19th child, Jeb Bates, arrived in 2012. When it comes to remembering all their children’s names, Kelly jokes that her husband, Gil, who owns Bates Tree Service, has a better memory than she does.

Zachary Duggar, born on December 30, 1988, was homeschooled along with his siblings and studied at Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles. While his early courtship was featured on 19 Kids and Counting, he ultimately fell in love with Whitney Perkins, whom he met while she worked as a carhop at Sonic. They began courting in 2013 and were married that December. John-David Duggar was a groomsman at their wedding. Zachary and Whitney have five children: Bradley (born October 2014), Kaci (born June 2016), Khloé (born November 2019), Jayden (born June 2021), and Lily Jo (born August 2023). They announced in September 2025 that they are expecting their sixth child in 2026.

Besides his work with the family tree company, Zachary has also been a police officer, a county commissioner, and a real estate agent.

Born on January 23, 1990, just thirteen months after her brother, Michaela Bates Keilen developed a knack for sewing at a young age, often making dresses for her family and helping with the laundry. She and her future husband, Brandon Keilen, dated for two years before he could propose after finishing bible college, and they became engaged in April 2015.

After getting married in Chicago that August, the couple faced difficulties trying to start a family. Michaela openly shared their challenges with fertility on her blog and YouTube channel. Following a miscarriage in 2021, they decided to become foster parents and welcomed two young boys into their home.

Erin Bates Pain, born on May 2, 1991, shared with People magazine that she has only positive memories of how her parents raised her. She says looking back, her childhood was filled with good times and wonderful memories.

Growing up without a TV wasn’t a loss, she explained. Instead, her family spent that time playing with their dad, enjoying games together, and creating lasting memories. She believes this actually made them more resourceful and intelligent.

After marrying Charles Paine III (known as Chad) in 2013, the couple hoped to have a large family. Unfortunately, a blood clotting disorder caused several miscarriages before they welcomed their first child, Carson, in May 2015. They went on to have Brooklyn (August 2016), Everly (May 2018), Holland (November 2019), and Finley (January 2022). Despite believing they couldn’t have any more children, their family continued to grow with William (October 2023) and Henry (August 2025). Following Henry’s birth, Erin experienced septic shock, and Chad shared on Instagram, asking for prayers for her recovery.

In October, she shared that she had started walking again, posting on Instagram about how even though her steps were a bit unsteady, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk again at one point.

Lawson Bates, born on July 27, 1992, started his own lawn care business, Lawson’s Lawncare, when he was just 13 years old. He recently gained attention after some social media interaction with Jana Duggar, but he announced his engagement to Tiffany Espensen in October 2021 after proposing during a trip to Italy. Bates told People magazine that getting to know Espensen – her personality, interests, and goals – has been the best experience of his life, and they’ve made many great memories together over the past year.

The couple got married on a yacht near San Diego in May 2022. They experienced a miscarriage, but then welcomed their first son, William, in July 2024. Soon after, in less than a year, they announced they were expecting another baby. Their second son, Theodore, arrived in December 2025.

Nathan Bates was born on August 29, 1993. He first became known to viewers through his courtship with Ashley Salyer on the show Bringing Up Bates, but he later proposed to Esther Keyes in May 2021. They married in October of the same year, following a family tradition of sharing their first kiss at the wedding ceremony. A year later, they welcomed their daughter, Kenna, and in October 2024, their son, Graham, was born. Nathan felt called to be a preacher from a young age and has pursued that calling through mission trips and work as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, played a key role in her family, handling secretarial duties, shopping for clothes, and often preparing meals. She met John Webster while working on the campaign for U.S. Representative Daniel Webster in Florida. They became engaged in January 2014, celebrating at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, and married that May. The couple, who live in Florida, have five children: Alli (born April 2015), Lexi (born January 2017), Zoey (born March 2018), Maci (born February 2021), and Rhett (born March 2023).

Tori Bates Smith was born on December 20, 1995, a year after her older sister. She began dating Bobby Smith in 2016, and their relationship was documented on the family’s reality show. They married in December 2017, just months after getting engaged. Tori, who graduated from Crown College of the Bible with a degree in elementary education, and Bobby have five children: Robert IV (born November 2018), Kolter (born May 2020), Charlotte (born June 2021), Cambree (born August 2022), and Weston (born May 2024). They announced on Instagram in October 2025 that they are expecting their sixth child in March 2026.

