Emotional Abuse and Role of Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Table of Contents

Overview
Trauma Information
Impact of Trauma
Evidence-Based Intervention
Advocacy
References

Overview

The concept of trauma has been integrated deeply into the English language, has developed a life of its own and is used as a symbol of a long-lasting negative impact quite casually. However, the notion of trauma is a much more deeply-seated psychological concept that implies significant health consequences and is inherently connected to significantly adverse changes in one’s mental health. According to Griffin (2020), “trauma is defined by the presence of three factors: events, experiences, and effects” (p. 279). The described way of looking at trauma suggests that the identified phenomenon is a mental health concern that can be managed with the help of an appropriately chosen therapeutic strategy. The specified definition points to the crucial characteristics of trauma, namely, the fact that it needs to represent an individual’s response toward a specific event in the past, as well as the presence of an unattended concern that the identified event has sparked. Although traumas stemming from emotional abuse are quite difficult to discover, they must be managed so that the patient would not develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the comorbid issues.

Trauma Information

The type of trauma selected for this paper is emotional abuse. Li et al. (2020) define the subject matter as the suppression of emotional behaviors and needs of the victim by the perpetrator, which results in the disruption of the victim’s psychological functioning and the resulting development of insecurities and mental health issues. Li et al. (2020) also warn that emotional abuse trauma often indicates the presence of codependent relationships between an abuser and the victim, which closes the cycle of their relationships and perpetuates abuse, making it extraordinarily difficult to cease. Emotional abuse trauma affects an individual’s mental health to the point where It can be impaired severely, causing the development of PTSD and the comorbid issues, such as depression and anxiety (Ho et al., 2021). The main rationale for selecting the specified type of trauma is the fact that it is most likely to be unreported, both due to the fear stemming from the emotional violence and the lack of attention given to the specified type of trauma (Hartanto et al., 2020). Therefore, by researching the subject matter and examining its effects, one will shed light on the problem and attract greater attention to it, calling for the development of a support program for people suffering from trauma caused by emotional abuse.

Impact of Trauma

Psychologically, emotional abuse leads to the emergence of multiple insecurities, fears, and, eventually, the development of PTSD that, in turn, may cause depression, anxiety, and the associated comorbid conditions. Hamilton et al. (2018) warn that when left unattended to, trauma caused by emotional abuse will inevitably lead to sleep irregularities, namely, insomnia, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and even chronic pain. The specified outcomes are likely to scar an individual for the entirety of their life unless a proper intervention is provided. Therefore, the quality of life in victims of trauma caused by emotional violence drops tremendously unless the issue is managed accordingly.

Similarly, behavioral changes observed in people with a history of emotional abuse and the resulting trauma are quite noticeable, often serving as a cry for help. Namely, victims of emotional abuse are likely to be emotionally unstable, show noticeable anger management issues, or, on the contrary, display complete social withdrawal (Hamilton et al., 2018). The presence of trauma, particularly, one caused by emotional violence, may manifest in a variety of ways in an individual depending on the circumstances, the extent of exposure to emotional abuse, and the characteristic of an individual. Furthermore, the presence of behavioral changes due to emotional trauma may be less overt in children, who tend to develop regression, as well as sleep and eating disorders (Battista et al., 2020). Therefore, when considering the key effects of emotional violence trauma on an individual, a case-by-case approach is preferable.

Evidence-Based Intervention

Similarly, due to the tremendous range of scenarios that can be observed in the instance of a trauma caused by emotional violence and abuse, there is no homogenous approach for evidence-based intervention development. To address the needs of patients suffering from the trauma inflicted by the experience of emotional abuse, the use of a trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) approach is used. Additionally, tools for patient education and the development of a grounded approach are seen as essential.

It is also worth keeping in mind that the decision concerning the choice of the therapy and the general management of the patient’s needs must be made urgently. According to recent studies, emotional traumas caused by abusive behavior have the tendency to surface in the future, affecting people’s relationships with others on a profoundly personal level. Namely, the authors state that the levels of oxytocin, the hormone with the primary functions of a neurotransmitter are in reverse correlated to the amount of time passed since the individual in question was exposed to abuse, including the instances of emotional violence (McGuire et al., 2018). Therefore, the choice of an evidence-based intervention also hinges on the time passed since the trauma occurred.

