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Methods Used To Conduct Effective Emotional Abuse Counseling

By Sharon Brooks


Abuse is one of the most damaging experiences that any person can go through. The damage is especially crippling if the harassment is psychological in nature. Psychological abuse affects the confidence and self worth of the victim. Many human relationships are characterized by abusive tendencies, unfortunately. Emotional abuse happens in friendships, between parents and their children and especially between intimate partners. Emotional abuse counseling can be used to treat the effects of the constant criticism, bullying, verbal offenses and threats that the victim goes through.

Other forms of abuse include shaming, intimidation, and manipulation of the victim. The abuser uses the habits to subjugate and control the victim. Many psychological abusers have childhood insecurities and wounds that they have not solved. Due to lack of healthy coping mechanisms, these individuals cannot have meaningful relationships. They instead feel hurt, angry, powerless and fearful all the time. These individuals tend to have personality disorders such as narcissistic, antisocial and borderline personality disorders. The habits that an abuser adopts depend on his or her pattern. These patterns are three in number and include denying, aggressive and minimizing habits.

Many times, victims try to cope by adopting mechanisms such as minimizing and denial. Prolonged abuse can lead to several signs and symptoms in the person. These signs include things such as depression or anxiety, increased isolation from family and friends, agitated behavior or being fearful. Among other manifestations of this condition is lowered confidence and esteem, addiction to drugs and escapist mannerisms. This person is usually so damaged that he or she feels worthless.

Once you notice that your behavior has started to change, it is perhaps time to seek professional assistance. You will notice that you can no longer find satisfaction in your social life or work. You will have to start by determining whether the changes are conflicted or abusive. One can do this reality check by using the information in books, the internet, counselors or health professionals.

The city of Seattle, WA has very many professionals who can treat your condition. Not all of them are as effective, however. Some of them are beginners and hardly understand the full extent of the disorder or treatment procedure. To be on the safe side, consider hiring a counselor who has enough experience. Experience increases understanding and hence efficiency.

Before any medication can be used to treat the person, the health worker has to understand the disorder that he or she is handling. This means that he or she will have to ascertain information from the victim. These sessions are designed to enable the practitioner to understand the patient clearly. This is done through communication. Effective communication skills are paramount, therefore.

Another effective way of hiring experts is by using the testimonial approach. This method requires that one does some background research on the service provider. Get to know the kind of services that they have been offering to customers. You can either use reference contacts or online customer review platforms.

It is essential that this expert belongs to a professional society within your community. These professional bodies hold their members to high standards of professionalism and integrity. Such a service provider will have good work ethics, traditions and core values. You can further crosscheck for them via the Better Business Bureau.




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