Area of focus
Counseling after domestic violence, at a pace you get to set.
This page is for people healing after an abusive relationship. The harm may have been physical, emotional, verbal or financial, and it may have ended last month or many years ago. Domestic violence is among the areas Erin L. Smith, MSPC, LPCC, LPC, has worked with most. Counseling after domestic violence with Erin starts with steadiness and choice: you decide what to talk about, when, and how much.
01Healing after domestic violence
What the aftermath can feel like
When an abusive relationship ends, what your body learned inside it does not end on the same day. You may stay on high alert, scanning moods and tones long after the danger has passed. You may blame yourself, replay conversations, or doubt your own memory of what happened. Some people feel numb when they expected relief. Others feel shame, grief for the good parts, or anger that arrives much later. These responses are understandable reactions to living with fear and unpredictability. They are not proof that something is wrong with you.
02Healing after domestic violence
Counseling after domestic violence starts with steadiness
The early part of this work is about stability, not digging. That can mean sleep, daily routines, the people and places that feel safe, and simple ways to settle your body when something sets off an old alarm. You will not be asked to tell the whole story before you are ready. If you are in danger right now, safety comes before everything else. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. This practice is not a crisis service and messages are not monitored around the clock.
03Healing after domestic violence
Trusting your own judgment again
Abuse often works by rewriting reality. Over time you may have been told that you were overreacting, remembering wrong, or responsible for the other person's behavior. Afterward, it is common to second-guess your perceptions, your decisions and your read on new people. Part of the work is rebuilding that trust slowly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you examine beliefs the relationship left behind, such as the idea that you caused it or should have known sooner. Erin's strength-based style also looks at what you did to get through, because those survival skills are real strengths.
04Healing after domestic violence
Processing memories when you are ready
Once you have steadier footing, specific memories can be worked with directly. Assault is on the list of experiences Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is often used for, and Erin is certified in it. ART sessions run about 100 minutes. You move your eyes to follow Erin's hand while an image is held in mind, you remain awake and in charge the whole time, and you never have to put the details into words. Erin stops when you say stop. EMDR is another option she uses, and ART often sits alongside regular talk therapy rather than replacing it.
05Healing after domestic violence
Faith, if you want it in the room
For some people, faith is a steady source of strength in recovery. For others, it got mixed up with messages about keeping quiet or forgiving before they were ready. Both deserve care, and neither is judged here. Faith-based counseling is among Erin's most experienced areas, so if you want your faith to be part of this work, it can be. You decide how much, and the amount can shift from week to week. If you would rather leave faith out entirely, that is respected just as fully.
Signs this is the right page
- Second-guessing your own memory of what happened
- Startling at a raised voice or a slammed door
- Blaming yourself for choices someone else made
- Feeling numb when you expected to feel free
None of this is a diagnosis, and no outcome is guaranteed. It is a starting point for a conversation.
Questions
Common questions
- What if I am not sure it was abuse?
- You can start without being sure. Abuse is not only physical: constant put-downs, threats, controlling money, cutting you off from others, or making you doubt your own memory can all do lasting harm. Erin can help you sort through what happened, at your pace.
- Do I have to tell Erin everything that happened?
- No. What you share, and when, stays your decision. The first stretch of counseling is about steadiness, not details. Later, if ART becomes part of the plan, it does not depend on you narrating the memory, so it can be used with experiences you have never been able to put into words.
- Can I do counseling after domestic violence by telehealth?
- Yes. What counts is where you are physically located during the session, and Erin is licensed in Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota. If you are in Kentucky, in-person sessions in Georgetown are also an option. For telehealth, choose a private spot where you can speak freely without being overheard.
In Erin's words
What she would say if you called today.
You will not be rushed here. I put our relationship first and help you find steady ground before we go anywhere near the hardest memories. You choose the pace. When you are ready for more, I will tell you what I am offering and why, and nothing happens without your agreement.
Free 15-minute consultation
Book a consultation with Erin
Fifteen minutes by telehealth, at no charge. You can describe what is going on, ask how Erin works, and decide afterward whether to book a first session. Scheduling opens in her secure SimplePractice portal.
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