Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence

Domestic, or intimate partner violence, can take many forms. It is often violence used in an effort to gain and/or maintain control. Some of the more common types of domestic violence include physical abuse (hitting, pushing, hair-pulling, forced substance use), emotional abuse (insults, blame, or other methods to diminish a person's self-esteem), psychological abuse (threats, including against family, pets, friends, or the abuser themselves, stopping a partner from attending activities, or other manipulation), sexual abuse (coerced or demeaning sex acts), and financial abuse (controlling a partner's finances or restriction of financial resources like an allowance). The emotional effects of these types of abuse can be long lasting, and may cause depression, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), insomnia, emotional distance, and more. If you or someone you know is experiencing (or has experienced) abuse, a qualified therapist can help. It is also important for children who witness or experience domestic abuse to see a professional who specializes in the age group to prevent the trauma affecting adulthood and possibly perpetuating the cycle of abuse. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s abuse specialists for support today. 

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Many survivors find that, as time goes on, the impacts of specific traumatic events begin to affect them differently. As challenging as it may feel to share your story, it is so important to find a safe place to process and cope with trauma and abuse you have survived. I am able to provide a safe place for all survivors to process, share and navigate their story. Together we will work on rebuilding your sense of self and increasing your quality of life.

— Alison Murphey, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA

Survivors of intimate partner violence often experience deep, relational trauma. This can lead to significant anxiety and self doubt, making it hard to trust yourself and your gut/instincts. When this happens, attempts to protect ourselves can sometimes make us more vulnerable. I can help you understand your experiences, your responses, and learn to trust yourself again.

— Stacey Hannigan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
 

Survivors of intimate partner violence often experience deep, relational trauma. This can lead to significant anxiety and self doubt, making it hard to trust yourself and your gut/instincts. When this happens, attempts to protect ourselves can sometimes make us more vulnerable. I can help you understand your experiences, your responses, and learn to trust yourself again.

— Stacey Hannigan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Research shows that both men and women can be victims of domestic violence or family violence, and both can be perpetrators as well. I have developed and published a domestic violence documentation format which also serves as an interview guide to thoroughly identify all forms of domestic or family violence. I perform domestic violence evaluations in immigration cases, and I also prepare extreme hardship evaluations in immigration cases.

— Stephen Finstein, Therapist in Dallas, TX
 

I have training in working in DV court for 5+ years with first time offenders.

— Alexandra Shauger, Clinical Social Worker in Midlothian, TX

I am a certified domestic violence counselor for the state of Connecticut. I worked with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a safe house advocate for 10 years and have gone through extensive trainings to support survivors of domestic violence. I also have court experience and have been in roles as a state victim advocate helping victims/survivors of domestic violence navigate these difficult systems.

— Valerie Barrett-Noel, Clinical Social Worker
 

I have 15 years working with survivors of domestic violence and IPV. I am very passionate about empowering individuals who are either in an abusive relationship or are trying to leave one. Abuse comes in all forms and does not discriminate based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Everyone is entitled to be supported by a professional with the skills necessary to navigate such a delicate yet volatile situation.

— Saara Amri, Licensed Professional Counselor in Springfield, VA

Domestic violence is often misunderstood as strictly physical violence against one's partner. But it is much more complicated than that. Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse, gaslighting, control, and manipulation are too often not considered in domestic or intimate partner violence. I have experience with all of these forms of abuse and understand the complexity and difficulty of these relationships.

— Dana Williams, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Saint Petersburg, FL
 

Getting hurt by someone you’ve cared for is especially painful. While the physical traumas can be scary as hell, the emotional traumas can take a lot more work to heal. When I work with domestic violence survivors certain themes come up over and over again. Survivors often wonder if something’s wrong with them, why this person hurt them and why they might still care for them. These are complex questions worthy of exploration. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

— Natalia Amari, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Austin, TX

Survivors of intimate partner violence often experience deep, relational trauma. This can lead to significant anxiety and self doubt, making it hard to trust yourself and your gut/instincts. When this happens, attempts to protect ourselves can sometimes make us more vulnerable. I can help you understand your experiences, your responses, and learn to trust yourself again.

— Stacey Hannigan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
 

I have about a decade's experience in working with folks experiencing DV or partner violence. Beginning with my internship during my Master-level work, my experience in this area has ranged widely by gender and has been primarily community-based work. My understanding of DV is led by an anti-oppression lens and has deeply influenced the way I practice today.

— Celia Castro, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in CAMBRIDGE, MA

Finding your center after experiencing domestic abuse, whether emotional, physical, sexual, or financial can be a trying journey. It is my goal to help you rediscover who you are, what your needs are, and what you want in life.

— Casey Dunne, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Boulder, CO
 

I have worked at a domestic violence agency for over seven years providing advocacy-based counseling, safety planning and crisis intervention, facilitating support groups and therapy processing groups and providing individual therapy to adult survivors of intimate partner violence. I use a survivor-driven and DV-informed approach, and have trained other mental health providers on how to use this approach.

— Georgiana Peters, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

I've worked extensively with survivors of intimate partner violence as a community based advocate, including working with individuals and educating community partners on violence within relationships. I recognize the impact of ALL forms of abuse, including psychological and emotional abuse, and know that healing from these relationships (whether from an intimate partner, parents, siblings, or friends), can take many years and specialized therapeutic approaches.

— Emily Nayar, Clinical Social Worker
 

Violence takes many forms. Some adults have experienced violence in their childhood home, within romantic relationships, or have experienced some form of assault in their lives. My path into mental health began 20 years ago supporting survivors navigate the court system. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional I use a Trauma Informed approach with all of my clients, ensuring that I don't trigger or re-traumatize as we process the past and allow you to leave the pain behind.

— Sara Fischer Sanford, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Getting hurt by someone you’ve cared for is especially painful. While the physical traumas can be scary as hell, the emotional traumas can take a lot more work to heal. When I work with domestic violence survivors certain themes come up over and over again. Survivors often wonder if something’s wrong with them, why this person hurt them and why they might still care for them. These are complex questions worthy of exploration. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

— Natalia Amari, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Austin, TX
 

I am a qualified Domestic Violence Prevention group facilitator with eight months experience co-facilitating domestic violence prevention groups.

— Jess Callaway, Licensed Resident in Counseling in Norfolk, VA

I am an IPV/DV survivor. I went to support groups at a DV advocacy agency, and I loved the experience so much, that a few years later, I returned to the agency to run the groups as a volunteer. This inspired me to become a therapist, and now I counsel IPV/DV survivors and run counseling support groups. I help people understand what happened, and empower people to find their self-esteem to move forward. I wrote an educational memoir about my experience that is available on my website.

— Kate Mageau, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, WA