Being in a relationship with a man that is emotionally abusive to you and your children is not a good place to be. Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse, and you should not hesitate to leave the relationship with your kids if you feel like you are in danger. If you are worried that the emotional abuse in your household will have negative effects on your children, seeking counseling services might be a good idea for you and your children. Here are two goals a family counselor will have when helping you and your children get through this tough situation.

Helping the children feel comfortable enough to talk

Talking is one of the best forms of therapy for any situation. Holding in feelings, thoughts, and problems can lead to anger, depression, and sadness. When these feelings are not dealt with in a child, he or she may begin releasing the feelings in ways that are not healthy. This could include doing poorly in school, hanging out with the wrong types of friends, and turning to drugs or alcohol.

When you take your children to talk to a counselor, it will take time for the healing process to begin. Your kids may fight talking and may be stubborn at first, but in time, they may begin to open up when they feel comfortable with the counselor. When they finally do start talking, your kids will be able to tell the counselor how they really feel, and this will help the counselor understand how to treat them in the best way possible.

Rebuild their self-esteem

Kids that grow up in emotionally abusive environments often have issues with self-esteem and self-worth. They grow up believing they are a problem and that they are unwanted. They grow up thinking they are worthless and useless, and these thoughts are exactly what can cause children to rebel.

Through counseling, you will learn how to parent your children in a way that is helpful for rebuilding their self-esteem, and the counselor will work with the children to help them fully understand that they are not the problem. To do this, the counselor may help each child with the following things:

• Finding their talents, strengths, and interests and focusing on these things
• Understanding what emotional abuse is and why some parents do this
• Developing healthy ways to express their feelings

These are not things that can happen overnight, but counseling can be a great way to ensure that your kids are not affected by this abuse for the rest of their life. Dealing with problems like this when they first begin is the best solution for you and your children. To learn more, contact a center that offers family counseling services today.