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Home > Family Violence Resources

Family Violence Resources

Family Violence ResourcesSearch for family violence resources in Edmonton, online, and other information sources.

The EVPC recognizes that intimate partner violence does not always involve a male using abuse against a female. We have included resources that address women who abuse male partners or abuse that occurs within a same-sex relationship. Education, a safe environment, counselling and support play important roles in ending family violence.

This resource is made possible by a Community Initiatives Grant from the Alberta government.

Search our resources database using the terms below or scroll down for the full listing:

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    Legal Resource

    LegalAve is a free website that brings together legal resources from different organization in Alberta to help people dealing with family law issues.  This includes information about separation and divorce, child support, custody, guardianship, parenting time, partner/spousal support, property division, family violence and more.

     

     

    legalave-xl

    Women’s Group Resource

    Making Connections – Moving Forward

    For women who have been impacted by control, violence and abuse in an intimate relationship.

    Group offers focus on issues related to the dynamics of abuse – cycle of violence, types of abuse, red flags, safety planning, the impact of abuse on self and others, community resources etc.

    Participation in group is voluntary.

    Wednesday drop in – Southeast Edmonton Location

    Thursday drop in – Northeast Edmonton Location

    6:30-8:30 PM        Free Childcare provided

     

    making-connections-poster

    Men’s Support Groups

    City of Edmonton Support groups for men:
    https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_family_individuals/mens-support-services.aspx
    Email: mensgroups@edmonton.ca
    From Chaos to Peace
    Free registered group
    Learn about abuse and control
    Safety planning and education
    Safe and supportive environment

    Momentum Walk-In Counselling Society
    http://www.momentumcounselling.org/men-without-hats/
    Men Without Hats – The group is open to any man who wants to improve his life with the support of other men. Thursday Evenings 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. No cost and free parking available. Drop-in to visit and share coffee, snacks and receive men’s support for strategies on stress, healthy relationships and managing current challenges. Men’s Group does have a counsellor to facilitate each week. The meetings are weekly, ongoing, drop-in and confidential.

    Aspirations Inc.
    https://www.asafeplacetogrow.ca/mancavesecrets/
    (780) 468-1366
    9853 – 90 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6E 2T2
    aspirations@asafeplacetogrow.ca
    Man Cave Secrets – They provide a safe, open and welcoming environment for all attendees who wish to discuss those topics that weigh heavily on their mind and shoulders.

    Summit Counselling Services:
    9915B 82 Ave NW Edmonton, AB
    (780) 666-9808
    Email: general.summitcs@gmail.com
    Anger Management & Communication Skills for Men –

    Men’s Issues Group – Topics may include: depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, grief & loss, trauma, relationship conflict and communication

    Group Therapy Resource

    Drop-In Group – Coping with Depression and Anxiety

    Wednesday 6:30-8:00   October 5, 19, Nov 2, 16, 30, Dec 4, 2016

    No Fee, No Registration

    9562 82 Avenue Edmonton

     

    Relationship Resource

    Red Flags in a Relationship

    Check off the red flags that are in your past or future relationship. Be sure to check your own behaviours that are red flags. Once you recognize the behaviours, they can be changed.

    Lack of Communication
    - Difficulty talking about issues or expressing feelings.
     – Emotionally distant.
     – Communication is expressed through moodiness, and sometimes the “silent treatment”.

    Irresponsible, Immature, and Unpredictable Behaviour
     – Has trouble taking themselves, managing their finances and personal space, holding onto a job,
    and making plans for their life and their future.
    -  Small crises surrounding the way they live their life daily life may take up a lot of time and energy.
    -  Hard to rely on them for almost anything.

    Lack of trust
    -  Has difficulty being honest with himself or herself and others
     – Does not take responsibilities for actions.

    Significant family and friends don’t like your partner.
     – If there is something “off” about this person that seems obvious to those who know you well, you may need to listen to what they are telling you.

    Controlling behaviour.
    -  Attempts to drive a wedge between you and other significant people in your life.
    -  Jealous of other friendships or relationships and feels the need to control where you go and who you associate with.

