Category: Abuse / Survivors of Abuse

The Good Therapy Blog

Witnessing Domestic Violence Decreases Gray Matter Volume

May 10th, 2013 . 7 Comments

Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at much greater risk of developing psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress (PTSD) when compared to children who have never witnessed domestic violence. Being a witness to abuse, verbal aggression, or physical violence can increase a child’s chances of exhibiting behavior problems such as defiance, aggression,... Read More

Mood Disorders Common Among Mothers Who Commit Filicide

April 18th, 2013 . 11 Comments

Filicide, the term assigned to the act of a child homicide by a parent, is the most common type of homicide among children. When parents kill their child, mental health issues are often thought to play a role. However, research exploring the relationship between mental illness and filicide is limited. To better understand which parents are at risk for perpetrating filicide, and what mental health issues increase that risk, Sandra M. Flynn of the Centre for Mental... Read More

The Cathartic Effect of Aggression

April 15th, 2013 . 4 Comments

According to the results of a recent study, not all aggression is bad. Konrad Bresin of the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently conducted two separate studies examining the cathartic effect of aggression. Bresin wanted to counter the existing body of research on aggression, which suggests that for the most part, aggression is maladaptive and has only negative consequences, such as violence. Bresin based his research on the catharsis ... Read More

Are Stepchildren at Higher Risk for Abuse Than Biological Children?

April 9th, 2013 . 6 Comments

According to sociobiology, genetic preservation is at the core of human behavior. Because it is inherent in our genetic structure to ensure survival, individuals are predisposed to take measures to guarantee their genetic survival. In other words, they favor strategies and methods that will increase the likelihood of their family lineage being carried on. This is done through positive and negative methods. Positively, people have children so that their genetic tree... Read More

Type and Frequency of Childhood Sexual Abuse Affects Psychological Outcome

April 4th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Nearly half of all children with some form of psychological problem have a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Adult survivors of CSA often develop significant mental health issues as a result. Feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem can lead to internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. People who have been victims of CSA have much higher rates of suicidal... Read More

Coping with My Mother’s Reaction to Sibling Sexual Abuse

March 28th, 2013 . 11 Comments

My family moved to England from the United States when I was very young. My first memories are British ones. I remember learning to tie my school tie, and being proud of the little sword and shield crest on my tiny blazer. When I was 7, we moved back to America. Shortly after arriving back in the United States, my older brother began his sexual advances. I have never been able to find out what had happened to him before he began to repeat the behavior, or when and where it occurred, but I am sure he was abused at a point prior to moving back to... Read More

Socioeconomic Disadvantage Increases Risk of Partner Violence for Women

March 26th, 2013 . 3 Comments

Intimate partner violence (IPV) takes many forms, including physical violence, emotional abuse, and sexual violence. Research into IPV has explored a variety of factors that influence risk for IPV. It has been theorized that individuals from lower socioeconomic communities may be at greater risk for IPV because of increased exposure to risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, aggression,... Read More

Those with PTSD May Have Impaired Emotional Regulation

March 22nd, 2013 . 4 Comments

Individuals have different reactions to trauma. People who have experienced significant childhood trauma, including childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse may develop serious psychological problems as a result. Some people who suffer the loss of a loved one can develop symptoms of depression and children of depressed parents may have impaired ability to... Read More

Angry, Controlling Fiancé Wants Me to Move In with His Parents

March 15th, 2013 . 13 Comments

I am seeing a lot of red flags here. The behaviors you are describing—having to approve of what you wear, not “allowing” you to play online, watch movies, see friends, leave the house—none of this is OK. You have not done anything wrong. What you are describing are typical patterns of behaviors in abusive relationships. I am not saying that your fiancé is abusive, but the fact you say you are terrified of him and his anger is significant. Abuse can take many forms, not just physical. Some of the warning signs of current and possible future... Read More

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The Effects of Incarceration on Mental Health

March 15th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Although jail time might seem like a distant possibility for most people, incarceration rates in the United States are steadily rising. One study published in the journal Pediatrics found that 41% of young adults have been arrested by the time they are 23. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that 6.6% of people serve time in prison at some point in their lives, and the statistic rises to a shocking 32% for African-American men. More than half of inmates are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. As state mental hospitals continue to close... Read More

Counseling Issues for Arranged Marriages

March 14th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Arranged marriages remain relatively rare in the United States, but are a common cultural practice in many countries. As many as 55% of all marriages globally are arranged, most of them in South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Immigrants and children thereof are sometimes involved in marriages arranged by third parties in the U.S. Although the practice remains controversial due to concerns such as freedom of choice and the oppression of... Read More

A Cousin May Have Molested My Sister Decades Ago … Should I Let It Go?

March 8th, 2013 . 15 Comments

Thank you for writing in. This sounds like a very complicated situation fraught with the potential for significant consequences for many people, some of whom you love dearly. I’m curious why your mother chose to share this tragic portion of your family history with you now, after all these years. Is she proposing to do something about it? Is she trying to unburden herself after carrying this disturbing knowledge alone for so many years? Does she have reason to believe that your cousin is abusing his children and/or members of the football... Read More

New Study Details Benefits of Interventions for Child Abuse/Neglect

March 7th, 2013 . 8 Comments

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has declared that interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment, neglect, and abuse did not have enough scientific and clinical support in order to be deemed useful. Therefore, the USPSTF could not recommend these strategies as part of its aim to reduce child abuse. This determination was made nearly a decade ago, and since that time, several studies have been conducted to find out exactly what benefits... Read More

Who Tells the World What Therapy Is (and with What Consequences)?

March 6th, 2013 . 12 Comments

It is of the greatest concern to me that therapy is being presented on television in a way that definitely does not represent the best of psychotherapy as I know it. This by itself interferes with people finding out what help is truly possible when they need therapy, want therapy, or are called to therapy as a means of healing and growing, building their capacity to feel, live in truth, and reach their full potential. Not only is therapy being presented in a compromised... Read More