What Is Gender-Based Violence and Why Does It Matter in Therapy

Gender-based violence (GBV) is not a single act. It is a pattern of behaviour rooted in power, inequality, and control. The United Nations defines it as any act of violence that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm and is directed at someone based on their gender.

In practice, this can look like:

• Physical violence from a partner or family member
• Sexual violence, including within relationships
• Coercive control - the sustained pattern of domination, isolation, and manipulation
• Stalking and harassment
• Honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation
• Online abuse and harassment targeted at women

Many people who experience GBV do not use the term. They describe what happened to them in personal terms - "my ex was controlling," "things got bad at home," "I did not realise it was abuse at the time." These are not lesser descriptions. They are how people make sense of experiences that are often deliberately hidden behind closed doors.

The impact of gender-based violence goes far beyond the events themselves. It shapes the way you see yourself, your relationships, and the world around you.

Common psychological effects include:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and hypervigilance
• Depression and emotional numbness
• Difficulty trusting others
• Shame, self-blame, and guilt
• Disrupted sleep and nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
• A persistent sense of being unsafe, even after the violence has ended

These responses are not signs of weakness. They are the normal reactions of a nervous system that has learned to survive in threatening conditions. The challenge is that these survival responses do not always switch off once the danger has passed. That is where therapy can help.

Therapy for gender-based violence is not simply about talking through what happened. It is about understanding the dynamics of power and control that shaped your experience, making sense of the impact on your mental health, and gradually rebuilding your sense of safety and self.

I work with clients affected by GBV using an integrative approach - drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, and relational frameworks. This means I do not follow a rigid protocol. Instead, I tailor the work to what you need, at a pace that feels safe for you.

In therapy, we might explore:

• How the experience has affected your sense of identity
• Patterns that have developed as a result of living in a controlling or violent environment
• The relationship between what you experienced and how you feel now
• What recovery looks like for you, in your own terms

I do not require you to have reported the violence. I do not require a formal diagnosis. I do not ask you to justify your experience. What I offer is a confidential, non-judgemental space where your experience is taken seriously.

One of the most significant moments in therapy is often the simplest - naming what happened. Many people who have experienced gender-based violence have spent years minimising, doubting, or explaining away what was done to them. Naming it does not fix everything, but it can be the beginning of understanding your experience as something that was done to you, not something you caused.\n\nIf any of this resonates, you do not need to have the words perfectly formed before getting in touch. That is what therapy is for.

If you have been affected by gender-based violence and are considering therapy, I offer a free introductory call where we can talk about what you are looking for. There is no obligation, and everything we discuss is confidential.