     

    Feeling insecure in the relationship.
    -  You feel uncomfortable, uncertain, or anxious about where the relationship is heading.
     – You are working harder than your partner at the relationship.

    A dark or secretive past.
    -  Behaviours that are suspect, illegal activities, and addictive behaviours that haven’t been resolved and continue into your relationship.

    Non-resolution of past relationships.
    -  Unable to evaluate why past relationships haven’t worked out, or consistently blames the other party for all of the problems.

    Abusive behaviour.
    -  Verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual and physical abuse.

    Styles of Communication

    Aggressive Style: A person communicating in an aggressive style expresses his or her feelings in a way that violates the rights of another person. The aggressive person uses humiliation, criticism, sarcasm, insults or threats to get his or her point across. The goal of aggressive communication is to dominate the situation and win at the other persons expense.
    The aggressive person is giving the message: I am right and you are wrong. Your feelings are not important. I don’t need to listen to what you have to say. My view is the only one that matters.

    Passive style: A person communicating in a passive style does not say what he or she is feeling or thinking. The passive person gives in to other people’s requests, demands or feelings and does not acknowledge his or her own feelings, concerns or wants. When the person does express his or her feelings, it is usually done in an apologetic or timid way so that it’s easy for other people to ignore him or her.
    The goal of passive communication is to play it safe, not rock the boat, put everyone else’s needs first and avoid conflict at all costs.
    The passive person is communicating the message: I don’t count. What I need is not important. You don’t have to take my feelings into account.

    Passive Aggressive Style: A person communicating in a passive-aggressive style uses more hidden forms of aggression to express his or her feelings. The goal is to give the message without having to say it directly.

    Assertive Style: A person communicating in an assertive style stands up for his or her personal rights and expresses thoughts, feelings and beliefs in direct, honest and appropriate ways. The person conveys his or her message without dominating, criticizing, or degrading the other person.
    The goal of assertive communication is to honestly state your feelings, and show respect for the other person’s position as well. The assertive person is communicating the message: the feelings and needs of both of us are important. I am telling you what I need, and I also want to know what you need so we can both be satisfied.

    Taken from mincava.edu

     

    Styles of Communication Scenarios

    Read each scenario and identify which of the responses is aggressive, passive, passive-aggressive, and assertive.

    1. Tom’s wife, Madeline, returns home late after a girl’s night out, she said she would be home by 10:00 pm, but she shows up at 1:00 am. Tom has been waiting for her and is upset and worried. He could:

    a. Greet her and ask how her night was.
    b. Start shouting and tell her she’s irresponsible and he can’t trust her
    c. Not say anything, but refuse to wake her up in time to go to work as he usually does.
    d. Say, “I’ve been really worried about you, I need you to let me know if you are going to be later than originally planned.”

    2. Kelly is overwhelmed with housework and needs to prepare dinner after a long day at work. When her husband Glen walks through the door she could ask him:

    a. “Why don’t you ever help me with anything? You are so lazy!”
    b. “How was your day?” and continue to do all the chores herself.
    c. “I’m completely overwhelmed, could you please help me tidy up so I can get dinner started?”
    d. Remain silent, but when he doesn’t help, make something for dinner he dislikes.

    3. David is upset when his partner Mark returns home with a new very expensive cell phone that they cannot afford. Mark is not presently working and David is having a hard time covering all the finances.

    a. Say nothing, and feel anxious
    b. Tell Mark that he is a lazy idiot and he will be taking the phone back.
    c. Tell Mark they are in trouble financially and that if Mark wants to make big purchases like these that he will need to get a job and bring in some income.
    d. Tell Mark he likes the new phone, but then talk about how tired he is, and how stressful it is to never get to buy himself anything despite being the only one working.

