14/09/2025
Psychological abuse may also be called psychological violence, emotional, verbal or mental abuse. It involves behaviours which aim to harm the victim emotionally or psychologically, and maintain power and control. These behaviours can be equally as, or even more harmful to the victim than physical violence.
Psychological abuse may involve:
- Calling you names and putting you down. Either when you're alone, or in front of other people to cause you to feel humiliated.
- Threatening to harm you, other people close to you, your pets, or themselves.
- Giving the victim the silent treatment
- Saying things which are untrue to cause the victim to feel insecure and confused, and question their own perceptions and reality. This may also be referred to as gaslighting.
- Not allowing you to speak, talking over the top of you, and correcting things you say to make you feel inferior.
- Insulting you, or insulting you and then claiming it was "just a joke".
- Regularly threatening to leave you if you don't do what they say or displease them in some way.
- Making you feel like or telling you overtly that you're not good enough.
- Exerting control over various aspects of you and your life.
- Brainwashing techniques
- Making you feel scared and intimidated.
- Isolating you or restricting your freedoms.
- Being overly jealous of other people in your life.
These are just some examples. If you have previously or are currently experiencing psychological abuse, M.C Counselling is here to help.
Appointments are available both in-person on Gunditjmara Country (Portland, VIC) or via telehealth (Australia wide).
No GP referral is required.
