Abuse - Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Divorce and/or Separation EMDR

Abuse - Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Divorce and/or Separation

The area of abuse counselling includes both physical, emotional and sexual abuse therapy effectively conducted in a safe and caring environment. While not visible on the outside, emotional abuse is also a form of assault which, if left untreated, can leave lifelong emotional scars. Abusers often use intimidation to create guilt and fear to make the victim feel ashamed and isolated from other people.
 
● The symptoms of physical abuse are usually the easiest to see, with victims making excuses for scars and bruises.
● Children who are sexually abused will often have an age-inappropriate knowledge of sexuality and may even suffer from sexualy transmitted diseases, or pregnancy.
● Emotional abuse often goes hand-in-hand with either sexual, and or physical abuse. The victim will usually display a poor self-esteem, anxiety, withdrawal from social interactions, lack of trust, pessimism, and suicide attempts, to name but a few.
 
Abuse is often carried through generations, causing victims to become abusers, too. However, abuse can be stopped.
 
Therapists in this directory use a range of approaches to address abuse victims to deal with their fears, anxiety and feelings of shame. They can also help perpetrators to put an end to the abuse.  Psychologists and counsellors utilize a variety of approaches to help victims  heal from sexual, emotional or physical abuse. Couples,  group and family therapy can often be helpful.
 
If you need a counsellor or psychologist to help you address the effects of abuse, you can search through the list of names below to find a professional with the approach best suited to your situation.

Breaking the vow of "till death do us part" and getting divorced has been listed on the list of top things that people fear. The end of a marriage can indeed cause incredible confusion, sadness, grief, anger, guilt, fear, anxiety and shame. Not only does the end of a marriage affect a couple, but also the children.

Issues that can cause a marriage to fail include criticism, lack of respect, defensiveness, and aloofness, to name a few. Dealing with these issues might save a marriage. Mediation therapy can help couples even before a divorce, when the signs of marital disintegration starts to show. Couples therapy is an excellent tool at that point in a marriage to see whether saving the marriage is a viable option, and if it's not, it can help them find ways to reach settlements, move forward, and co-parent in a healthy and constructive way.

For children going through the divorce of their parents, therapy is critical. While parents are facing the realities of divorce and the emotional trauma, they often don't have the time or inclination to help their children deal with their sense of abandonment, pain, loss or guilt. Children may even feel that they are to blame for their parents' problems. Therapy can help children to come to terms with these issues and find strategies to move forward in a positive way.

In the case where couples counselling is not an option, a therapist can help the person who was left behind deal with the grief from the divorce. Therapy is aimed at empowering the individual to overcome grief and negative emotions and to move forward as a single person.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses divorce issues you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

EMDR

EMDR, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy uses a range of processes to address the full clinical situation. Dual stimulation is one of the key elements and the therapist will use tools such as bilateral eye movements, taps or tones.

Reprocessing involves the client momentarily attending to triggers, past memories or anticipated future events, all the while focusing on the supplied external stimulus. Normally, the client will experience memory changes, new associations and insights. EMDR has been found to be incredibly useful for processing past and present trauma that can continue to impact an individual in many ways.

There are eight phases to EMDR treatment and the therapist will devise a treatment plan during the first phase, and equip the client with the necessary coping skills in the second phase. Phases 3-6 cover the actual EMDR treatment, described above. Phase 7 is about closure, while phase eight is all about re-evaluation of the process.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers EMDR Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Gwen Bevan

M.S.W., RSW
Gwen Bevan has been counselling individuals, couples and families for over 25 years. In addition to providing counselling, Gwen provides clinical supervision for private therapists (see below for more information... Read more

Laurissa Kowalchuk

M.Ed., RCC
Our work together will allow us to explore both your internal and external experiences to shed the light of awareness on what may be contributing to the places that feel stuck and confusing, as well as those that... Read more

Sherry Moore

M.S.W., RCC
Hello, my name is Sherry. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a Registered Social Worker (RSW & MSW). Are you struggling with mental health and/or addiction? Have you experienced trauma in your life?... Read more

Danielle Peloquin

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Are things out of balance? Tired of the same old patterns? Stuck? Taking care of mental wellness is like maintaining a vehicle. Anxiety, depression, relationship trouble and anger may mean it's time for a tune-up.... Read more

kristina sohal

M.Couns., RCC
EMDR, Exposure, and CBT -Trauma Therapy for Car Accidents, Work Injuries,  Domestic Abuse, and Childhood Trauma Do you feel lost and isolated after a Traumatic event, or it is the past Trauma that just won... Read more

Shahrzad Jamali

MFT, RCC
Shahrzad has her Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy from Trinity Western University. She holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology with an emphasis on neuroscience from University of British Columbia. She has... Read more

Lorill Drummund

M.Ed., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
    • Article(s) on profile
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#0921) working in BC since 1994 as a therapist, group facilitator, and instructor. My primary focus is working with couples to break through their ... Read more

Lisa Webster

M.A., CCC
    • In-Person Sessions
  What makes Lisa stand out is her warm personality and her straight forward approach. With gentleness and humour, she guides clients to find their own insights, while providing tools and teaching techniques... Read more

Heather Bach

M.A., CCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
For over 20 years, Heather Bach of Bach Counselling Group brings clinical expertise to working with those who wish to make a positive change in relationships, intimacy, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, ADHD... Read more

Alma Vaugeois

M.A., RCC
You Don't Have to let Anxiety Run Your Life! Are you struggling in your life with anxiety or fear that you can't manage ? Does your anxiety keep you from following your dreams and creating the life you... Read more

Gerry Bock

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
Gerry Bock earned his Masters degree in 1990. He has been practicing as a Registered Clinical Counsellor for over 30 years (since 1991).  The practice environment and philosophy offers committed, accountable,... Read more

Carolyn Heppner

M.Ed., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
Couples Counselling and Individual Counselling for Trauma/EMDR, Anxiety and more Facing difficult times personally or in your relationship with your partner? I can help. I believe in providing practical tools... Read more

Cate Pelling

M.A., RCC
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a MA in Counselling Psychology, I have been working in private practice since 2003.  Previous to this, I worked for a number of years in clinical settings... Read more

Lizelle Badenhorst

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I have a passion for exploring and finding the power of our minds to help us heal. I immigrated to Canada in my early thirties and have experienced loss in my life. These experiences have shaped who I am as a person and... Read more

Geoff Williams

M.S.W., RCC
It takes courage to engage with therapy and self improvement. So please, let me commend you, and express that it is my privilege to work with you.   My name is Geoff Williams and I am of English, Scottish,... Read more

Amber Louie

M.Sc., RCC
As an anti-oppression psychotherapist, I value your experiences based on culture, race, indigeneity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexuality, age, disability, and spirituality. I often work with people who are... Read more

Mary Smyth

M.Sc., CCC
    • Video on profile
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor and I trained as an Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist which enables me to work with clients drawing from  many modalities according to the individual client and what he... Read more

Steven Lake

M.Ed., CCC
Dr. Lake has a PhD in Educational Administration. He has a personal interest in emotion and crisis management and created a Model Of Effective Crisis Management for his dissertation. His Master's degree is in... Read more

Nadia Oomer

M.C., RCC
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and have been working in the mental health and substance abuse sector for over twelve years. I work with clients with a wide variety of psychological, health and life problems... Read more