Abuse & Domestic Violence Counseling in South Carolina

Abuse takes many forms, and the kind that leaves no marks can do as much harm as the kind that does. Being controlled, belittled, isolated, threatened, hurt or violated by someone who was supposed to be safe changes how you see yourself and everyone else. Many survivors blame themselves, minimize what happened, or spend years not calling it what it was.

Whether you're still in the relationship, just out of it, or decades past it, counseling offers a place to tell the truth about what happened, understand its effects, and rebuild a sense of safety and worth. We don't push you toward any decision; we help you get clear enough to make your own.

What we help with

Abuse is an experience, not a diagnosis. Its effects often include PTSD, complex trauma, depression and anxiety, which are diagnosed and treated together with the recovery work.

Intimate partner and domestic violence: Physical, sexual, emotional, financial or coercive control by a current or former partner. Support for survivors who are staying, leaving or rebuilding, including safety planning.
Emotional and psychological abuse: Patterns of belittling, gaslighting, isolation and control, sometimes described as narcissistic abuse. Often minimized by survivors because "nothing happened."
Sexual assault and sexual abuse: Recent or historic. Trauma-focused treatment at your pace, with the choice of what to disclose and when always yours.
Childhood abuse and neglect: Physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or neglect, in childhood, and the lasting patterns it creates in adulthood: relationships, trust, self-worth, emotional regulation. Treated as complex trauma.
Children exposed to violence: Children who witnessed or experienced abuse at home. Our child clinicians use TF-CBT and play therapy and work with the protective parent, foster or kinship caregivers.
Elder abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults: Support for older adults and adults with disabilities who have experienced mistreatment by caregivers or family.

How we treat it

Treatment is trauma-informed, meaning safety and stabilization come first, you control the pace, and nothing is forced. From there we use trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR, cognitive processing therapy and TF-CBT for children, alongside work on self-worth, boundaries and trust. Several of our clinicians have backgrounds in domestic violence services. If you're in an unsafe situation now, we can help with safety planning and connect you with local advocates and shelters; in an emergency, call 911. The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) are available around the clock.

When to reach out

You're not sure if what you're experiencing counts as abuse (that question alone is worth a conversation)
You've left, and it's harder than you expected
Something from years ago is still shaping your relationships
Your child saw or experienced violence at home
You're afraid of someone you live with (if you're in danger now, call 911)

Schedule an appointment Call (843) 894-0000

Common questions

Is what I tell you confidential?

Yes, with the legal limits that apply to all counseling: we're required to report abuse of a child, an elder or a vulnerable adult, and to act if someone is in imminent danger. Your clinician will explain these at the first visit so there are no surprises. Your records are protected health information under HIPAA.

Do I have to leave the relationship to get help?

No. We work with people at every stage, including those who are staying. Our role is to help you be safer and clearer, not to decide for you.

Can my abuser find out I'm in counseling?

We don't release information about you to anyone without your written permission, with the legal exceptions above. If you're on a shared insurance plan, tell us; statements from the insurer can sometimes reveal that services were used, and we'll talk through the options, including the right to pay privately and restrict disclosure.

Do you work with people who have been abusive and want to change?

That's a separate type of treatment with its own requirements. Call us and we'll help you find an appropriate program.

Where to get help for abuse & domestic violence

Based on our clinicians' current specialties, this is treated at ten locations:

Closer to Anderson? Call (843) 894-0000; the right therapist may be available by video, or we'll suggest the nearest office with the right fit.

Diagnostic descriptions on this page are summarized in plain language from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR, 2022). This page is educational. It is not a substitute for evaluation by a licensed clinician, and only a licensed clinician can make a diagnosis.

Ready when you are.

Call us or submit a short intake form. A Patient Account Representative will match you with a therapist, and most new clients have their first appointment within a few business days.