Finding Support After Intimate Partner Violence in Lindsay, Ontario

By Greci Counselling Services

If you’ve experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), you may be feeling a mix of fear, confusion, grief, or even guilt — emotions that can be overwhelming and isolating. Whether the abuse was emotional, physical, sexual, or financial, it’s important to know this: you are not alone, and what happened is not your fault.

Healing after relationship violence takes time, safety, and support. This post offers information and resources for those in or near Lindsay, Ontario, who may be looking for help — and gentle next steps toward recovery.

💬 Understanding Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence can happen to anyone — regardless of gender, age, or background. It often involves patterns of control, coercion, or harm by someone you’re (or were) in a relationship with. Abuse can be:

• Physical – hitting, pushing, or using force

• Emotional/Psychological – manipulation, isolation, threats, constant criticism

• Sexual – unwanted or coerced sexual activity

• Financial – controlling money, limiting access to resources, or sabotaging employment

Recognizing that these experiences are abuse is often the first step toward healing.

🏠 If You’re in Immediate Danger

If you ever feel unsafe, please reach out for immediate help:

• Kawartha Haliburton Victim Services: 1-800-574-4401 — Crisis support, safety planning, and referrals

• Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes: 705-878-3662 — 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter

• Assaulted Women’s Helpline (Ontario-wide): 1-866-863-0511 — Free, confidential, 24/7

• 911: If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 911

You do not need to go through this alone — there are people ready to listen, believe, and help you plan for safety.

💛 Beginning the Healing Process

Leaving or recovering from an abusive relationship is not a single moment — it’s a process. Counselling can be an important part of that journey, offering:

• A safe, confidential space to process what happened

• Support in rebuilding self-esteem and trust

• Tools for emotional regulation and managing trauma responses

• Guidance for creating safety and stability moving forward

At Greci Counselling Services, we approach healing through a trauma-informed lens — meaning we prioritize safety, choice, and empowerment in every session. You set the pace.

🌿 Finding What Safety Means to You

Healing is deeply personal. Safety might mean having your own space for the first time, setting emotional boundaries, or rebuilding relationships with supportive friends and family. It might also mean taking small steps — exploring what trust and calm feel like again in your own body.

Therapy can help you reconnect with your strengths, re-establish your identity outside the relationship, and learn grounding tools to manage anxiety, grief, or trauma symptoms.

📍 Local Resources in Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes

Below are some additional supports available in the Lindsay and Kawartha area:

• Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes: www.womensresources.caOffers counselling, crisis lines, and shelter services.

• Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre: www.ksac.caProvides individual counselling, groups, and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.

• Victim Services of Kawartha Haliburton: www.victimserviceskl.caOffers crisis support, safety planning, and practical assistance.

• 211 Ontario: www.211ontario.caA province-wide directory to help you find local mental health, housing, and legal resources.

  
  

💬 You Deserve Support

Healing from intimate partner violence takes courage — and it doesn’t have to happen in isolation. Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s an act of strength and self-care.

At Greci Counselling Services in Lindsay, Ontario, we provide confidential, compassionate counselling to support survivors as they heal, rebuild, and move forward. Sessions are available in person or securely online through Owl Practice.

✨ You don’t have to carry this alone. Reach out today to book a confidential session or learn more about trauma-informed counselling options.