Nonetheless, the general guidelines for managing the instances of emotional abuse involve the approaches geared toward the management of PTSD, which is highly comorbid with the presence of trauma. Hoeboer et al. (2021) insist that the use of individual trauma-focused therapy is central to helping the victims of emotional abuse to develop a sense of self-worth and accept the process of healing. In addition, according to the author, it is vital to deploy the principles of trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when addressing the instances of emotional trauma in younger patients, specifically, children and adolescents. The focus on the gradual exposure of the target demographic to potential stress factors is the foundational principle of the TF-CBT approach (Hoeboer et al., 2021). In addition, TF-CBT involves promoting a rapport between a child and a parent as one of the foundational steps toward creating a powerful support system and alleviating the effects of the emotional abuse trauma experienced by the individual.

In turn, in adults, the management of trauma caused by emotional abuse and violence will require a similar approach with a greater focus on patient education and the importance of a patient being provided with a chance at navigating the situation independently. Namely, the existing treatment options involve therapeutic sessions during which a patient is encouraged to delve into psycho-education, which will provide a roadmap to controlling emotions and acknowledging personal needs (McGuire et al., 2018). At the same time, the strategies for understanding the nature of anger and other negative emotions caused by emotional abuse, as well as modifying these emotions to build a healthier response, are discovered in the course of therapy. Finally, a patient is suggested to build a healthier set of habits, including making changes to the current sleep patterns, eating choices, and breathing strategies. As a result, a patient gains the ability to develop grounding tools that will allow them to maintain their peace of mind even when facing potential triggers.

Advocacy

In order to assist the victims of emotional abuse to overcome their trauma and improve the quality of their lives, it is strongly recommended to focus on fostering the development of self-worth in the target demographic and assisting them in restoring their connections to the community. By encouraging the creation of a social rapport through encouragement and positive reinforcement, a counselor will be able to guide clients toward healing. Moreover, the application of trauma-informed care to support the victims of emotional abuse while screening them for the possibility of issues such as self-harm and the presence of self-injurious tendencies or suicidal ideations. With the focus on the client’s background, the specifics of their case, and the unique situation that they faced, a therapist will be able to design an appropriate intervention framework, which may be based on a wide range of solutions depending on the situation. Specifically, avoidance techniques to eliminate the threat of triggers and the use of supportive relationships as the basis for recovery. Finally, advocating for the specified demographic on a community level is justified by the necessity to gain the required support and understanding that the victims of abuse will require from community members to start the healing process.

References

Battista, S. D., Paolini, D., Pivetti, M., Biondi, P., Balsamo, M., Carlucci, L.,… & Mazzoni, S. (2020). Emotional abuse among Lesbian Italian women: Relationship consequences, help-seeking and disclosure behaviors. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 1, 1-33.

Griffin, G. (2020). Defining trauma and trauma-informed COVID-19 response. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), 279-280.

Hamilton, J. L., Brindle, R. C., Alloy, L. B., & Liu, R. T. (2018). Childhood trauma and sleep among young adults with a history of depression: A daily diary study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 673.

Hartanto, A., Yong, J. C., Lee, S. T., Ng, W. Q., & Tong, E. M. (2020). Putting adversity in perspective: purpose in life moderates the link between childhood emotional abuse and neglect and adulthood depressive symptoms.Journal of Mental Health, 29(4), 473-482.

Ho, G. W., Karatzias, T., Vallières, F., Bondjers, K., Shevlin, M., Cloitre, M.,… & Hyland, P. (2021). Complex PTSD symptoms mediate the association between childhood trauma and physical health problems. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 142, 1-12.

Hoeboer, C., De Roos, C., van Son, G. E., Spinhoven, P., & Elzinga, B. (2021). The effect of parental emotional abuse on the severity and treatment of PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 111, 1-9.

Li, E. T., Carracher, E., & Bird, T. (2020). Linking childhood emotional abuse and adult depressive symptoms: the role of mentalizing incapacity.Child Abuse & Neglect, 99, 1-8.

McGuire, A., Cho, B., Huffhines, L., Gusler, S., Brown, S., & Jackson, Y. (2018). The relation between dimensions of maltreatment, placement instability, and mental health among youth in foster care.Child Abuse & Neglect, 86, 10-21.

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