     

    4. Elizabeth is attending a party with her husband Cole, at the party a female work colleague of Cole’s mentions that she calls Cole her work husband and everyone thinks she and Cole would be a perfect couple. Elizabeth should:

    a. Say, “I feel you are behaving inappropriately. Please be respectful to me and Cole.” Then talk to Cole about what had been said and give him an opportunity to share what he feels about what was said.
    b. Laugh politely, and then later snoop through Coles phone and look for signs of an affair.
    c. Tell the woman she is acting like a slut and accuse Cole of having an affair.
    d. Laugh politely at the woman, but make no mention to her husband what was said.

    5. Brian and his wife Kathleen are watching a movie they have chosen together after the kids have gone to bed, Brian is hoping they can cuddle on the couch together, but Kathleen hasn’t put her phone down and hasn’t even looked at him. Should he:

    a. Turn the tv off and grab her phone and throw it
    b. Continue watching the show anyway
    c. Ask Kathleen to put the phone away so they can have some quality time together
    d. Change the channel to something only he wants to watch and see if she notices

    SUPPORT AND CONSELLING SERVICES FOR MEN:

    Edmonton and Surrounding Area:

    Edmonton Family Violence Treatment, Education and Research Centre

    #115 9303 – 34 Avenue
    Edmonton, AB
    T6E 5W8
    Tel: (780) 439-4635
    Fax: (780) 432-3333
    Email: efvterc@shaw.ca
    Web site: http://www.edmontonvpc.ca/

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    A sliding scale fee is available by request
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients

     

     

    Circle of Safety Aboriginal Consulting Services Associates of Alberta

    11010 105 Street, Suite 204
    Edmonton, AB
    T5J 1C4
    Tel: (780) 448-0378
    Fax: (780) 448-0379
    Email: langu@shaw.ca

    Organizational Attributes:

    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    One partner in the couple must be Aboriginal in order to access services
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    Aboriginal clients
    Domestic Violence Program, Anger Management Program

     

     

    Alberta Hospital Edmonton: Forensic Assessment and Community Services
    10242 105th Street, 8th Floor
    Edmonton, AB
    T5J 3L5
    Tel: (780) 428-0455
    Fax: (780) 426-7272

    Organizational Attributes:

    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Family Support and Intervention Program

     

    Camrose and District Support Services Family Violence Action Society

    #3 Community Centre, 4516 54th Street
    Camrose, AB
    T4V 4W7
    Tel: (780) 672-0141
    Fax: (780) 672-2833
    Email: cdss5@telusplanet.net

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    Changing Ways

     

    Leduc Victim Services

    #1, 4119 50 Street
    Leduc, AB
    T9E 7L9
    Tel: (780) 980-7232

    Organizational Attributes:

    Group counselling
    Fee
    Wheelchair accessible
    This program is run annually based on available funding. Please ask for Victim Services to register
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    New Perspectives

     

    Lloydminster Interval Home Society

    PO Box 1523
    Lloydminster, AB
    S9V 1K5
    Tel: (780) 875-0966
    Fax: (780) 875-0609
    Email: lihsi@telusplanet.net
    Web site: http://www.intervalhome.org/cms/

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Group counselling
    Fee
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients

     

    Courage to Change Medicine Hat Family Services

    497 3rd Street S.E.
    Medicine Hat, AB
    T1A 0G8
    Tel: (403) 504-8026
    Fax: (403) 504-0351
    Email: mhfs2000@memlane.com

    Organizational Attributes:

    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients

     

    Jim Freeman Psychotherapist Ltd.

    2nd Floor Commerce Court
    Red Deer, AB
    T4N 2G7
    Tel: (403) 343-9200
    Fax: (403) 343-9201

    Organizational Attributes:

    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    New Hope Group

     

    Family and Community Support Services
    PO Box 509
    Whitecourt, AB
    T7S 1N6
    Tel: (780) 778-6300
    Fax: (780) 778-2062

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients

     

    Calgary:

    Calgary Regional Health Authority Peter Lougheed Hospital: Forensic Assessment and Outpatient Services

    3500 26th Avenue N.E.
    Calgary, AB
    T1Y 6J4
    Tel: (403) 943-4596
    Fax: (403) 219-3521

    Organizational Attributes:

    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Family Violence Prevention Educational Program

