Knowing when to hold on to or give up hope is one of the hardest and most confusing parts of being in or leaving an abusive relationship. And when you want things to get better, it’s very easy to hold…
In my practice, I frequently work with mothers who find themselves in the family court system, navigating settlement and child arrangements after separating from an abusive partner. This is usually a difficult, drawn-out process and, quite often, an inevitable component…
As a psychologist working in the area of relationship abuse, I have heard many stories about couples therapy gone wrong or done more damage than good. While it should be a safe space to heal relationships and improve partner communication,…
Recovering from trauma is never a straightforward journey, and the type of trauma experienced significantly influences the approach to healing. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) trauma recovery, in particular, requires a unique therapeutic approach due to the dynamics of the abusive…
Starting therapy—whether you’re still in the relationship or have already left—can feel daunting. The road ahead often seems overwhelming, unclear, and filled with a painful question: Will I ever feel like myself again? Recovery from emotional abuse is layered, complex…
Betrayal in relationships—whether between parents and children, romantic partners, or close friends—occurs when someone you trust or depend on fails to protect you and instead causes harm. These betrayals can range from minor everyday violations to severe acts such as…
Gaslighting has become a well-known phenomenon in the past few years. It was even voted as the number 1 word of 2022! It refers to a form of psychological manipulation to systematically generate doubt within a person of their experience,…
One of the most common questions women ask me when they recognise their partner is being emotionally abusive towards them is “Can he change?” and “How do I know if what I’m seeing is real change or just temporary?” It’s…
Why was this workshop developed In my years of working with women that experience abuse in their relationship, the most confusing part has always been the emotional manipulation. Physical abuse, explosive anger and obvious intimidation tactics are easy to recognise…
Most people believe that leaving an abusive relationship is the ultimate step in ending coercive control and will put a stop to the abuse. Sadly, the reality is that the abuse doesn’t necessarily end when you walk away. In fact,…