First things first, It’s not your fault, you didn’t cause this and you don’t deserve this treatment!

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner or family member. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, economic, or psychological actions or threats of action that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten,intimidate, isolate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.

Domestic violence is a power game and its purpose is for the abuser to control the victim in whatever form it takes. Something important to understand is The Cycle of Violence and it happens in 3 phases.

The first phase is tension building or setting up. A common phrase in this phase is that a person feels like they are walking on eggshells just waiting for something to happen.

The second phase is the explosion. In an effort to gain control, the abuser chooses the place and time to escalate the abuse to “teach” their partner a lesson and make their point.

The last phase is damage control or honeymoon phase where the abuser exhibits loving and attentive behavior toward the victim in hopes of forgiveness.

Essentially You Counseling offers help to those who are or have been abused by providing a safe environment for healing to occur. We are here to help you in whatever stage of the process you are in. You are a SURVIVOR! And don’t forget it.