    Mount Royal College / Government of Alberta

    3838 Manchester Road
    Calgary, AB
    T2G 3Z9
    Tel: (403) 297-2577
    Fax: (403) 297-2623
    Email: john.lee@gov.ab.ca

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients

     

    Men’s Crisis Service Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter Association

    495 36th Street N.E., Suite 255
    Calgary, AB
    T2A 6K3
    Fax: (403) 248-8851
    Tel: (403) 299-9680
    Email: info@cwes.calgary.ab.ca

    Organizational Attributes:

    Group counselling
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Voluntary clients
    Paths of Change Family Violence Prevention Program

     

    YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program

    2002 16th Street S.E.
    Calgary, AB
    T2G 5B7
    Tel: (403) 266-4111
    Fax:(403) 262-1743
    Email: sheriffk@ywcaofcalgary.ca
    Email: ggibbons@ywcaofcalgary.ca
    Web site: https://www.ywcalgary.ca/programs-services/counselling/

    Organizational Attributes:

    Individual counselling
    Group counselling
    Bilingual
    Multilingual (Punjabi and Hindi )
    A sliding scale fee is available by request
    Materials available
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    Aboriginal clients
    New Canadians

     

    Calgary Counselling Centre

    940 6th Avenue S.W., Suite 200
    Calgary, AB
    T2P 3T1
    Tel: (403) 265-4980
    Fax: (403) 265-8886
    Email: contactus@calgarycounselling.com
    Web site: https://calgarycounselling.com/

    Organizational Attributes:

    Information and referral
    Group counselling
    Wheelchair accessible
    Clients Served:

    Mandatory clients
    Voluntary clients
    Changing Ways

    Talking to Your Children When There has been Violence in the Home

    • Talk about it when they are ready. Offer to discuss the abuse whenever they are ready, or answer their questions.
    • Listen to them without interrupting.
    • Talk about their feelings.
    • Show understanding and empathy.
    • Tell them it’s not their fault.
    • Tell them you love them.
    • Tell them you will try and keep them safe and intend to act in a way that is safe for everyone.
    • Let them know that violence is never okay.
    • Talk about how hard it must be to talk about it right now.
    • Always act in a way that is not violent or abusive with your children.
    • Take them for counselling if needed.
    • If your child acts violently, talk about it right away. Set limits and discuss ow confusing this must be.
    • Be patient – it might take a while for your child to respond.
    • Take care of yourself and manage your own guilt and regret.
    How YOUR Denial Impacts Your Children
    • Violence/abuse appears “normal”
    • Your child may be afraid to talk about the abuse because it seems okay to everyone else.
    • Your child may not understand what is happening and experience confusion.
    • Children usually blame themselves
    • Because no on talks about what is happening, children learn to deny their own thoughts and feelings. They do not learn how to discuss and resolve important things.
    • Children may feel crazy
    • They may feel lonely and isolated from their friends
     

     

    Based on Helping Children Who Witness Domestic Violence: A Guide for Parents (Instructor’s Manual) by Meg Crager and Lily Anderson. (1997)
    Adapted from http://www.lfcc.on.ca/ece-us.PDF

     

     

    Book Resource

    The Emotionally Abused Woman, by Beverley Engel

    If you feel unfairly criticized, controlled by others, or are afraid of being lonely, you could be suffering from emotional abuse. Now there is help in this compassionate sourcebook. Bevery Engel, a marriage, family, and child therapist, guides you through a step-by-step recovery process to help you heal the damage done in the past.

    Book Resource

    The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman

    Words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, physical touching – learning these love languages will get your marriage off to a great start or enhance a long-standing one! Chapman explains the purpose of each “language” and shows you how to identify the one that’s meaningful to your spouse now.
    Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships in today’s world, this new edition of The 5 Love Languages reveals intrinsic truths and provides action steps in each chapter that will help you on your way to a healthier relationship. Also includes an updated personal profile.

