Living with fear in a relationship changes how you move through the world. If someone has used control, intimidation, or harm against you, the anxiety, sleeplessness, and shaken sense of self-worth you may feel are natural responses to being hurt – not signs of weakness, and never your fault. These wounds are real, and they are treatable.
Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to gain and keep power and control over an intimate partner or family member. It can take many forms – physical, emotional, sexual, and financial – and it often escalates over time. It happens to people of every gender, age, income level, and background, and experiencing it is never a reflection of anything you did wrong.
Domestic violence rarely looks the same in any two relationships, and it does not always leave visible marks. Understanding its different forms can help you name what you have experienced and recognize that it deserves care. Whatever shape the harm has taken, it is one of the many conditions we treat, and support is available.
Physical abuse includes any use of force meant to hurt, frighten, or control – hitting, grabbing, blocking your movement, or threatening harm. Even after the immediate danger passes, the body often stays on high alert, leaving lasting fear, tension, and hypervigilance that affect daily life.
Emotional abuse uses words and behavior to wear down your sense of reality and self-worth. Constant criticism, humiliation, threats, and gaslighting can leave you doubting your own memory and judgment. Over time, this quiet erosion of confidence can be just as damaging as physical harm.
Coercive control is a steady pattern of domination that limits your freedom and independence. It can include isolation from friends and family, monitoring your phone or movements, and dictating what you wear, where you go, or whom you see. The result is a shrinking world in which your own choices feel out of reach.
Financial abuse uses money as a tool of control – restricting access to funds, sabotaging work, or hiding accounts to keep a person trapped and unable to leave. The stress and powerlessness it creates take a real toll on mental health. Our focus is on your emotional recovery and helping you feel steady and capable again as you move forward.
The effects of abuse often extend well beyond the relationship itself. Many survivors live with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, or depression, along with sleep disturbances, flashbacks, and a persistent sense of being unsafe. Treating these conditions together gives you the strongest foundation for lasting recovery.
Abuse can be hard to name, especially when it builds slowly or comes from someone you love. You do not need certainty or proof to deserve support. If any of the following feels familiar, reaching out can help.
Our care begins with safety and stabilization, then moves gradually toward deeper healing at a pace you control. We draw on a range of evidence-based therapy and other proven therapy options, matching each approach to your needs, your history, and your goals.
This structured therapy helps you understand how abuse has shaped your thoughts, feelings, and reactions, then gradually replaces fear-driven patterns with a renewed sense of safety and control. It is especially effective for processing traumatic experiences at a manageable pace.
EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their grip on the present. For many survivors, it eases the intensity of flashbacks and intrusive memories without requiring you to talk through every detail of what happened.
DBT builds practical skills for managing overwhelming emotions, easing distress, and setting healthy boundaries. These tools can be especially grounding as you rebuild a sense of stability and learn to trust yourself again.
Connecting with others who understand can ease the isolation that abuse creates. In a safe, facilitated setting, group therapy offers validation, shared strength, and the reminder that you are not alone in what you have been through.
When helpful, our clinicians may recommend medication to ease symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, or sleep difficulties. Any medication is monitored carefully and used as a supportive part of your care – never a substitute for therapy.
Recovery is not one-size-fits-all, so we offer several levels of care that adjust as your needs change. Whether you need a protected space to focus fully on healing or flexible support that fits around daily life, there is an option designed for you.
Our residential program offers round-the-clock support in a calm, structured, and welcoming environment. For those who need distance and respite from a harmful situation, it provides space to rest, stabilize, and begin healing. Our pet-friendly Santa Clara residence even lets you keep a beloved companion close while you focus on recovery.
Our virtual intensive outpatient program delivers trauma-informed care you can access from the privacy of home. It is a strong fit when you need meaningful, structured support while maintaining work, family, or other responsibilities.
Healing continues long after structured treatment ends. We work with you to build a lasting plan – including ongoing therapy, resources, and support – so you can protect both your progress and your safety as you move forward.
Every part of our program is designed around safety, choice, and respect, so you feel supported rather than judged at each step.
Our Santa Clara location keeps compassionate, specialized care close to home for adults across the South Bay and Peninsula.
Your treatment is built around your history, needs, and goals, and it moves at a pace you control – never rushed, never forced.
Your privacy is protected at every stage, giving you a safe place to be honest about what you have experienced.
As your needs change, you can move smoothly between residential, virtual, and aftercare support without starting over.
When you are ready, we help you begin quickly and handle the insurance details so nothing stands between you and care.
From your very first conversation, you are in control of your care. We will never pressure you to share more than you want or to make decisions before you feel ready. Your pace sets the pace of treatment, and your goals guide every step.
Care usually begins with a private, compassionate conversation about what you are experiencing and what you hope to feel again. From there, we focus first on safety and stability before gently turning toward deeper healing. You can learn more about us and our approach at any time as you decide what feels right.
Life in the Bay Area can be fast-paced, expensive, and isolating, and abuse often deepens that sense of being alone. It can feel as though everyone else is thriving while you are quietly struggling. The truth is that support is closer than you think, and you do not have to face this on your own.
Taking the first step can feel daunting, but you do not have to have everything figured out before you reach out. A single, confidential phone call is enough to begin. Call us at (408) 741-9292Â or contact our team, and we will listen without judgment and help you understand your options.
From there, our team guides you through a simple admissions process and can help you verify your insurance so you know what your coverage includes. Whenever you feel ready, we are here to help you take that next step toward safety and healing.
Our treatment focuses on the mental health effects of abuse, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and difficulty feeling safe. Through individual therapy, group support, and other proven approaches, we help you process what happened, rebuild your confidence, and create a steadier, more hopeful path forward.
Yes. Your privacy is central to everything we do. What you share is handled with strict confidentiality and care, and we work to make every conversation feel safe, private, and free of judgment from the very first contact.
No. You do not have to be ready to leave or to make any particular decision to deserve support. Our trauma-informed care meets you where you are and focuses on your wellbeing and safety, whatever choices you make about your relationship.
It can. Living through abuse is a form of trauma, and many survivors develop post-traumatic stress, including flashbacks, nightmares, and a constant sense of being on guard. These responses are treatable, and the right care can significantly reduce their hold on your life.
Most likely. We accept most major insurance plans and make the process easy to navigate. You can verify your insurance with our team or call (408) 741-9292, and we will walk you through your coverage and any costs before you begin.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 right away. For free, confidential help at any hour, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. When you are ready for ongoing support, our same-day admissions team is here to help you take the next step.
