Counselling services
Abuse Counselling
Recovery from abuse is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to support you through your abuse recovery journey and help you overcome your trauma.
Reach out to us to book a session today.
What is Abuse Recovery Therapy?
Abuse recovery therapy can help you mentally recover from domestic abuse inflicted by your current or ex-partner, family member, or another person in your life.
As a survivor of abuse, you may be in different stages of the abuse recovery journey. If you’re still trapped in an abusive relationship, therapy can help you find the strength to leave or escape the abusive situation. If you’ve already freed yourself from your abuser, therapy can help you heal from abuse-related trauma.
Types of Abuse
In acquaintanceships, friendships, familial, or intimate relationships, there are a variety of different types of abuse that can occur.
Emotional Abuse
Also known as psychological abuse, emotional abuse refers to when an emotional abuser attempts to scare, isolate or control you. In an emotionally abusive relationship, the emotionally abused person may experience verbal abuse or name-calling, threats, guilt-tripping, dismissiveness and belittlement of their emotions, and more. These are just a few of the many signs that could indicate that you are experiencing emotional abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is abuse related to your physical health and is often referred to as domestic violence. If your abuser has caused you physical pain, the trauma from this abuse can also have psychological consequences. After you have healed your physical wounds, therapy can help heal your mental and emotional wounds.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault involves any type of sexual act or behaviour that was performed without consent. Sometimes it can be difficult to come to terms with physical and sexual abuse, especially if you have a close relationship with your abuser. Therapy for sexually abused individuals can help address the trauma of sexual violence.
Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic abuse is a type of abuse that is inflicted by an abuser who suffers from narcissism. Narcissistic abuse recovery is unique because it involves overcoming manipulation and rebuilding your self-esteem and worth. Healing after a narcissistic relationship may involve learning to set boundaries and rebuilding your sense of self.
Common Signs of an Abusive Relationship
Abusive relationships can come in many different forms. While it can help to recognize some common signs, it’s always best to trust your instincts. If you feel like something is wrong, it’s time to seek professional help.
- They control where you go and who you see
- They monitor your phone and social media
- They control what you wear
- They isolate you from your friends and family
- They criticize you constantly
- They have violent outbursts
- They make you feel like you’re unworthy of love
- They destroy your possessions
- They steal or take control of your money
- They threaten to use violence against you
- They purposefully push, hit, or use other physical force against you
- They touch you without your consent
- They harm people that you love or care about
- They blame you for their abusive behaviour
Consequences of Abuse Trauma
Those who have experienced or are currently experiencing abuse are subject to various symptoms that can impact daily life, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Guilt
- Shame
- Social isolation
- Sleep troubles
- Trust issues
- Low self-esteem
- Memory fatigue
- Constant fear
How Abuse Can Affect Your Mental Health
Survivors of abuse-related trauma tend to have negative thoughts and are more likely to develop a mental illness. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or an eating disorder due to your abusive relationship, it’s important to know that you are not alone.
Negative emotions and feelings of self-judgment, anxiety, guilt, and shame are normal, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can improve your mental health, see your self-worth, and heal from your trauma.
Why You Should Seek Help with Abuse Recovery
Many abuse victims remain silent due to fear, shame, and isolation. However, seeking help is not shameful. We want you to feel empowered by your decision to take charge of your well-being. Seeking help for abuse is often the best way to escape a dangerous or unhealthy situation and to start rebuilding the person you want and deserve to be.
Our Approach to Therapy for Abuse Victims
At Can’t We Just Get Along Counselling, our therapists have years of experience and expertise in helping survivors through the abuse recovery process and healing journey.
Each therapist’s top priority is to provide support with a focus on empathy and sensitivity so you always feel safe and comfortable in our care.
To treat abuse, we find that body therapy is usually more effective than talk therapy. We often recommend eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help survivors overcome abuse-related trauma.
Our other treatment methods include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy/prolonged exposure therapy
- Stress-management techniques and coping strategies
- Narrative therapy
- Relationship therapy
- Solution-focused therapy
If needed, we can also consult with your doctor to provide medical advice and support for your abuse symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, or beta-blockers to help you manage anxiety symptoms.
Get the Help You Need to Recover After Abuse
We’re so proud you’ve decided to begin the self-care and healing process. Now it’s time to take the next step towards getting the support you need to overcome your trauma.
Get in touch with us today to book your first abuse recovery therapy session.
Book An Appointment For Abuse Therapy
Our Abuse Counselling is led by highly-trained registered psychologists from our office in Calgary, Alberta.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the most effective ways to recover from abuse is to get abuse counselling. Abuse counselling therapists will help you work through the traumas and experiences you've faced and provide you with coping strategies and skills to help you have a safer, healthier, and more secure future.
Victims of domestic abuse, including children and adults, should seek help as soon as possible. If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies as domestic abuse, contact a crisis line for guidance. Remember that seeking help after a domestic dispute is a sign of strength, and many resources are available to help you feel safe and secure during this difficult time.
Yes. If you or your loved one is experiencing any form of violence in Alberta, you can call the following crisis lines:
- Family Violence Information Line: 1-780-310-1818 (toll-free, 24/7, multilingual service available)
- Support and Information Line: 403–237–5888
- Alberta Abuse Helpline: 1-855-443-5722
- Alberta 24/7 Community and Social Services Helpline: 211
- Alberta's One Line for Sexual Violence: 1-866-403-8000
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437
- Distress Line: 780-482-4357
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
- Parent Information Line: 1-866-714-5437
- Seniors Abuse Helpline: 780-454-8888
If you’re looking for more available services or currently reside in a different Canadian province or territory, please refer to the Government of Canada website.
Staying in an abusive relationship can greatly impact the emotional, physical, and mental health of the victim. Some consequences of staying in an abusive relationship include:
- Physical health issues
- Emotional trauma
- Isolation from friends and family
- Financial dependence
It’s important to note that all of these consequences can vary depending on the person and the severity and form of the abuse they are facing. If you’re struggling to leave your abuser, please reach out for support.
If someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can provide them with violence prevention resources or recommend counselling to let them know you're worried about them. They may need help seeking support, and although you can't force them to get help, your actions may give them the courage to leave their situation and seek help from a professional.
Yes, recovery after abuse is possible, and abuse doesn’t have to rule your life forever. With individual counselling from the right therapist, many survivors have become free from their abuser and have gone on to have the healthy relationships they deserve.
Yes, PTSD can originate from any type of abuse and is typically more complex than PTSD from other traumatic events. Often, PTSD is caused by a single event like a car crash. However, PTSD due to abuse is often caused by an ongoing cycle of trauma.
Typically, PTSD from abuse requires more treatment, but that does not mean it is incurable. You can recover from PTSD due to abuse and go on to live a better, healthier life.
In an abusive relationship, abuse tends to occur in a cycle. It starts with building tension, followed by the abusive incident, and then periods of reconciliation, calmness or false normalcy (AKA. the honeymoon phase). This cycle can make it difficult for victims to seek help. Abusers may promise the abuse will never happen again, but it almost always does, and the cycle of abuse continues.
If you’re in an abusive relationship, it’s important to seek help, even when things seem calm. Abusers will almost always repeat their abusive behaviour unless they have undergone extensive therapy themselves.
Healing from trauma is a process that varies from person to person. Some people may take months to overcome their trauma, while others may take years. The extent of the abuse can also affect how long it takes to heal.
No matter the length of your healing process, it’s important to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and support is there for you when you’re ready.
