Domestic abuse trauma

Domestic Violence
and Abuse Counseling

Find safety, restore autonomy, and figure out
next steps with compassionate support.

Domestic abuse and violence is disorientating, terrifying and devastating to your sense of self. While it can leave deep emotional and physical scars, healing is possible. Whether you’re currently in an abusive relationship, just out of one, or recovering from the impact, our experienced counselors provide a safe, supportive environment to guide your journey toward freedom and healing.

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What is
Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is a pattern of behavior used to control, intimidate, or harm a partner. It can take many forms, including:

  • – Emotional Abuse: Manipulation, verbal attacks, or humiliation.
  • – Physical Abuse: Violence or physical intimidation.
  • – Financial Abuse: Restricting access to work, money or resources.
  • – Sexual Abuse: Coercion or violation of consent.
  • – Spiritual Abuse: using spiritual “values” to control you.

These experiences often leave survivors feeling trapped, isolated, and powerless. You are not alone, and healing is possible.

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The Impact
of Domestic Abuse

The effects of domestic abuse don’t end when the abuse stops—they can affect your
emotional well-being, relationships, and sense of safety.

Survivors often experience:

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Emotional Challenges

Lots of feelings of disorientation, confusion, and sometimes guilt

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Trust Issues

Difficulty trusting yourself or establishing healthy boundaries

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Physical Symptoms

Chronic stress, fatigue, or other health problems

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Self-Doubt

Questioning your worth, decisions, or ability to move forward

You deserve to feel safe, valued, and empowered, and our therapy is here to help you get there.

How We Help

Our trauma-focused therapy provides a pathway to healing that is tailored to your needs and experiences. Here’s how we work with survivors of domestic abuse:

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1

Reclaim Safety

Establish a safe emotional and physical space where you can begin your healing journey.
If necessary, we can help you develop a safety or escape plan

2

Orient yourself

domestic violence really spins your compass.
Your therapist will help you re-ground yourself in reality, assert your own truth, and return to making your own choices

3

Process the Trauma

Work through the impact of abuse in a gentle, non-judgmental environment

4

Build Resilience

Develop tools to rebuild self-esteem, set boundaries, and create a fulfilling, abuse-free future of either independence or healthy interdependence

Our evidence-based approaches, including EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Emotionally Focussed Individual Therapy, help you restore normal, healthy functioning to your life

Connect With a Therapist

Our Expertise in Domestic Abuse

Our therapists are highly trained in helping survivors of domestic abuse reclaim their lives
in a way that supports their autonomy and independence. With empathy and expertise, they provide
a safe space for healing and growth

Works with

Areas of Interest

Gender

Overwhelmed by the options? Schedule a Free Consultation and we’ll help you choose the right team member

Schedule a Consultation
Melissa Bonnell
Melissa Bonnell MAMFT, CACFT Associate, CCC | Immediate availability

Melissa Bonnell specializes in couples and family therapy, trauma recovery, and life transitions. With a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and trauma-informed training, she uses Narrative Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy to support clients through relational difficulties, betrayal recovery, and childhood trauma. Melissa's warm, non-judgmental approach creates a safe space for healing. Passionate about family, she brings empathy and commitment to each therapy journey, helping individuals and families navigate challenges and grow together.

Verlynda Simonyi-Gindele
Verlynda Simonyi-Gindele MAMFT, CACFT Associate | Immediate availability

Verlynda Simonyi-Gindele is a compassionate therapist and co-founder of Therapevo Counseling. She specializes in adolescents, young adults, couples, and trauma recovery. With a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, Verlynda integrates Emotionally Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Brainspotting to support clients through challenges like infidelity, betrayal, and emotional struggles. She provides a compassionate, empathetic environment for healing, helping individuals and couples navigate difficult life transitions. Verlynda is also the co-host of the “Normalize Therapy” podcast and hosts an annual Christian Marriage Cruise.

Lilien Kovács-Hélisz
Lilien Kovács-Hélisz MA, RCC | Immediate availability

Lilien Kovács-Hélisz is a compassionate Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in trauma therapy, couples counseling, and addiction recovery. With a Master’s in Psychology and certifications in EMDR, Schema Therapy, and Family Therapy, she integrates multiple therapeutic approaches to support clients through personal growth and healing. Lilien focuses on creating a safe, empathetic environment for clients to explore their challenges. She works with individuals, teens, and families, helping them build resilience, self-compassion, and navigate life’s transitions with confidence.

