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Abuse

Abuse

Abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional (psychological), and neglect. It can occur in childhood or adulthood, within families, relationships, or wider social contexts. Regardless of the form it takes, abuse involves a misuse of power and can have a profound impact on a person’s emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing.

Types of Abuse

  • Physical abuse
    Involves acts of violence such as hitting, shaking, burning, choking, or causing physical harm. It can also include assaults such as mugging or any intentional use of force.

  • Sexual abuse
    Includes any unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity, such as sexual assault or rape, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse in childhood.

  • Emotional / psychological abuse
    Can be harder to recognise as there are often no visible signs. It may include ongoing criticism, humiliation, intimidation, controlling behaviour, threats, gaslighting, or being persistently dismissed or invalidated. Despite being less visible, it can be just as damaging as physical abuse.

  • Neglect
    Occurs when basic physical or emotional needs are not met. This may include lack of adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision. Emotional neglect involves a lack of love, support, attention, or responsiveness, particularly during childhood.

The Impact of Abuse

Experiencing abuse can have lasting effects. Many people report:    

  • Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares

  • Feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame

  • Anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness

  • Difficulties with trust, relationships, and self-worth

  • Hypervigilance or feeling constantly “on edge”
     

It is also common for individuals to feel conflicted, minimising what happened or feeling partly responsible. These responses are understandable and often linked to how the mind copes with overwhelming experiences.

 

For those currently experiencing abuse, it can feel difficult or unsafe to seek help or make changes. Support can focus first on safety, choice, and empowerment.

How Common is Abuse? (UK Statistics)

  • An estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime

  • In England and Wales, approximately 2.1 million adults experienced domestic abuse in the year ending 2023

  • Around 1 in 5 children experience some form of abuse or neglect during childhood

  • Sexual offences remain significantly underreported, with the majority of survivors not disclosing to police

  • Emotional abuse and coercive control are now recognised as common and highly impactful forms of abuse, often occurring alongside other types

What Treatment do we offer?

Therapy for abuse focuses on safety, stabilisation, and processing, at a pace that feels manageable for you. A strong, trusting therapeutic relationship is central.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

A well-established, evidence-based approach that helps:

  • Process traumatic memories safely

  • Reduce symptoms such as flashbacks and anxiety

  • Address unhelpful beliefs (e.g. self-blame, shame)

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is recommended in clinical guidelines for trauma. It helps:

  • Reprocess distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming

  • Reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

Particularly helpful where shame and self-criticism are prominent. It supports:

  • Developing self-compassion

  • Reducing feelings of guilt and worthlessness

  • Creating a sense of internal safety

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps individuals:

  • Manage difficult thoughts and feelings

  • Reconnect with values and rebuild a meaningful life

  • Reduce avoidance patterns linked to trauma

Schema Therapy

Useful for longer-term or developmental trauma. It focuses on:

  • Identifying and healing longstanding emotional patterns

  • Addressing unmet emotional needs from earlier experiences

  • Building healthier ways of relating to self and others

Stabilisation and Skills-Based Approaches

Before processing trauma, therapy may include:

  • Grounding techniques for flashbacks and dissociation

  • Emotional regulation strategies

  • Sleep support and anxiety management

  • Building a sense of safety and control

Support and Recovery

If you are currently experiencing abuse, therapy can support you in thinking through your options safely and without pressure, helping you make decisions that feel right for you.

 

When you are ready, therapy can help you:

  • Process and make sense of what has happened

  • Reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories

  • Rebuild confidence, identity, and self-worth

  • Develop healthier boundaries and relationships

 

Recovery from abuse can feel challenging, and at times it may feel harder before it begins to ease. With the right support, however, it is possible to move forward in a way that feels safer, more empowered, and more connected.

Further Support

If you are currently experiencing abuse or need immediate support, the following organisations can help:

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