This is the type of abuse in which the abuser regularly humiliates and controls the victim by the use of verbal language, preventing him or her from making any independent decisions free from the abuser. It is pretty well known that feeling abused on an emotional level led to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and other emotions. Emotional abuse should also be reported, and getting counselling is the first step to recovery.

Understanding Emotional Abuse

Regardless of the various signs, emotional abuse is a mild one, which makes it hard to diagnose, especially at this stage.

Some common forms of emotional abuse include:

• Refusing to accept the victim’s emotions and views as genuine
• Having to constantly listen to criticism, be humiliated, and verbally abused.
• Intermittent reinforcement is where the abuser uses either affection or abuse randomly or at different varying intervals.
• Gaslighting, where the abuser tells the victim that he or she is crazy

These behaviors generate an emotional roller coaster that only an expert can address. Emotional abuse therapy involves the victim having the patterns explained to him/her, the process through which he/she realizes that he/she is being abused, and how to deal with the abuser.

Kinds of Therapy for Victims of Emotional Abuse

Different types of ways to help emotionally abusive victims exist and include the following:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is another popular therapeutic model employed in managing Emotional Abuse as it deals with replacing negative beliefs and actions with positive ones. Theoretical treatment focuses on changing unsuitable beliefs, avoiding maladaptive patterns of coping, and putting in place a social network to support the victim throughout treatment and afterward.

Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT).

DBT is another therapy that is done for managing emotions. This therapy assists the victims in detecting, comprehending and regulate their feelings, teaches them better ways of handling themselves, and enhances the methods they use to convey themselves. DBT is generally helpful when dealing with victims who suffer from other illnesses, such as borderline personality disorder.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy facilitates client’s reclaiming their stories and possibly having a positive spin on them. This approach helps the victim to detach the experience from self and assists the survivor in reframing the script for his or her life.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a treatment technique aimed at enabling victims to self-process traumatic events through eye movement to ease emotional pain. It is most beneficial to those victims with PTSD or severe anxiety deriving from the emotional abuse.

The Healing Process

Recovery from emotional abuse differs from one client to the other due to the difference in intensity and time period of abuse.

Some standard stages in therapy include:

• Courtesy and appreciation of the abuse and its effects on the abused person
• E-learning about the patterns of abuse emotionally.
• Behavior therapy is about developing the techniques of recognizing negative thought patterns and cognitive distortions and confronting them.
• Compulsory resolution of conflicts and formation of constructive patterns of thinking and perceiving.
• Establishing contacts that one can count on to help in the process of rehabilitation
• Treating clients with dual diagnosis and history of trauma
• Explaining a process to the victim, encouraging them to make the right choices, and standing up for themselves.

Coping Mechanisms

During therapy, the victims are taught different strategies that would enable them to control their feelings and not fall prey to the tactics of the people abusing them.

Some of these techniques include:

• It ensures that people get proactive; that is, they stand up for themselves and learn how to communicate assertively.
• Learn to identify negative thoughts and beliefs and how to combat them.
• Building external and internal safety mechanisms
• Education on how to obtain and maintain good friendship and family support
• Applying mindfulness and relaxation to treat separative stress and other forms of anxiety
• Participating in reflective and writing practice to record progress and create a healthier attitude.

Importance of Support

Emotional abuse victims need support in order to recover. It is so vital for victims to have people in their lives who support them, tell the abuser to stop, and encourage the victim to express herself or himself. Therapists and counselors can rely on friends, families, and support groups to provide the needed encouragement and directions in the course of the therapy sessions.

Moving Forward

Emotional abuse therapy is about helping such victims empower them to let go of their abusers and be on their own. Although recovery is a process that lasts a lifetime, therapy helps a victim build the necessary coping skills they need to stay emotionally and psychologically balanced as well as cultivate a healthy intimate relationship. Do not forget that asking for assistance is something admirable, and getting better is entirely possible with help and motivation.