Therapy for Abuse
Therapy for Abuse in Hampshire
Abuse or neglect can be a difficult experience to live through. When people think of abuse, they tend to think of something physical that leaves visible marks, like physical harm or unwanted sexual contact. While this is, of course, a form of abuse, it’s also important to understand emotional abuse and mental abuse, which leave invisible wounds that are just as damaging.
Taking the first step to healing from abuse can seem daunting, but if you’re willing to commit to this difficult experience, I’m here to help. I offer a compassionate space for you to heal completely through my abuse therapy sessions in my Hampshire clinic or online.
Call +44 7584 354041 or email me at info@drmcphee.co.uk to schedule a 15-minute complimentary session.
Understanding The Different Types of Abuse
There are various types of abuse, and it’s important to understand exactly the kind of abuse you experienced before looking for ways to heal.
Here are some of the most common types of abuse:
Childhood abuse or neglect is when a parent or caregiver fails to care for their child’s needs and/or harms them physically, sexually, or psychologically. Abuse and neglect in children can take many forms, from emotional abuse to physical or sexual abuse, and can happen in any situation, in school, at home, or online.
Abuse in childhood has been proven to negatively impact the child’s growth and development, as well as their health, education, and relationships. It can make it difficult to cope with life’s stresses as an adult, leading to lasting mental health problems, addiction issues, and criminal tendencies.
With my therapy for childhood abuse, my aim is to help you break free from the vice-like grip of childhood abuse.
Emotional abuse, also known as psychological abuse or verbal abuse, is a type of psychological harm inflicted by one person on another with harmful, degrading, belittling, and derogatory words and/or behaviour. This type of abuse can harm a person’s mental well-being and overall ability to function.
Emotional abuse can take different forms, from inflicting excessive control to humiliating and degrading someone, but it often means to control or frighten the victim into submission. Although not physical, emotional abuse can result in lasting damage and trauma in the victim, leaving them feeling anxious, depressed, and even suicidal.
I encourage you to find solace from the wounds of emotional abuse with my bespoke therapy for verbal abuse.
Like emotional or psychological abuse, mental abuse belongs to the spectrum of abuse that has lasting effects on a person’s mental well-being. The abuser aims to cause some form of mental trauma through actions, threats, or coercive tactics to gain control.
Common mental abuse tactics include making false accusations, displaying extreme jealousy, constantly highlighting flaws, and controlling the money you spend.
My therapy for mental abuse can help you process the psychological impact of abusive behaviour and begin healing.
Sexual abuse involves engaging in sexual acts against the consent of a person. From unwanted exposure to porn to rape, sexual abuse can manifest in multiple forms. The short and long-term effects of sexual abuse can be debilitating, from physical injuries from the assault to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
I’m here to help you heal the emotional and mental scars of sexual abuse in my therapy sessions for sexual abuse survivors.
When somebody uses physical force against a person, this is classed as physical abuse.
Physical abuse can cause bodily harm and can take many forms, such as slapping, pushing or shaking, kicking, spitting or biting, pulling hair, depriving of sleep or food, trying to strangle or drown, or even using weapons. Abusive relationships often go through a cycle of violence, becoming more intense or worse over time.
I encourage you to open a dialogue to heal the physical and psychological wounds with my compassionate therapy for physical abuse.
Domestic abuse is another type of abuse, which often involves a combination of mental, physical, sexual, and financial abuse, usually committed by a current relationship partner or ex-partner.
Find refuge for your psychological and physical distress in my therapy for domestic abuse sessions.
Abuse can happen to anyone and at any age, and no-one is deserving of this treatment. If you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse of any kind, don’t hesitate to seek help and process the trauma it leaves behind.
Challenges Addressed in Abuse Therapy
Healing from abuse is not just about talking—it’s about reclaiming your sense of safety, self-worth, and emotional balance. Below are some of the common challenges I help clients work through in abuse therapy:
Abuse can shatter your sense of safety and make it hard to trust others—even those close to you. You might always be on edge or assume people will hurt or reject you.
Survivors often carry misplaced guilt or internalise the belief that the abuse was their fault. This can deeply affect your self-esteem and lead to ongoing self-criticism.
You might feel like the abuse is still happening, even years later. Trauma can cause your body and mind to relive the experience in vivid, distressing ways.
You may feel emotionally numb, constantly overwhelmed, or easily triggered by small things. Anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety may feel out of proportion or hard to manage.
Abuse survivors often learn to prioritise others’ needs to avoid conflict. This can lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling invisible in your own life.
