Domestic Violence

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence, sometimes referred to as domestic abuse, typically occurs when an intimate partner uses certain behaviors to maintain power and control over another intimate partner. 

Domestic violence can also occur between members of the same household, even if they aren’t in an intimate relationship. 

Domestic violence involves patterns of behavior that physically harm, frighten, or force a partner to behave in a certain way, such as:

Physical abuse

Hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, pulling hair, or choking are some examples of physical abuse. Withholding food or medical care and preventing sleep can also be forms of physical abuse.

Sexual assault

Unwanted sexual contact, such as grabbing, groping, kissing, and rape, are examples of sexual abuse. Using threats or intimidation to coerce a partner into sexual contact is also considered sexual abuse.

Psychological abuse

Sometimes called emotional abuse, this includes non-physical behavior patterns. Examples include abusive language, humiliation, stalking or threats of violence, intimidation, social isolation, or financial control. 

When domestic violence is present in a relationship, several types of abuse may be occurring at the same time.

Who is at risk for domestic violence?

Perpetrators and victims of domestic violence may be of any age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic background, or education level. 

Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence than men. An estimated 3 of 10 women in the United States have experienced physical abuse, rape, or stalking by an intimate partner in any given year.

What treatments are available for domestic violence?

The highly trained and experienced providers at Hope Recovery Services offer counseling services for victims of domestic violence. 

The goal of domestic violence counseling is to help you cope with the effects of abuse and to support you through the process of taking action to end your experience of domestic abuse.

Domestic violence therapy is tailored to meet your individual needs, and it may include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Stress management

In some cases, individual therapy for perpetrators of domestic violence is also available at Hope Recovery Services. For some intimate partnerships, couples therapy may be an appropriate way to help resolve relationship issues that have an impact on domestic violence.

To learn more about domestic violence or to schedule an evaluation, call Hope Recovery Services today, or make an appointment online.