Abuse is defined as any action that intentionally harms or injures another person. Someone who purposefully harms another in any way is committing abuse. Abuse encompasses a range of harmful behaviours that violate an individual’s rights, safety, and well-being. It can occur in various contexts—within families, relationships, institutions, or communities. Anyone can be a victim of abuse and most commonly the abuser will be a person they know. Abuse can leave people with many scars, both visible and invisible, talking therapy can help you work though them.

Here are some common types of abuse:

  • Physical Abuse
  • Domestic Violence
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Psychological or Emotional Abuse
  • Financial or Material Abuse
  • Discriminatory Abuse
  • Organizational or Institutional Abuse
  • Neglect or Acts of Omission

Survivors of abuse often face profound emotional, physical, and social consequences. These may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, and difficulty forming healthy relationships. Trust is shattered, and survivors may blame themselves or struggle with feelings of shame and guilt. Abuse can disrupt daily life, hinder personal growth, and affect overall happiness.

There are many pathways in therapy you could take to help you heal:

  • Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy- Therapists help survivors process traumatic memories, manage distressing emotions, and develop coping strategies. Techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can alleviate PTSD symptoms.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It helps survivors challenge self-blame, build resilience, and regain control.
  • Supportive Counseling- Provides a safe space to express feelings, validate experiences, and explore healing. Survivors learn healthy boundaries and self-care.
  • Group Therapy- Connecting with others who’ve experienced similar trauma reduces isolation. Group settings foster empathy, shared coping strategies, and a sense of belonging.
  • Art or Expressive Therapies- Creative outlets like art, music, or dance allow survivors to process emotions non-verbally.
  • Safety Planning- Therapists help survivors create safety plans, identify triggers, and develop strategies to protect themselves.
  • Empowerment and Resilience- Therapy encourages survivors to reclaim their agency, rebuild self-worth, and envision a future free from abuse.

Seeking professional help is a courageous step toward healing. Therapy provides tools to navigate the aftermath of abuse, fostering resilience and promoting recovery. Let us help you.

Our practitioners:

“Abuse can rip apart that essential sense of who we are and our deepest self-worth. The rebuilding journey requires great care, with gentleness and acceptance at the core. If you have survived abuse in any form my priority is to offer you a safe, warm and secure space to be seen and heard. Over time we will understand the impact of your experiences on your current life and relationships and, only at your own pace, gently work towards a set of beliefs and behaviours that will offer you the loving, creative and meaningful life you deserve. I work with a trauma-informed approach that aims to integrate rather than erase adverse experiences from consciousness, allowing you to carry the whole of your story and its meaning in a way that empowers rather than restricts.” Alexa Edelist, Psychotherapist >

HARVEST THERAPY
44 Russell Square,
London WC1B 4JP
United Kingdom

Phone Number: 020 8962 6247
email: info@harvest-therapy.co.uk