How can survivors find a counselor to help them along the journey of recovering from past abuse?

Counseling can be a helpful source of support along the journey of recovering from a past abusive relationship. However, unfortunately, many counselors lack sufficient training to understand the dynamics of abusive relationships and fully consider the safety implications that could impact survivors' emotional and physical safety during the counseling process.

Survivors can advocate for themselves and ask questions to help determine if a particular counselor is the right fit for them. Some questions to consider asking a prospective counselor include the following:

1. What level of training do you have on the topic of intimate partner violence?
   
2. How much experience have you had working with clients impacted by intimate partner violence?
   
3. Do you understand safety planning? How would you address safety planning when working with clients impacted by domestic violence?
   
4. Would you provide couple counseling when a couple is experiencing violence? If so, how would you proceed?
   
5. Are you required to assign a diagnosis to all clients you counsel? If so, how do you account for trauma symptoms in your assessment and diagnoses?
   
6. Are you familiar with community resources and legal processes related to intimate partner violence?
   

In addition to these questions, it's important to consider your overall "fit" with a particular counselor and how comfortable you'd feel to talk with them and seek their support throughout your healing process.

It's critical to get the support you need as you work through all the ups and downs of the aftermath of an abusive relationship. This includes family, friends, and professionals who understands the dynamics of abuse and can provide adequate support. It's worth some extra effort to ask questions and get the information you need to ensure that you have the right people in your corner.

This blog post was adapted from a previous post I wrote for the See the Triumph campaign. To learn more, check out the whole post here: http://www.seethetriumph.org/blog/finding-a-counselor-who-is-competent-to-serve-survivors.