Abuse is destructive not only to the relationship, but to everyone involved. It can come in many forms:

• Physical Abuse: hitting, punching, inflicting pain, or threatening to do bodily harm.
  
• Verbal and Emotional Abuse: putting you down, making you feel bad about yourself.
  
• Denying, Blaming: making light of the abuse, saying it didn't happen, saying it's your fault.
  
• Controlling, Intimidating: trying to direct everything in your life, making you afraid of any independent action or thought.
  
• Sexual Abuse: forcing you to have sex at times, and in ways you do not choose, or insisting you must have sex after a fight "to make up".

All assistance is free and confidential.

• Support and Crisis Counseling: We are available to talk with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week on our hotline. We do not subscribe to caller ID. Individual counseling and support services are available Monday-Friday or by appointment.
  
• Advocacy and Referral: We can help you find and use the social, legal, and medical services that you need.
  
• Emergency Short-time Shelter: We can provide immediate, short-term, safe shelter, as well as referrals to long-term shelter.
  
• Support Group: A safe, confidential, and non-judgmental support group meets each week to talk about issues of abuse, support, change and healthy relationships.