    Relationship Resource

    The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Relationships – John Gottman

    The Four Horsemen: The Antidotes

    Even the most successful relationships have conflict. Our research has shown that it’s not the appearance of conflict, but rather how it’s managed that predicts the success or failure of a relationship. We say “manage” conflict rather than “resolve,” because relationship conflict is natural and has functional, positive aspects.
    The first step in effectively managing conflict is to identify and fight The Four Horsemen when they arrive in your conflict discussions. To do otherwise is to risk serious problems in the future of your relationship. Below, we share antidotes for fighting off The Four Horsemen in your relationship.
    Criticism: A complaint focuses on a specific behavior, while a criticism attacks the character of the person. The antidote for criticism is to complain without blame. Talk about your feelings using I statements and then express a positive need. What do you feel? What do you need?
    • Criticism: “You always talk about yourself. You are so selfish.”
    • Antidote: “I’m feeling left out by our talk tonight. Can we please talk about my day?”
    Defensiveness: Defensiveness is defined as self-protection in the form of righteous indignation or innocent victimhood in attempt to ward off a perceived attack. Many people become defensive when they are being criticized, but the problem is that being defensive never helps to solve the problem at hand. Defensiveness is really a way of blaming your partner. You’re saying, in effect, the problem isn’t me, it’s you. As a result, the problem is not resolved and the conflict escalates further. The antidote is to accept responsibility, even if only for part of the conflict.
    • Defensiveness: “It’s not my fault that we’re always late, it’s your fault.”
    • Antidote: “Well, part of this is my problem, I need to think more about time.”
    Contempt: Statements that come from a relative position of superiority. Some examples of displays of contempt include when a person uses sarcasm, cynicism, name-calling, eye-rolling, sneering, mockery, and hostile humor. Contempt is the greatest predictor of divorce and must be eliminated. The antidote is building a culture of appreciation and respect.
    • Contempt: “You’re an idiot.”
    • Antidote: “I’m proud of the way you handled that teacher conference.”
    Stonewalling: Stonewalling occurs when the listener withdraws from the interaction. The antidote is to practice physiological self-soothing. The first step of physiological self-soothing is to stop the conflict discussion. If you keep going, you’ll find yourself exploding at your partner or imploding (stonewalling), neither of which will get you anywhere. The only reasonable strategy, therefore, is to let your partner know that you’re feeling flooded and need to take a break. That break should last at least twenty minutes, since it will be that long before your body physiologically calms down. It’s crucial that during this time you avoid thoughts of righteous indignation (“I don’t have to take this anymore”) and innocent victimhood (“Why is he always picking on me?”). Spend your time doing something soothing and distracting, like listening to music or exercising.

     

    Book Resource

    The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert

    With more than a million copies sold worldwide, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work has revolutionized the way we understand, repair, and strengthen marriages.

    John Gottman’s unprecedented study of couples over a period of years has allowed him to observe the habits that can make—and break—a marriage. Here is the culmination of that work: the seven principles that guide couples on a path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward yet profound, these principles teach partners new approaches for resolving conflicts, creating new common ground, and achieving greater levels of intimacy.

    Gottman offers strategies and resources to help couples collaborate more effectively to resolve any problem, whether dealing with issues related to sex, money, religion, work, family, or anything else.

    Packed with new exercises and the latest research out of the esteemed Gottman Institute, this revised edition of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.

    Book Resource

    The Verbally Abusive Relationship, by Patricia Evans

    In this fully expanded and updated third edition of the bestselling classic, you learn why verbal abuse is more widespread than ever, and how you can deal with it. You’ll get more of the answers you need to recognize abuse when it happens, respond to abusers safely and appropriately, and most important, lead a happier, healthier life.

    In two all-new chapters, Evans reveals the Outside Stresses driving the rise in verbal abuse – and shows you how you can mitigate the devastating effects on your relationships. She also outlines the Levels of Abuse that characterize this kind of behavior – from subtle, insidious put-downs that can erode your self-esteem to full-out tantrums of name-calling, screaming, and threatening that can escalate into physical abuse.