Trace Bates, whose name means “harvester of the white fields,” was born on February 1, 1997. He met his future wife, Lydia Romeike, after being introduced by his sister, Josie Bates Balka, following a televised courtship with Chaney Kahle. They announced their engagement on YouTube in March 2022, with Trace sharing that Lydia was his best friend and a positive influence in his life. They married in October 2022 in front of 350 guests, including Jason Duggar, who was an usher. Their son, Ryker, was born in October 2023, and they welcomed their daughter, Kaia, a “rainbow baby,” in June 2025.

Carlin Bates Stewart was born on April 11, 1998, and graduated high school with her brother, Trace, after taking college courses while still in high school. She met her husband, Evan Stewart, through her sister, Erin, and they got engaged in September 2018. They married in May 2019, with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth as a bridesmaid, and welcomed their first child, Layla, in January 2020, which was featured on Bringing Up Bates. Their son, Zade, was born in March 2022, and they recently announced the birth of their third child, Navy Kate, in September 2025.

Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child on August 4, 1999. She later met Kelton Balka at a piano recital in 2014, and they became friends. Their relationship turned romantic in 2017, and they got engaged in June 2018 – the proposal was even filmed! They married that October, also with cameras rolling. Their first daughter, Willow, was born in July 2019, followed by Hazel in June 2021. In February 2024, they welcomed a son, Miles, and announced another baby was on the way in April 2025. Their second son, Brooks, arrived that December.

Katie Bates Clark was born on October 5, 2000, and her name means “pure grace.” She announced her relationship with Travis Clark on Facebook Live in 2019 and shared news of their engagement by the ocean in April 2021. They married in December 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Hailey, in February 2023, followed by their son, Harvey, in September 2024. Katie is a licensed cosmetologist, having graduated from The Crown College, and currently works as a stylist for her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, as well as a model for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Okay, so, it completely shattered me when Travis posted on Instagram in January 2026. He just… admitted everything. He said he cheated on his wife, that it wasn’t just a one-time thing, and that he totally broke her trust over and over. He was so clear that there was no excuse, and that it was all on him, his fault and his responsibility. It was… devastating to read, even though I know it wasn’t about me. I just… I can’t stop thinking about it.

Katie admitted a few days later that her trust had been damaged, but she still believed in God’s ability to heal things and hoped they could save their marriage.

Jackson Bates, known as one of the “three musketeers” with Warden and Isaiah Bates, was born on February 17, 2002. He met his future wife, Emerson Wells, at a rodeo in Florida and they announced their engagement in March 2023. They married that October, with Jason Duggar as a groomsman, and welcomed their son, David, in July 2025.

Born on May 19, 2003, Warden is known as “Tigger” because he’s full of energy and enthusiasm. He enjoys playing sports and singing, and has balanced these interests with work at both his dad’s excavating company and Paine Construction, where his brother-in-law, Chad, works.

The third member of the team joined on October 16, 2004. After graduating from Crown College with a Bible Certificate in 2023, and working for both his father and brother-in-law Chad, he started his own lawn care company in 2022.

Addalee Bates was born prematurely on February 17, 2006, and spent time in the NICU, where she faced breathing difficulties. She wears hearing aids as a result of her premature birth. Her parents intentionally added extra letters to her name to symbolize her second chance at life. In 2025, she finished a year-long bible study program.

Ellie Bates, whose name means “strong light,” became part of the team on April 28, 2007. She frequently models for photos used by Bates Sisters Boutique.

Callie-Anna Bates, the youngest daughter of Gil and Kelly, was born on August 2, 2009. Kelly described her as the most outgoing of their children, saying on Instagram in 2020 that people are naturally attracted to her personality.

Kelly wrote on Instagram in December 2020 that Jud Bates, who joined them on September 15, 2010, has quickly grown up. He’s faced a couple of injuries – breaking his right collarbone twice, once while playing football and again while riding his e-bike.

The Bates family grew with the arrival of Jeb Bates on February 1, 2012. He needed some time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after he was born. Gil Bates shared with People magazine that even after having nineteen children, he was just as anxious and excited about Jeb’s arrival as he was with their first child.

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2026-02-23 20:26