Counselling Services

Domestic violence causes immeasurable and lasting harm to survivors, going beyond physical violence to include various forms of abusive behavior that seek to control or dominate through fear. While it can affect anyone, regardless of culture, sexuality, or gender identity, it is often perpetrated by male partners towards women, both current and former.

Domestic violence counselling equips survivors with the necessary tools to manage or exit a relationship, and cope with the aftermath of an abusive relationship. This involves empowering them to make informed decisions, rebuild self-esteem, restore trust in healthy relationships, recognise warning signs of domestic violence, evaluate and respond to risks, and access community support services.

For perpetrators of domestic violence, counselling offers a chance to learn healthy ways to express themselves and manage their emotions. By acknowledging their harmful behaviours, understanding the impact on themselves and others, recognising their capacity to change, and practicing healthy behaviour patterns, they can break the cycle of violence.

If you are unsure whether you are experiencing domestic violence, a qualified counsellor can help you understand your situation and provide guidance on your current or past relationship.

Domestic violence is a form of abuse that instills fear in another person, and can take on many different forms. These forms of abuse are not mutually exclusive and can include:

• Physical Abuse: Any act of violence directed towards a person's body, children, pets, or property. This can involve punching, pushing, kicking, choking, or the use of weapons.

• Sexual Abuse: Forcing unwanted sexual acts or sex on a person. This can also include forcing a person to dress in a certain way.

• Verbal or Emotional Abuse: Behaviors that damage a person's self-esteem, such as yelling, name-calling, verbal threats, and refusing to communicate. This can also include undermining parenthood in front of children or publishing personal information or photos without a person's consent.

Domestic violence involves behaviour patterns that cause another person to live in fear.

Physical Abuse

• Any violent act towards a person’s body, children, pets, or property
• May involve punching, pushing, kicking, choking, or the use of weapons

Sexual Abuse

• Forcing unwanted sex or sexual acts
• Forcing a person to dress in ways they don’t want to

Verbal or Emotional Abuse

• Behaviours that harm a person’s self-esteem
• Yelling and name-calling
• Verbal threats
• Refusing to talk
• Undermining parenthood in front of children
• Publishing information or photos against a person’s will

Controlling Behaviour

• Forcing a person to do or believe things against their will
• Confiscating a person’s phone or transport
• Controlling a person’s decisions
• Prohibiting or forcing religious participation
• Lying about a person
• Isolating a person from their support system
• Preventing someone from leaving the house

Stalking

• Intimidating through surveillance, both on and offline
• Repeated phone calls, messages, or emails
• Unwanted gifts
• Unwanted attention
• Monitoring or following

Financial Abuse

• Creating financial dependence
• Confiscating a person’s money
• Preventing someone from working
• Making someone justify spending
• Forcing signatures on financial documents
• Reminding someone they are financially dependent

Survivors of domestic violence may have repeated physical injuries like bruises, scratches, or burns. They might conceal their injuries or not provide logical explanations for them.

But physical abuse is of domestic violence. Other types of domestic violence can be harder to spot, but there are signs to look out for:

• They seem more quiet than usual or have lost confidence
• They seem afraid
• They blame themselves
• They have stopped seeing friends or family
• Their partner or family member controls their decisions, or humiliates them in front of others
• They say their partner or family member controls their money
• They say their partner is extremely jealous
• They say their partner or family member forces unwanted sexual acts

Domestic violence counselling can benefit survivors of violence, regardless of whether they have physical or emotional symptoms. If you're unsure whether you need domestic violence counselling, here are some signs to look for:

Emotional Symptoms: Survivors of violence may experience emotional symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, difficulty sleeping, depression, chronic fear, or feeling responsible or deserving of the violence. They may also have flashbacks or nightmares about the abuse and strong reactions to any mention or reminder of the abuse.

Physical Symptoms: Survivors of violence may experience physical symptoms, such as chronic tension or pain, headaches, asthma, indigestion, interrupted sleep, genital irritation, or pelvic pain. These physical symptoms can be a result of the psychological distress caused by the abuse, even if the abuse was not physical in nature.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms or feel that you need support to heal from the trauma of domestic violence, domestic violence counselling may be beneficial for you.