    Drawing from hundreds of real situations suffered by real people just like you, Evans offers strategies, sample scripts, and action plans designed to help you deal with the abuse – and the abuser.

    This timely new edition of The Verbally Abusive Relationship puts you on the road to recognizing and responding to verbal abuse, one crucial step at a time!

    Book Resource

    The Wounded Heart, by Dr. Dan Allender

    Sexual abuse knows no religious or social boundaries. The Wounded Heart is an intensely personal and specific look at this form of abuse. Dr. Allender explores the secret lament of the soul damaged by sexual abuse and lays hold of the hope buried there by the One whose unstained image we all bear. Includes information about false memory issues.

    Book Resource

    Thoughts and Feelings: Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook), by Matthew McKay PhD

    If you are depressed, anxious, angry, worried, confused, frustrated, upset, or ashamed, please remember that you are not alone in your struggle with painful feelings and experiences. Everybody experiences emotional distress sometimes. It’s normal. But when the pain becomes too strong and too enduring, it’s time to take that important first step toward feeling better.
    Painful thoughts can arise in many ways. You may struggle with anxiety and depression, or feel that procrastination or perfectionism is holding you back. Regardless of the issue, you’ve come to this book with a desire to change your thoughts and feelings for the better. This classic self-help workbook offers powerful cognitive therapy tools for making that happen.
    Now in its fourth edition, Thoughts and Feelings provides you with twenty evidence-based techniques that can be combined to create a personal treatment plan for overcoming a range of mental health concerns, including worry, panic attacks, depression, low self-esteem, anger, and emotional and behavioral challenges of any kind. Customize your plan to address multiple concerns at once, or troubleshoot the thoughts and feelings that bother you most. Used and recommended by the most renowned and respected therapists, this comprehensive mental health workbook offers all of best psychological tools for quickly regaining mastery over your moods and emotions. This endlessly useful guide has helped thousands of readers:
    Challenge self-sabotaging patterns of thinking
    Practice relaxation techniques to maintain self-control in stressful situations
    Change the core beliefs that drive painful emotions
    Identify and prioritize their values for a more focused, fulfilling life
    Using proven effective methods based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, and mindfulness, this book will help you take that first step toward feeling better—about yourself, and about the world around you. Isn’t it time you started really enjoying life?

    Types of Abuse:

    Psychological/ Emotional Abuse

     

    Verbal Abuse

    • Name calling
    • Destructive criticism
    • Accusing

    Blaming

    • Yelling
    • Making humiliating remarks or gestures
    Pressure Tactics
    • Rushing a partner to make decisions through “guilt tripping” and other forms of intimidation
    • Sulking
    • Threatening to withhoild money
    • Using children to manipulate partner
    • Keeping partner awake for hours to change his/her mind on something
    • Pressuring partner for se

    Abusing Authority or Trust:

    • Always claiming to be right
    • Telling partner what to do
    • Making big decisions without discussing it with partner first
    • Lying
    • Withholding information
    • Infidelity
    • Unreasonable jealousy

    Disrespect:

    • Interrupting
    • Changing topics
    • Not listening or responding
    • Twisting words
    • Putting partner down in front of other people
    • Belittling your partner, friends and family
    • Belittling your partners friends or family

    Minimizing, Denying and Blaming

    • Making light of abusive behaviour
    • Denying that the abuse has happened
    • Blaming partner for abuse

    Isolation:

    • Preventing or making it difficult for partner to see friends or relatives
    • Monitoring phone calls
    • Telling partner where he/she can and cannot go

    Harassment:

    • Making uninvited visits or calls
    • Following partner
    • Checking up on partner
    • Embarrassing partner in public
    • Refusing to leave when asked

    Emotional Withholding:

    • Not expressing feelings
    • Not giving support, attention or compliments
    • Not respecting rights, feelings or opinions

    Financial Abuse:

    • Interfering with partner’s work or not letting them work
    • Withholding or taking money
    • Denying partner access to the car or other property
    • Threatening to report partner to Child and Family Services or other agencies
    • Sabotaging partner’s efforts to improve economically (i.e.: going to school or training program)
    • Creates debt in partner’s name
    • Sells partners possessions

