Domestic Abuse and Family Violence
What is family violence and domestic abuse?
Family violence is a situation in which one family member causes physical or emotional harm to another family member. At the center of this violence is the abuser’s need to gain power and control over the victim. Abuse can be physical (slapping, hitting, kicking, punching, or burning), emotional (verbal threats, harassment, and insults), or sexual (incest or rape).
There are many ways that the abuser tears down the victim’s sense of power and security including making threats, causing physical harm, cutting off financial support, harming children in families, threatening or attempting suicide, isolation, controlling who the victim sees and talks to or when the victim can leave the house, and placing restrictions on work.
While not a substitute for obtaining a comprehensive evaluation from a skilled helper such as a professional counselor, your answers to the following questions about you and your partner. If any of these instances are occurring in your daily life, you may be experiencing an abusive relationship. It is important to seek help for abuse, because without it, the abuse will likely continue.
Signs of domestic abuse:
- Are you afraid of your partner?
- Has your partner ever hit, slapped or pushed you?
- Do you feel as if you deserve to be punished?
- Is your partner good to you most of the time but every once in a while very cruel and scary?
- Have you believed that your partner would kill you?
- Has your partner ever threatened to kill you or kill him/herself?
- Do you feel isolated from friends and family?
- Do you feel emotionally numb?
- Has your partner forced you to do something you didn’t want to do?
How do I know if I am a victim of family violence?
Does a person who should love you…
- Threaten to hurt you or your children?
- Say it is your fault if he or she hits you, then promises it won’t happen again (but it does)?
- Put you down in public?
- Hit you, throw you down, push, choke, kick, or slap you?
- Force you to have sex when you don’t want to?
- Prevent you from going to school, or going to work?
- Keep you from seeing friends or family members?
No one has the right to physically or emotionally abuse you or a loved one. Family violence is against the law.
At Renew Counseling Center, we are committed to helping you understand the cycle of violence and risk factors for relationships. In a safe and calm environment, our staff can assist you in creating a plan for personal safety and guide you to area resources that will provide additional support as you seek to evaluate your relationship and find hope and healing for your family. Call (623)-633-4032.