RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT

Empathetic support for survivors of domestic and family violence

When trust and safety are violated within a relationship, the impact can reach into every part of life — affecting identity, confidence, and connection with others. Domestic and family violence can take many forms, including emotional, psychological, spiritual, or physical abuse. At Kylie Walls Psychology, support is provided with care, confidentiality, and respect for each person’s story. Recovery begins with safety, understanding, and the reassurance that healing is possible.

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Domestic and family violence (DFV) occurs when one person uses patterns of power and control to dominate, intimidate, or harm another within a close relationship or family system. It can take many forms — emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or spiritual. While some forms of violence leave visible marks, others can be deeply hidden, manifesting as manipulation, fear, isolation, or erosion of confidence and autonomy. Abuse may involve threats, coercion, or using children, faith, or reputation to maintain control. Regardless of how it appears, DFV is never acceptable, and its impact can be profound and long-lasting.

Healing from domestic and family violence takes time. Survivors often experience a complex mix of grief, guilt, fear, and confusion, especially when the person causing harm was once a source of love, faith, or trust. Recovery begins with safety — emotional and physical — and the gradual rebuilding of self-worth and agency. Support from a trauma-informed psychologist can help make sense of what has happened, re-establish boundaries, and begin to restore trust in oneself and others.

Faith Sensitive Psychological Support for Domestic & Family Violence Recovery

Trauma-informed support recognises that experiences of abuse can alter how a person feels, thinks, and relates to others. Instead of asking “What’s wrong with you?”, it asks “What happened to you?” and “What helped you survive?” In therapy, this means creating a space that feels safe, predictable, and collaborative. The focus is on understanding your experience at your pace, without judgment or pressure to disclose more than feels comfortable. Evidence-based approaches such as schema therapy, EMDR, and relational work may be used to process trauma, strengthen emotional regulation, and rebuild trust.

At Refuge Psychology, trauma-informed care also means paying attention to power dynamics within therapy itself. You are always the expert in your story, and decisions about your healing are made together. Over time, therapy can help you reconnect with your strengths, regain a sense of control, and rediscover hope — not as an ideal, but as something real and attainable through compassion, safety, and understanding.

What does trauma-informed support look like?

If you require urgent supports, please contact the following domestic violence supports:

1800RESPECT - National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service – 1800 737 732. Available 24/7 for confidential support.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 02 8745 6999. Specialist support for individuals facing domestic violence in New South Wales, offering emergency assistance and ongoing support.
Women's Legal Service – 1800 816 149. Free legal advice and support for women experiencing domestic violence, including family law matters.
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78. A national counselling service for men concerned about their behaviour or experiencing family violence.
National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline – 1800 880 052. Support and reporting options for individuals with disabilities experiencing abuse or neglect.

"Survival was never weakness — it was courage in its purest form".

— KYLIE WALLS

Have questions about support for domestic & family violence

Q&A

Domestic and family violence includes patterns of behavior used to control, intimidate, or harm another person within an intimate, family, or caregiving relationship. This can involve emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or social abuse. Violence is not defined only by physical harm—ongoing fear, control, or loss of autonomy are key indicators.
Non-physical forms of abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence. Emotional manipulation, coercive control, threats, isolation, or financial restriction can deeply affect a person’s sense of safety, identity, and self-worth. Your experience is valid even if there were no visible injuries.
Survivors may experience anxiety, hypervigilance, shame, difficulties with trust, emotional numbing, or ongoing self-doubt. These responses are common trauma reactions and reflect the nervous system adapting to prolonged stress and threat.
Recovery involves rebuilding a sense of safety, restoring trust in yourself, understanding how the abuse affected you, and developing healthier emotional and relational patterns over time.
Schema Therapy helps identify deeply held beliefs and patterns that often develop after abuse, such as feeling unsafe, powerless, or responsible for others’ emotions. Therapy focuses on understanding these patterns with compassion and gradually building healthier ways of relating to yourself and others
When abuse occurs within a religious or faith context, it often adds additional layers of complexity to the experience and the recovery process. Beliefs, teachings, community expectations, and spiritual authority can all influence how abuse is understood, tolerated, or silenced.