Recovery Group for Women with Controlling Partners
Whether physical violence, or psychological abuse, or both, healing is essential to truly breaking out of the psychological entrapment created by a controlling partner. The groups give women hope by showing them how they can rescue themselves and take back control of their own lives.
The groups involve education, becoming aware and using it to change. The change that needs to take place is inside you, not between you and your partner. You don’t need to outwardly resist your partner since it could cause you greater harm. The change you need to feel better is inside you—a place you have control. Building internal resistance to your partner’s coercive influence is the way to stay focused on your own beliefs and feelings to heal. From a position of knowledge and emotional strength, be in the best position to address concerns regarding the relationship.
The groups for women with controlling partners:
- Makes psychological abuse less elusive and more easily recognizable.
- Identifies how women are taken captive psychologically and often made to feel crazy, when they’re not.
- Helps women to “see” their controlling partners’ coercive tactics and understand them as psychological abuse,
- Shows women how their partners’ controlling behaviors cause ”hidden injuries” (such as confusion, fear, self-doubt, shame, depression and low self esteem), common reactions to psychological abuse that strengthen entrapment.
- Shows the traumatic impact psychological abuse exerts on their mental and physical health by identifying current symptoms,
- Teaches strategies for staying safe from physical abuse and psychological abuse,
- Helps women to restore and “find” themselves again.
All groups are strictly confidential.
What participants say about these groups:
The group was the best thing ever. At first I didn’t think it was going to help, but it was one of the best things I ever did in my life. It was good to know that this has happened to other women—smart women—who are doing something about it
The education of what has happened to me has given me strength and helped me to grow. It was helpful to tell my story in an environment of acceptance and support…powerful to have my feelings validated and to know that I am not alone. This has been a very helpful experience for me. I liked the ”teaching” aspect of the group and also the ability to interact and share. Understanding what has been happening to me, the abusive treatment of my husband, along with individual counseling will help me gain my life back for me, and my children.
[The group was] great. It was a good reality check and very informative. It was affirming that emotional abuse exists and there are commonalities with other women. The support was wonderful—made me feel less crazy!
This was the most valuable and relevant group experience I have had regarding my relationship and I have done other groups.
It was a huge help towards not feeling alone, or like I’m crazy—imagining what is going on. It is also freeing to be with a group of women who just get it.
