West Vancouver Domestic Violence Therapy

Safety and Support When You Need It Most

You're walking on eggshells constantly, never knowing what will set them off. Or maybe you're the one who lost control and hurt someone you love and you're horrified at yourself. Domestic violence isn't just physical - it's controlling who you see, tracking your phone, financial abuse, constant put-downs that destroy your self-worth, threats, intimidation. Whether you're being hurt or you're the one causing harm, West Vancouver domestic violence counselling provides specialized support that addresses safety first, then helps you either leave safely or change abusive patterns, depending on which side of the abuse you're on.

We work with people throughout West Vancouver - from Horseshoe Bay to British Properties - dealing with domestic violence in their relationships.

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Domestic violence counseling provides trauma-informed support for victims and specialized intervention for people who've been abusive and genuinely want to change.

Benefits of Domestic Violence Counselling

1. The biggest benefit for victims? Understanding that abuse isn't your fault and you deserve safety and respect. Domestic violence counseling helps you recognise abuse patterns, develop a safety plan, process trauma, and figure out whether to stay or leave - on your own timeline, not anyone else's.
    

2. Counseling for domestic violence addresses the specific dynamics of abusive relationships. The cycle of tension building, explosion, honeymoon period, repeat. How abusers isolate victims from support. Why leaving is so dangerous and complicated. How trauma bonding keeps you attached to someone who hurts you. Understanding these patterns helps you see clearly instead of blaming yourself.
    

3. For people who've been abusive, domestic violence counseling for abusers helps you take responsibility, understand what drives your behaviour, and learn to handle anger and conflict without violence or control. This isn't couples therapy trying to fix the relationship - it's individual work on why you hurt people and how to stop.
    

4. Counseling for domestic violence victims helps you process trauma from abuse. The physical violence, yes, but also the psychological damage from constant criticism, control, and fear. Trauma from being hurt by someone who claims to love you creates complex wounds that need specialized treatment.
    

5. We help you develop safety planning whether you're staying or leaving. How to protect yourself and kids during explosions. What to grab if you need to leave quickly. Where you can go. Who can help. Documentation for potential legal action. Safety planning saves lives.
    

6. Domestic violence and counseling work together to address why you stay even when you know it's bad. Financial dependence. Fear of escalation if you leave. Caring about the person despite the abuse. Hope they'll change. Shame about what people will think. Religious or cultural pressure. These barriers are real and counselling helps you navigate them.
    

7. For those considering leaving, counseling domestic violence provides support for the most dangerous time. Leaving often escalates violence. We help you plan a safe exit, connect with resources like shelters and legal advocates, and process the grief and fear that come with ending an abusive relationship.
    

8. Domestic violence counseling for the abuser addresses accountability first. You can't fix abusive behaviour until you fully accept responsibility without minimizing, blaming your partner, or making excuses. Real change requires honest acknowledgment of harm you've caused.

Creekside Counselling's Approach to Domestic Violence Counselling

For victims, we start with safety assessment. Are you currently in danger? Do you have somewhere safe to go if needed? Are children involved and safe? What's your support system? Understanding your immediate safety needs comes before any other therapeutic work.

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Counseling domestic violence victims includes education about abuse patterns so you can recognise what's happening isn't normal or your fault. Physical violence, emotional abuse, financial control, sexual coercion, isolation, threats - these are all abuse. Naming it helps you stop minimizing or making excuses.

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We help you develop a comprehensive safety plan. Code words to signal danger to friends or family. Important documents kept somewhere safe. Money hidden if possible. Bag packed with necessities. Plan for where you'll go. Safety for pets if you have them. These concrete plans can save your life.

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Domestic violence counseling includes trauma processing when you're safe enough for that work. EMDR and trauma-focused approaches help you heal from the abuse without retraumatizing you. We pace this work carefully based on your current safety situation.

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For people who've been abusive, counseling domestic violence work starts with taking full responsibility. No "but she provoked me" or "I was drunk" or "it wasn't that bad." Until you own your behaviour completely, change isn't possible. This accountability work is uncomfortable but non-negotiable.

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Domestic violence counseling for abusers addresses what drives abusive behaviour. Belief you're entitled to control your partner. Using fear and intimidation to get what you want. Not handling anger or rejection well. Learned patterns from your own family. Substance use lowering inhibitions. Understanding causes doesn't excuse abuse but helps you change.

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We teach abusive individuals how to handle anger, conflict, and relationship stress without violence or control. Recognising warning signs you're escalating. Taking timeouts before you become abusive. Expressing needs without demands or threats. Handling rejection or disagreement without punishment. These skills prevent future abuse.

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We do NOT provide domestic violence couples counseling or domestic violence marriage counseling when violence is active because it's dangerous and often makes abuse worse. Only after violence has stopped completely for an extended period (usually a year minimum), the abusive partner has done extensive individual work, and the relationship is genuinely voluntary for the victim might couples work be considered - and even then, very carefully.

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For victims, we coordinate with other resources. Shelters for safe housing. Legal advocates for protection orders. Police for criminal charges. Child protection when kids are involved. Financial assistance programs. Support groups for domestic violence survivors. You need a whole team, not just a therapist.

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Domestic violence and counseling also includes helping you rebuild after leaving. Processing grief over the relationship ending even though it was abusive. Addressing self-blame and shame. Building confidence and independence after being controlled. Learning to trust again. Dating safely when you're ready. Preventing patterns from repeating in future relationships.

Pricing Information

Domestic violence counseling sessions are $185 per 50-minute individual session. For victims in crisis or financial hardship, we work on sliding scale when possible and can connect you with funding resources.

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Length of treatment varies. Safety planning and immediate crisis support might be a few sessions. Trauma recovery from years of abuse takes longer - 6-12 months or more. For people who've been abusive, changing entrenched patterns typically requires 6-12 months minimum of consistent weekly work.

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We provide receipts for insurance. Most extended health plans in BC cover trauma and domestic violence counseling. Crime Victim Assistance Program covers therapy for victims of violent crime including domestic violence - we can help you apply.

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Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs with free sessions. Victim services through police can connect you with free or low-cost counseling. We help you access whatever resources are available so cost doesn't prevent you from getting help.

Areas We Serve