    Sexual Abuse:

    • Degrading treatment based on partner’s gender or sexual orientation
    • Using force, threats, or coercion to obtain sex or perform sexual acts
    • Unwanted touching or fondling
    • Not respecting personal privacy such as undressing, going to the washroom or personal hygiene
    Spiritual Abuse:
    • Refusing your partner to practice their religion of choice
    • Criticizing partner’s religion
    • Making partner participate in your religion

    Physical Violence

    Intimidation:

    • Making angry or threatening gestures
    • Use of physical size to intimidate
    • Standing in the doorway during arguments
    • Driving recklessly when partner or children are in the car

    Destruction:

    • Destroying partner’s possessions
    • Punching walls
    • Throwing and/or breaking things

    Threats:

    • Making and/or carrying out threats to hurt partner and others

    Assault:

    • Being violent to partner, children, pets or others; slapping, punching, grabbing, kicking, choking, pushing, biting, and burning

    Assault with a Weapon:

    • Use or threatened use of weapons
    • Keeping weapons around to frighten partner
    • Constantly reminding partner of the weapons
    • Stabbing, shooting, using object to strike, choke or burn (i.e.: belt, rope, lighter etc)

     

    Adapted in part from Domestic Violence: The Facts. Battered Women Fighting Back! Inc. Boston, MA.

    Book Resource

    Verbal Abuse Survivors Speak Out, by Patricia Evans

    If your partner: seems irritated or angry at you several times a week, denies being angry when he clearly is, does not work with you to resolve important issues, rarely or never seems to share thoughts or plans with you, or tells you that he has no idea what you’re talking about when you try to discuss important problems…you need this book.

    Verbal Abuse: Survivors Speak Out outlines solutions to abusive relationships, tells victims where to find shelters and support groups, and analyzes why many therapists misdiagnose problems in violent relationships.

    What are Boundaries?

     

    Having clear boundaries is important to have a healthy balanced lifestyle. Boundaries are rules and limits that people must use to let others know how they want to be treated in a way that’s respectful, safe and how they will respond when others cross their limits. Boundaries mark the things we are responsible for and the things we are not.

    Types of Boundaries:

    • Material boundaries – Determine if you are willing to give or lend things, like your money, car, clothes, books, food, or toothbrush.

    • Physical boundaries – Your personal space, privacy and body. Do you give a handshake or a hug – to which people and when? How do you feel about loud music, nudity and locked doors?

    • Mental boundaries – Your thoughts, values and opinions. Are you easily suggestible? Do you know what you believe, and can you hold onto your opinions? Can you listen with an open mind to someone else’s opinion? If you become highly emotional, argumentative, or defensive, you may have weak emotional boundaries.

    • Emotional boundaries – Being able to separate your emotions from someone else’s. Healthy boundaries prevent you from giving unwanted advice, blaming or accepting blame. The protect you from feeling guilty for someone else’s negative feelings or problems and taking others comments personally. High reactivity suggests weak emotional boundaries. Healthy emotional boundaries require you to know your own feelings and your responsibility to yourself and others.

    • Sexual boundaries – Protecting yourself and your comfort level with sexual touch and activity – what, where, when and with who the activity is occurring with.

    • Spiritual boundaries – Your beliefs and experiences with God, or a a higher power.

    Setting Effective Boundaries:
    Often people set a boundary, but then say it didn’t help. There’s a method to setting boundaries successfully. If you set boundaries in anger or by nagging you won’t be heard. Boundaries are not meant to punish, but are for your well-being and protection. They are more effective when you are assertive, calm, firm and respectful. If that doesn’t work you may need to communicate what the consequences will be if others do not respect your boundaries. Never give a consequence you are not able to carry out.
    It takes time, support and relearning to set effective boundaries. Self-awareness and learning to be assertive are the first steps. Setting boundaries isn’t selfish, it’s taking care of yourself – every time you say “no” you are saying “yes” to yourself. It builds your self-esteem. But often it takes time and encouragement to make yourself a priority and to keep going even when you receive pushback from others.

