Priorities & Benefits of Domestic Violence Therapy

The therapists at Focus Counseling Clinic are dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence gain the strength and courage to leave an abusive relationship and heal from past abusive trauma. Despite the challenges, you can still achieve physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. The first step in this process is to create a safe and welcoming space. Our counselors want to make sure you are comfortable with the environment and the relationship so you can feel empowered to open up without judgment or fear. Everyone deserves to be free of domestic abuse. Survivors often feel fearful, angry, and resentful after being the victim of domestic abuse. Complete healing from abuse takes time, and below are some of the benefits of domestic abuse counseling:

• Lessen negative beliefs that have come from gaslighting and manipulation

• Improve self-esteem and self-worth

• Understanding patterns related to domestic abuse

• Learning the different types of abuse and the manipulative attempts to sustain the relationship

• Normalize and validate the feelings associated with domestic violence

• Create a safety plan and action plan to leave the relationship

Understanding Domestic Abuse

The first thing to note about domestic violence is you don’t need to have physical battle scars to realize you’re in an abusive relationship. Assault could be physical, but it could also be sexual, emotional, or verbal. For example, a victim who feels useless because their partner always mentions their financial dependence may be in an abusive relationship. Similarly, a victim who feels worthless because of a partner who won’t stop calling him names may be a victim of domestic abuse. We may not always notice it, but these relationships exist globally, regardless of race, gender, age, socioeconomic class, or community. 

Signs That You May Benefit From Domestic Abuse Counseling

If any of these situations apply to you, it may be time to consider domestic abuse counseling.

• Isolation from family and friends. Sometimes, people in abusive relationships distance themselves from their loved ones because of overwhelming confusion, guilt, or shame.

• Physical injuries. Bruises and sprains are common injuries in physically abusive relationships. Victims will often stumble over or offer inconsistent explanations of the injuries.

• Emotional distress. Continual apprehension, anxiety attacks, low self-esteem, and feeling the need to be over-apologetic can all be emotional signs of abuse.

• Submitting to controlling behavior. Asking permission to socialize and constantly responding to questions about what they're doing and with whom.

How To Prepare for the First Session

We understand how daunting a first domestic violence counseling session may sound. Below are some of the things you can prepare to make the first session an uplifting one:

• Set your goals: Our specialists at Focus Counseling typically ask patients about their goals during the first meeting. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers in any of our sessions.

• Make time for yourself before your session: If you’re feeling nervous, take some time to just let your thoughts and emotions run freely. Relax, take deep breaths, and try to achieve a peaceful state of mind or acceptance of the therapy session.

• Be kind to yourself: Because of our culture, stigmas, and biases, it’s still challenging for some individuals to seek professional help. No matter how you think or feel, try to be as gentle with yourself as possible.

What To Expect From the Session

Your first session will focus on goals, history, motivation, and understanding the circumstances and the counselor will help guide the conversation. Depending on your concerns and objectives, therapy can last anywhere between several weeks to years. Keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to your issues, and various factors can impact your healing. There are various strategies for domestic violence therapy, but they all have common factors. Here are some of them:

Discuss intimate partner violence (IPV).

Sometimes, individuals don’t realize they’re in an abusive relationship because they haven’t experienced or witnessed healthy relationships. For example, a person who grew up in a toxic environment may not notice red flags immediately. Learning to identify these signals is an important part of the process.

Use evidence-based methods.

Providing abuse victims with a safe space is crucial to the healing process. You and your therapist will develop a custom treatment plan that may include psychosocial counseling, trauma-focused therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Group Therapy Sessions for Domestic Violence

Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy where one or more counselors lead a group of patients in a session. Focus Counseling Clinic offers this option for domestic violence victims, where groups meet for one or two hours per week. When used with other science-based individual sessions, victims can learn a lot from other people’s experiences as well as their own. These gatherings can help boost confidence and re-establish friendships. These sessions instill in victims that they can express themselves without being abused or judged. At Focus Counseling, we highly recommend including group therapy sessions for treatment plans for domestic violence victims.

Frequently Asked Questions

The thought of seeing a domestic violence counseling specialist for the first time can be intimidating for victims, but it doesn’t have to be. Read on for some of the usual questions patients ask to get an idea of how we conduct sessions.

What Is the Most Common Domestic Violence?

The most common type of domestic abuse worldwide is sexual violence, including rape. Despite being in a relationship with another person, there is a thing such as marital or spousal rape.

Other common types of abuse include physical, emotional, economic, and psychological abuse. It’s natural to feel angry, guilty, or ashamed when any of these happen to you, but know that help is always available if you need it.

How Does Domestic Violence Affect the Victim Mentally?

Falling victim to domestic violence can be a traumatic experience for many victims and drastically impact their mental health. Domestic abuse is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia, among other conditions. Even without physical scars, victims may show hostility, social isolation, and self-destructive symptoms.

How Do You Deal With Violence From Your Domestic Partner?

Domestic violence refers to aggressive behavior inside the home, often involving a partner's violent abuse. Abuse takes many forms, including emotional, physical, and sexual. Sometimes, abuse may seem like typical relationship concerns, like possessiveness, jealousy, or put-downs. However, these will eventually lead to name-calling, character attacks, or public embarrassment.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, the first thing to note is that it’s not your fault and that you don’t deserve any form of abuse. Never underestimate the danger you’re in and protect yourself at all times. Most importantly, remember that you don’t have to go through your struggles alone. It’s best to have a support system by your side.

How Do You Deal With Someone Who Is Verbally Abusive?

Verbal abuse may not seem as pressing as physical abuse, but it can be just as damaging. Victims of verbal abuse may experience long-term trauma and pain. Never downplay this type of violence just because it doesn’t leave physical marks.

Constant threats, gaslighting, and unhelpful criticism are common signs of verbal abuse. Whether a partner means to harm the other partner or not, it’s essential to address such behaviors. Here are some ways to deal with a verbally abusive partner:

• Call out abusive behavior when you’re in a safe environment.

• Use language that makes it clear you want the abuse to stop.

• Don’t engage the abuser with verbal attacks of your own.