You may struggle with setting boundaries, saying no, or recognising healthy versus unhealthy dynamics in relationships.
Many survivors feel like they’ve lost touch with who they are. You may feel broken, disconnected, or unsure of your values, desires, or purpose.
How Dr McPhee’s Abuse Therapy Can Help
Therapy can be a powerful and impactful treatment for various types of abuse. My therapy for domestic abuse aims to help you talk about your experience and take a step towards healing. In my abuse therapy sessions, we’ll visit your past experiences and events at your pace, while working on various approaches that help you heal from the trauma of abuse that you’ve faced.
I’m a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and hold an advanced certificate in Schema therapy. In my fifteen years of experience, I’ve been offering a research-backed, compassionate, and tailored approach for people struggling with psychological issues, including abuse.
My abuse therapy approach blends the best of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and schema therapy techniques, with each session personalised to fit your needs.
Here’s some more detail about the therapy techniques that I commonly use:
We’ll work with your mistrust/abuse schema to help rebuild a sense of safety and trust, especially if you’ve experienced childhood abuse or neglect. This approach supports deep emotional healing and strengthens your ability to form healthier relationships.
EMDR is an effective, structured therapy that helps you reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or intrusive. It’s particularly helpful in reducing symptoms of PTSD and emotional flashbacks related to abuse.
CBT can help manage the anxiety, fear, and emotional distress that often follow abusive experiences. You’ll learn practical skills to calm your nervous system, express your emotions more freely, and replace unhelpful coping strategies with healthier ones.
CFT helps reduce shame and self-blame which are common after abuse, by fostering self-compassion and emotional regulation. This approach can be especially supportive if you experience high levels of inner criticism or guilt related to the abuse.
When offering DBT therapy for sexual abuse, I’ll work with you in processing the trauma of an abusive experience and reducing your PTSD symptoms. You’ll learn mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques to cope with psychological distress.
My Abuse Therapy Process
Abuse Therapy with Dr McPhee
Overcoming the negative psychological and physical effects of abuse can be incredibly challenging and draining. But you don’t have to do it all alone, and I can be your guide in this journey.
If you’re ready to heal from abuse and rebuild yourself, join one of my abuse therapy sessions today.
As your psychologist, I’m here to work with you at your pace and guide you as you move away from the overwhelming negative experiences of abuse. Depending on your comfort levels and convenience, you can choose between in-person sessions at my Hampshire clinic or online sessions. Over the course of our therapy sessions, you’ll learn to heal and regain your sense of self.
Call +44 7584354041 or email me at info@drmcphee.co.uk to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation.
If you’ve experienced any form of abuse—physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological—and find yourself struggling with trust, boundaries, low self-worth, anxiety, or flashbacks, therapy can offer a safe and structured space to begin healing. You don’t need to have all the answers or meet a specific “criteria” to seek support. If something doesn’t feel right, you deserve to be heard and supported.
In our sessions, we move at your pace. You will never be forced to talk about anything before you’re ready. Together, we’ll work on understanding your experiences, processing trauma, and developing tools to help you feel safer, stronger, and more in control. We may use techniques from Schema Therapy, EMDR, CFT, DBT, or CBT—depending on what feels right for you.
That’s completely okay. Abuse therapy doesn’t require you to share every detail. The focus is on helping you feel safe, validated, and empowered. Sometimes, just understanding your emotional responses or building stability is a powerful first step.
Yes. Many people seek therapy years—even decades—after the abuse occurred. The effects of trauma can linger and resurface at different points in life. Therapy can help you make sense of these experiences, release shame, and build a renewed sense of self-worth.
I integrate evidence-based therapies like Schema Therapy, EMDR, CBT, DBT, and CFT. This means we don’t just work on symptom relief—we explore the underlying patterns created by abuse and help you reconnect with your core self. The goal isn’t just recovery, but emotional resilience, healthier relationships, and a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.
Unfortunately, yes—and it’s something I work with often. Many survivors carry misplaced guilt or feel responsible for the abuse. Therapy can help untangle those beliefs and restore compassion for yourself. You did not deserve what happened to you.
Many clients question or minimise their experiences. If something felt unsafe, neglectful, or emotionally damaging, it matters—and it’s worth exploring. You don’t need to label it perfectly to seek help. If your past is affecting your present, therapy can help.
Yes. Many survivors find that trauma affects how they relate to others—whether it’s fear of intimacy, people-pleasing, or difficulty trusting. Therapy can support you in developing healthier boundaries, recognising your needs, and building more secure relationships.
Please schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore how we might work together.