Ricky Aguilar
Ricky Aguilar MAMFT, RCC | Immediate availability

Ricky Aguilar is a compassionate therapist specializing in family and couples counseling, pornography addiction, and trauma recovery. With a B.S. in Counselling Psychology and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, Ricky uses systemic approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Fluent in English and Spanish, he offers a culturally sensitive approach, working with adolescents, young adults, and families to process emotions and foster healthier relationships. Ricky is passionate about helping clients navigate challenges and build stronger connections.

Korey Reimer
Korey Reimer MC, CCC | Immediate availability

Korey Reimer brings to his work as a therapist over 15 years of experience in ministry, offering a compassionate, empathetic approach to therapy. He specializes in helping individuals, couples, and adolescents navigate anxiety, betrayal trauma, pornography addiction, and spiritual issues. Korey uses Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Emotion-Focused therapy to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for growth. He is passionate about helping clients achieve personal healing and wholeness, fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships and offering guidance on life's challenges.

Shemiya Ruud
Shemiya Ruud MC, CCC, CACFT Associate | Immediate availability

Shemiya Ruud specializes in couples, family counseling, and trauma recovery. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and attachment-based interventions, Shemiya creates a warm, client-centered approach to help individuals and families reach their goals. She has a passion for guiding clients through relational challenges, including grief, addiction, and childhood trauma. With a focus on systemic healing, Shemiya values a collaborative, strengths-based approach, allowing clients to navigate their unique journeys to healing and growth.

Bailey Tonn
Bailey Tonn CACFT Student Member | Immediate availability

Bailey Tonn is an intern therapist completing his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Specializing in couples counseling, premarital counseling, affair recovery, and grief support, Bailey uses Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help individuals and couples navigate relational challenges. He integrates other approaches like Internal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to support personal growth and emotional connection. Bailey’s compassionate, client-centered approach fosters healing and resilience, guiding clients toward deeper relationships and improved well-being.

Christal Wilson
Christal Wilson MDiv, RP | Immediate availability

Christal Wilson is a compassionate therapist specializing in relationship enhancement, trauma recovery, and life transitions. With a Master of Divinity in Clinical Counseling, she uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and trauma-informed approaches to support individuals, couples, and families. Christal is certified in EMDR and Sex Addiction Therapy, offering a personalized, empathetic approach to help clients heal, rebuild self-esteem, and navigate challenges. Her warm and creative style empowers clients to grow and find resilience.

Jesse Schellenberg
Jesse Schellenberg MAMFT, RCC, RP | Available next week

Jesse Schellenberg is a dedicated therapist specializing in couples therapy, marriage counseling, and relationship issues. Holding a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as degrees in Christian Studies and Theology, Jesse uses techniques such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, and EMDR to help clients navigate challenges like sexual intimacy, pornography addiction, and trauma. His compassionate, non-judgmental approach fosters trust and healing for individuals and couples alike.

Mari Lee Ayers
Mari Lee Ayers MA, CPC, CT | Available next week

Mari Lee Ayers specializes in building healthier relationships, co-dependency, 12-step recovery, trauma, and grief. Mari Lee takes an eclectic approach, incorporating Attachment Theory, Neuroscience, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. She believes in a holistic, client-centered process, guiding individuals toward self-compassion and healing. Mari Lee offers tailored interventions and tools to empower clients in their personal growth and transformation.

Jessica Myles
Jessica Myles CACFT Student Member | Available next week

Jessica Myles is an intern therapist completing her Master of Arts in Couples and Family Therapy. Bringing ten years of experience in the helping field to her work as a therapist, Jessica specializes in couples therapy, pre-marital counseling, divorce therapy, and supporting neurodivergent couples. She incorporates Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST) in her work. Jessica provides a compassionate, safe space for clients to explore their emotions, boundaries, and healing, helping them navigate life’s challenges and find growth and self-discovery.

