Abuse Counseling

ABUSE COUNSELING

Lacamas Counseling Serves Vancouver, Camas, Washougal Washington and the surrounding areas

Abuse refers to a person’s experience with any relationship that includes the use of power or control. Power and control can be used physically, emotionally, verbally, financially, and spiritually. Power and control keeps the relationship from experiencing equality in which both persons are respected and treated fairly.

Abuse can create immediate and lasting effects on a person’s identity, well-being, health, school or work, and relationships. Children exposed to abusive behaviors can also be as impacted as if they experienced the abuse first-hand.

Symptom Self-Check

Does your partner yell at you most days?
Are you afraid of your partner?
Does your partner commonly react with anger or threats?
Does your partner damage objects in his/her anger?
Does your partner ever apologize?
Do you get blamed for the arguments?
Does your partner humiliate or embarrass you around your family and friends?
Have you stopped seeing your family and friends in order to avoid conflicts with your partner?
Is your partner jealous of your friendships?
Does your partner control where you go and who you talk with?
Does your partner monitor your use of the phone, car, computer, or finances?
Does your partner threaten you or your children?
Has your partner ever hurt you physically?

Consequences of Abuse:

Mental health diagnoses of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or ADHD
Academic or work-related problems
Difficulty connecting to and trusting other people
Isolation and limited relationships
Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Lack of spontaneity
Low self-confidence
Difficulty sleeping
At-risk of drug use, eating disorders, self-harm behaviors, or suicidal thoughts

Treatments for Abuse

Victims of abuse can be helped and it’s important to work with a professional to help identify an effective treatment plan. Treatment for victims of abuse can include:

Counseling
Medications (e.g. antidepressants, mood stabilizers)
Group counseling
Social support
Education and empowerment
Assertiveness training
Stress management and reduction
Increase in pleasurable activities
Self-care (sleep hygiene, exercise, nutrition)
Self-reflection (mindfulness, meditation, yoga)
Spiritual integration (prayer, faith groups)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Crisis intervention and safety planning

If you are experiencing any abuse that is impacting your well-being and functioning, please connect with Lacamas Counseling for professional therapeutic support to address your needs and goals.