In an intimate abusive relationship, many clients who seek treatment are looking for help and yet are unaware of what they actually need help with. Survivors of abuse can present with confusion, anxiety, low self-esteem, loss of trust in their perceptions, and powerless to make a difference in their life. Unclear of how they came to feel entrapped, survivors often do not see that their situation is caused by their partner’s coercive behaviors. Mental health professionals can facilitate change by helping a survivor to unpack the elements of their abusive experience with their intimate partner via psycho-education and trauma recovery.
