Abuse Counselling

Counselling for Adult Survivors of Abuse & Trauma

The effect of abuse is often substantial and long-lasting, sometimes resurfacing years later, impacting on your relationships, your emotional wellbeing and even your health.

Whatever the form: sexual, physical or psychological -the experience of abuse is a trauma. Childhood trauma can damage your ability to trust in a relationships, oftentimes both emotionally and physically and,  if not resolved, continues to have an impact throughout your life. Counselling for adult survivors of abuse supports you to work through this trauma.

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of overcoming it.

Hellen Keller

Treatment

Abuse Counselling and therapy offers you a safe place to work through your feelings and memories. The support and non-judgmental quality of our counsellors and therapists will help you to deal with the intensity of your emotions and to work through your pain. Therapy will help you to get new perspectives on your current life and, by teaching you coping strategies, help you to manage difficult emotions and flashbacks.

How can Abuse Counselling Help?

It is often that case that as a survivor you find it difficult to trust? And at times you may feel the impact not only from the actual memories of the events themselves, but also from the feelings that arise from them? Or perhaps you are carrying strong emotions of anger, guilt or shame which at times surface to affect your current life? Do you want to sort these issues out?

Whatever your specific circumstances, through the guidance and support of your counsellor or psychotherapist, we will work with you and support you to move on and will help you to fully live your life free from the trauma that you have suffered.

In short, abuse therapy helps you to:

• Resolve flashbacks and nightmares resulting from the abuse.
• Cope with the symptoms such as: depression and anxiety or low self-esteem or confidence
• Develop coping strategies to resolve the effects of your abusive experiences.
• Process traumatic events in a  contained manner in an environment that feels safe.

Contemplating Abuse:

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”

Chesterton

Working through abuse is often a tough journey – one that can sometimes make clients feel worse before they start to recover and feel better. This is due to the suppressed feelings being processed and dealt with.

The Dark Shadow

Unfortunately, abuse is not limited to a particular aspect of our society but happens to males and females of all ages and in all parts of our society. Counselling or psychotherapy for abuse can be of use to you if you have been subjected to:

• Neglect: In childhood, children may not be provided with enough of the basic requirements: food, warmth, clothing, medicine or enough love and attention.
• Physical Abuse: This is about violence and is physical: hitting, choking, burning or shaking are examples.
• Sexual Abuse: Child abuse, sexual assault and rape
• Emotional Abuse: This is where you are hurt psychologically repeatedly being criticised or bullied or threatened. Being shouted at constantly leaves deep emotional scars and can be more damaging in the long term than physical abuse.

The Next Step for Abuse Counselling

At Reflexions Counselling and Psychotherapy, Newcastle we can help you to deal with these issues by working collaboratively with you in a supportive and non-judgemental manner. Please contact us at Reflexions Counselling and Psychotherapy to take things forwards. The process is very straight-forward. If you are struggling with issues around abuse, contact us and arrange to talk to one of our therapists about abuse counselling in Newcastle – Phone 01915805080 or email.

Resources and Self-Help for Abuse Counselling

• Overcoming Childhood Trauma: A Self Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques. (2000). Kennerley, This book is about using an understanding of the past in the present to help with intrusive memories, mood swings and to help to build better relationships in adulthood.
• The Survivor’s Guide: To Recovery from Rape and Sexual Abuse. (2005). Kell, R, Maxted, F. & Campbell, E.  This book gives advice – in a easy to read format -for everyday situations to encourage survivors to work through emotions and to develop a vision of the person they want to be and the life they want to live
• “Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men” by Lundy Bancroft: Explains the dynamics of abusive relationships and how to stay safe – Similar to Overcoming Childhood Trauma, providing insights into the perpetrator’s behavior and strategies for coping.
• Excellent resources from Mind, a UK based mental health charity.
• Women’s Aid: Provides support and information for women experiencing domestic violence and their children – Similar to USA based RAINN but focused on the UK and offering services like shelters, advocacy, and legal advice.
• Galop: Support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing abuse – Similar to Pandora’s Project but focused on the UK and offering support specific to LGBTQ+ needs.
• The National Domestic Violence Helpline: 24/7 confidential helpline for victims of domestic violence. US based link which has some useful guidance on confirming the signs and “What to Look For”.
• Men’s Advice Line: Supports men experiencing domestic violence and abuse) – Equivalent to the National Domestic Violence Hotline but specifically for men.
• NSPCC: Charity preventing cruelty to children, including child abuse – focused on the UK and offering a wider range of services like counseling, therapy, and legal support.
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: Support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. – Offering resources and support specifically for UK survivors.
• Refuge: Supports women and children experiencing domestic violence – Similar to Women’s Aid but with a focus on providing safe accommodation and specialist support.
• Survivors UK: Supports survivors of childhood sexual abuse – Offers specialized support and resources for this specific type of abuse.
• One in Four: Supports survivors of male sexual violence – Addresses a specific group often overlooked, providing tailored support and resources..