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Every year on December 6, Canadians honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day to remember the 14 women whose lives were taken at École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.
It is a solemn day that invites reflection, compassion, and action. For many survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, it can also be a deeply emotional moment that stirs grief, pain, and sometimes a sense of hope that healing is possible.
Understanding the Scope of Violence in Canada
Domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV) continues to affect countless lives across Canada. According to Women and Gender Equality Canada, 44% of women aged 15 and older who have been in an intimate relationship, more than six million people, have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a partner (Canada.ca).
A 2021 Statistics Canada report found that about 4.2% of women and 2.7% of men reported physical or sexual spousal violence within five years. This represents roughly 432,000 women and 279,000 men across the country (Statistics Canada). Even more concerning, four out of five incidents were never reported to police.
These numbers highlight a painful truth: violence thrives in silence. That is why trauma-informed care and safe, compassionate spaces for healing are so essential.
Healing After Violence: How Trauma-Informed Counselling Can Help
If you have experienced domestic or gender-based violence, healing can feel like an uphill climb. Even after finding safety, your body and mind may continue to hold the fear and tension of the past. Trauma-informed counselling helps survivors process these experiences with compassion, choice, and safety, empowering them to rebuild connection to themselves and the world around them.
Below are three key approaches we often integrate into our work at OK Clinical Therapy Group, each offering survivors pathways toward grounding, regulation, and self-trust.
1. Trauma Counselling with a Trauma-Informed Lens
A trauma-informed approach begins with understanding that trauma impacts every layer of life: our bodies, emotions, relationships, and even our sense of identity.
At OK Clinical, we emphasize the core principles of safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and compassion. This means we move at your pace, ensuring you feel seen, respected, and in control throughout the process. Trauma counselling provides a foundation for survivors to begin gently understanding how trauma lives in both the mind and body, and how healing can unfold through awareness, connection, and self-compassion.
2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR therapy is one of the most effective evidence-based treatments for trauma. It helps reprocess distressing memories so that they no longer feel overwhelming or “stuck.” For survivors of domestic violence, EMDR can help reduce the emotional charge of painful memories and support nervous system regulation. EMDR Canada describes the therapy as “a fast-acting, accessible option” that supports people from all backgrounds (EMDR Canada). EMDR helps people move from reliving their trauma to remembering it with a sense of peace and distance, allowing space for healing and hope.
3. Somatic Therapy: Healing Through the Body
Trauma is not only held in the mind; it is stored in the body. That is why somatic therapy is such an important part of the healing process. At OK Clinical, we integrate Somatic Experiencing, a body-based approach that works with the body’s natural ability to regulate and recover from trauma. By noticing sensations, tension, and patterns of holding in the body, survivors can gently release what has been trapped and rediscover a sense of safety within. Through breathwork, grounding, and awareness, somatic therapy helps clients rebuild a relationship of trust with their own bodies, which is an essential part of long-term healing.
You’re Not Alone: Support and Next Steps
Healing from domestic violence takes courage, time, and the right support. If you are seeking domestic violence trauma counselling in BC, here are a few starting points:
- Look for trauma-informed counsellors with experience in EMDR or somatic therapy.
- Ask how they integrate body-based and nervous-system approaches into their work.
- Remember that healing is not linear; progress happens in waves, not straight lines.
Helpful resources include:
A Closing Reflection
As this year’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women has come and gone, we here at OK Clinical hold space for those who are healing, and those still searching for safety. Healing from trauma is an act of courage, and it is one you do not have to take alone.
At OK Clinical Therapy Group, we believe in creating compassionate, trauma-informed care that meets you exactly where you are. Whether through counselling, EMDR, or somatic therapy, our goal is to help you reconnect with safety, self-trust, and the possibility of joy.
If you are reading this and finding your way forward, please remember you deserve peace, healing, and a life free from fear, and we are here to walk that path with you. If you are ready to take the next step, you can book an appointment directly through our website at okclinical.com or give us a call at 250-718-9291. Our administrative team would be happy to help you find the right counsellor and answer any questions you may have about getting started.
Written by: Kassidy McMillan
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