     

    Guilt and Resentment:
    Anger is a clear sign that action is required. If you feel resentful or victimized and are blaming someone or something, it might mean you haven’t been setting boundaries. If you feel anxious or guilty about setting boundaries, remember, your relationship suffers when you are unhappy. Once you get more practice setting boundaries, you feel empowered and suffer less anxiety, resentment, and guilt. Generally, you receive more respect from others and your relationships improve.

     

    Adapted from Lancer, D. What are personal boundaries? How do I get some?

    Book Resource

    Why Does He Do That?, by Lundy Bancroft

    In this groundbreaking book, domestic violence expert Lundy Bancroft uses his unique perspective as a therapist for abusive and controlling men to help women, their children, and other family members who have been touched by abuse understand why abusers behave the way they do and what can be done about it. Bancroft teaches women how to survive and improve an abusive relationship; how to determine how dangerous an abuser is and when it is impossible to rectify a situation; and how to get out of a relationship safely. Bancroft identifies nine types of abusive men, addressing different styles, from the physical batterer to the strictly verbal abuser. He dispels the pervasive societal myths surrounding abuse, exposing common excuses used by abusers, such as having experienced an abusive childhood or substance addiction. Bancroft answers commonly asked questions, such as what warning signs of abuse to look for early in a relationship; what is and isn’t abusive behavior; how to know if a woman and her children are in danger; and how to tell when a man is really changing. Why Does He Do That’gets to the heart of abusive men’s thoughts and behaviors, making it a vital resource for victims of domestic violence, their families, and professionals. This empowering book gives women the tools they need to get back in control of their own lives.

    WOMENS SUPPORT GROUPS:

    Life Roots Counselling Services
    http://liferoots.ca/counselling/
    9915 – 82 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z1
    587-400-0227
    lindsay@liferoots.ca
    Artful Recovery: Thriving After Abuse – This art therapy group in Edmonton empowers women to feel more in control of their lives.
    Healthy Boundaries & Relationships: Healthy boundaries impact our ability to feel respected and cared for in any relationship and help to safeguard us from unhealthy relationship dynamics. Exploring your boundaries is key to nurturing a sense of balance and contentment in your life.

     

    SAIF : Stop Abuse in Families – Offers group and individual counselling, as well as education programs.
    #402 – 22 Sir Winston Churchill Ave
    St. Albert, AB T8N 1B4
    780 460-2195
    Email: info@stopabuse.ca

    New Directions: A 22 week psycho-educational program providing groups for women and children who have experienced and witnessed domestic violence

Contact Us

Client Services Manager/Intake

Angelica Rojas, MA, RSW
ph. 780-439-4635 ext 100
intake@edmontonvpc.ca

Program Manager

Linda Thompson, RSW
ph. 780-439-4635 ext 102
linda@edmontonvpc.ca

Executive Director

Wendy Rhyason, MA Counselling Psychology, Registered Provisional Psychologist
ph. 780-439-4635 ext 103
wendy@edmontonvpc.ca

Partner Services

Kathleen Volk
ph. 780-439-4635 ext 101
partner@edmontonvpc.ca

Operations Manager

Kathleen Volk
ph. 780-439-4635 ext 101
kathleen@edmontonvpc.ca

 

 

Welcome to Edmonton Violence Prevention Centre’s Website

We invite you to join us in the effort to break the cycle of family violence.

Are you concerned about abuse in your own home?
Are you worried about someone else’s safety?
Are you a professional working with clients who need help to stop domestic violence in their homes?

Check out the sections that best suit your needs.

About EVPC

In response to the Coronavirus, our groups and counselling services are suspended until Monday, April 13, 2020. We are working to setup online group access as self-isolation may continue for several months. We hope to have this in place by mid-April. All currently registered … Read More

Contact Us

Telephone: 780-439-4635
Fax: 780-432-3333
Email: info@edmontonvpc.ca

Address

NEW LOCATION - MARCH 31, 2017
115, 9303 34 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6E 5W8

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