Understanding Abuse: How to Recognize, Heal, and Break the Cycle

Everyday Therapy

Abuse comes in many forms—and it’s not always easy to identify.

In this important episode of Everyday Therapy, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Brett Cushing and Christa Overson unpack the different types of abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

They explore the signs, long-term psychological impacts, and how survivors can begin the healing process. Whether you’ve experienced abuse or want to support someone who has, this episode offers insight, validation, and hope.

Tune in to Discover:

• What emotional, physical, and sexual abuse look like in real life
• How abuse affects survivors’ beliefs, self-worth, and development
• Why abuse is never the victim’s fault—and why it can be so hard to recognize
• The lasting impact of abuse on mental and physical health
• Resources for healing, including EMDR therapy, support groups, and self-compassion practices

Resources:

• The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans
• Controlling People by Patricia Evans
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: [phone]
• Contact the podcast: [email protected]

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