What is Domestic Abuse?

There are many signs of an abusive relationship. The most telling sign is fear of your partner or other family member.

If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around a family member - constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid harmful reactions or harmful behaviours - chances are your relationship is unhealthy & abusive. Other signs that you may be in an abusive relationship include someone who belittles you or tries to control you; actively creates feelings of self-loathing, helplessness & desperation; and/or harms/assaults you.

Abuse can take many forms - physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual and/or cultural.

The bottom line is that abusive behaviour is never acceptable, whether it’s coming from a man, a woman, a teenager or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected and safe.

If you or someone you know is being abused (or you suspect abuse) & you want to talk, advice, & local options, please reach out to Alberta's Abuse Helpline (available M-F from 7:30 am to 8 pm) @ 1-855-4HELPAB (1-855-443-5722). For 24 Hour crisis lines, please refer to our Info & Resources tab.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

"Your abuser's trauma does not justify them abusing you."

Physical Abuse

It can include punching, hitting, slapping, kicking, strangling, or physically restraining a partner against their will. It can also include driving recklessly, invading your physical space, & in any other way making you feel physically unsafe.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional manipulation through verbal & physical humiliation, threats, mind games, extreme jealousy, cruel behaviour & constant accusations are all methods of verbal & emotional abuse.

Sexual Abuse

It can involve rape or other forced sexual acts, or withholding or using sex as a weapon. Unwanted or non-consensual touching as well as using guilt or other forms of manipulation to force sexual acts are all categorized as sexual abuse.

Financial Abuse

Being withheld from having money, a job, your own bank accounts, or a say in your own finances is a form of abuse that provides the abuser with additional control & will often prevent someone from having the means to leave.

Psychological Abuse

When someone, through a series of actions or words, wears away at your sense of mental wellbeing and health. It often involves making you doubt their own sanity & can include gas-lighting, creating dependency, & isolating you from supports.

Spiritual/Cultural Abuse

When your particular cultural identity is used to inflict suffering, or as a means of control. Not letting you observe your faith, using racial slurs, threatening to ‘out’ you to friends/ family, or isolating you when you don't speak the language.

"Abusive people feel a surge of power when they discover a weakness. They exploit it, using it to gain more power." - Christina Enevoldsen

An abusive relationship can include any or all of these types of behaviours, sustained over a period of time and often escalating.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing this and you want to talk to someone about your concerns, please call or email us.

If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, please call 911.

We do not accept

walk ins

With a small team, we are simply not staffed to meet the needs of drop in clients. Please call or email to make an appointment with an intake worker. Thank you.

Appointments to access our services

The best and most direct way to access our services is to call or email us. We do require informed consent which we share with you during our intake process.

Who can we offer services to?

We serve residents of St Albert, Sturgeon County & the surrounding areas. At this time, we are not able to provide counselling services to Edmonton residents.