Domestic abuse therapy and counselling

The immediate physical effects of domestic abuse can include injuries such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, lost teeth and hair. The impact on your mental health may also develop in coping strategies such as using alcohol, drugs or other substances. 

There are different kinds of abuse, but it’s always about having power and control over you. Here are some of the most common signs.  

Emotional abuse – does your partner or someone you live with ever: 

• Belittle you, or put you down? 
• Deny that abuse is happening, or try to downplay it? 
• Blame you for the abuse or arguments? 
• Tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think? 
• Control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or essentials? 
• Monitor your social media and / or use GPS trackers to know where you are? 
• Isolate you from friends and family? 
• Stop you doing things, such as going to work or seeing friends? 
• Make unreasonable demands? 

Threatening behaviour – does your partner or someone you live with ever: 

• Threaten to hurt or kill you? 
• Destroy things that belong to you? 
• Threaten to kill themselves or the children? 
• Real personal letters, emails, messages or texts? 
• Harass and follow you?  

Physical abuse – does your partner or someone you live with ever: 

• Choke you or hold you down? 
• Hit or punch you? 
• Bite or kick you? 
• Burn you? 
• Throw things at you? 
• Push or shove you? 

Sexual abuse – does your partner or someone you live with ever: 

• Make unwanted sexual demands of you? 
• Hurt you during sex? 
• Touch you in a way you don’t want? 
• Pressure you to have sex? 
• Pressure you to have (unsafe) sex? 

In addition, a couple of key questions to ask yourself are:  

• Have you ever felt afraid of your partner?  
• Have you ever changed your behaviour because you’re afraid of what your partner might do?