Abuse, whether it is current or from the past, can occur in several different forms including physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and emotional abuse. When one is abused, their boundaries are often blurred and the abuse may become normalized. At times these individuals may not even recognize that abuse is even occurring.
Abuse survivors can experience anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They may also struggle with mood swings, anger outbursts, or emotional numbness as a result of these mental health issues. Trusting others may seem next to impossible.
I work with you to recognize the abusive interactions which often means grieving what you have experienced. Often abuse survivors feel sadness and a great deal of anger toward the abuser, which I help you work through. I validate your feelings as you learn to recognize your own strengths and courage, which is important to fully acknowledge as you move forward with your life. Rebuilding your self-esteem is an important part of recovering from what you have experienced. We also work together to learn how to protect yourself from future abuse and move toward a more fulfilling life.