Ron de Jager
Ron de Jager CCPA Student Member | Available next week

Ron de Jager brings to the therapy room his background in music and teaching. His holistic, client-centered approach focuses on building a strong therapeutic alliance, helping clients address challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and addiction. Ron offers a compassionate, empathic presence, tailoring therapy to individual needs. He is dedicated to providing a safe space for personal growth, healing, and coping, particularly for those struggling with performance anxiety or spiritual issues.

Jennifer L. Cole
Jennifer L. Cole MA, CCC, MACA, SEP | Waitlisting

Jennifer is a compassionate therapist specializing in trauma, addiction, relationship counseling, and spiritual formation. With a Master of Arts in Counseling and extensive training in Somatic Experiencing (SE), she offers a holistic, client-centered approach that integrates mind, emotions, and body sensations to heal trauma. Jennifer works with individuals, couples, and families, addressing issues like infidelity, grief, and co-dependency. She is passionate about supporting clients through life’s challenges, promoting healing, resilience, and personal growth.

Mike Takkinen
Mike Takkinen MA, CPC, CSAT | Waitlisting

Mike Takkinen is an experienced therapist specializing in relationship counseling, addiction recovery, and mental health issues. With a background in both clinical and theological studies, he integrates his personal values of authenticity, transparency, and collaboration into his therapeutic approach. Mike helps individuals and couples navigate challenges like addiction, anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict. He uses practical strategies aligned with clients' values, fostering trust and growth, while offering support through life's milestones and transitions.

Sharon Snooks
Sharon Snooks RSSW, SEP | Waitlisting

Sharon Snooks is an experienced therapist specializing in trauma, grief, loss, and mental health challenges. With over 30 years in social services, Sharon has a deep understanding of how trauma impacts individuals and families. She offers evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, IFS, and Somatic Experiencing™. Sharon’s compassionate, trauma-informed approach helps clients regain hope, heal, and restore growth. She specializes in crisis stabilization, betrayal trauma, and nervous system regulation, creating a safe space for healing and personal development.

Caleb Simonyi-Gindele
Caleb Simonyi-Gindele MAMFT, RCC-ACS, CSAT | No availability

Caleb Simonyi-Gindele is the co-founder and Clinical Director at Therapevo, specializing in infidelity recovery, trauma, and addiction therapy. With a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy and certifications in Sex Addiction Therapy, Caleb uses a research-based approach informed by family systems, attachment theory, and trauma. Known for his calm, steady presence, he creates a safe, non-judgmental space for clients. Caleb helps individuals navigate complex issues like betrayal, abuse, and chronic lying.

Dianne Kuglin
Dianne Kuglin MA, MC, CPC, CCAC | No availability

Dianne specializes in addiction, trauma, and relationship challenges. With a Master of Counselling and certifications in addiction counseling, she helps individuals and couples navigate issues like sex and porn addiction, infidelity, and grief. Dianne’s solution-focused approach empowers clients to heal and rebuild. Combining professional expertise with personal experience, she creates a supportive space for growth and transformation, guiding clients toward healthier relationships and well-being.

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Why Choose Us?

01

Safe and Supportive Care

We provide a compassionate, judgment-free environment where your story is heard and validated

02

Proven Trauma Recovery Methods

Our therapists use evidence-based
techniques tailored to your needs

03

Accessible and Confidential

Access therapy from the comfort of your home via secure online sessions

No matter where you are in your journey, we’re here to support you as you reclaim your life.

Reach Out for Support →

FAQs About
Domestic Abuse Trauma Therapy

Can I seek therapy while still in an abusive relationship?

Yes, therapy can help you process your experiences to date, evaluate your current safety, plan for next steps, and gain support while navigating the complexities of your present situation.

How long does it take to heal from domestic abuse trauma?

Healing from domestic abuse trauma is a complex and deeply personal journey, and there’s no set timeline. It’s crucial to understand that recovery is possible, but it takes time and dedicated effort. Therapy helps by providing a space where you can process trauma, rediscover your voice and your own power and autonomy, and rebuild your self-esteem.

Will I have to talk about everything that happened?

You decide what to share and when. We focus on creating a safe, empowering space where you feel in control of the pace and content of conversation.

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

You don’t have to face this alone. Take the first step toward healing and freedom today.

Get Started Today →
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