Being in an abusive and violent relationship usually means you have to hide your feelings. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, and you tell your partner how you feel, you might be in immediate danger. In counselling, you have a safe place to talk about all your feelings without fear of being judged or hurt because of them.

When you’re in an abusive relationship, it is easy to doubt your feelings. You want to believe that your partner loves you and wants the best for you. Yet, you have strong feelings that something is not right. A domestic abuse counsellor acknowledges your pain, fear, and confusion as you express it, letting you know your feelings are real and valid.

It’s common to think that your emotions are unreasonable when you’re dealing with an abusive partner. You may believe that your emotions don’t make sense. Yet, you’re feeling the way you are for a reason. Your life has been impacted by violence. Your counselor can help you think about your feelings and learn to understand that they’re a natural reaction to your situation.

Domestic violence victims often blame themselves for the abuser’s actions. In fact, abusers create this impression to protect themselves and get what they want. One of the most beneficial aspects of therapy is that you can discover that the causes of the violence lie with the abuser himself/herself.