Abuse & Neglect

Physical abuse- Intentional act causing injury or trauma to a person by way of physical force to harm a child or adult or elder. This includes:

  1. Bruises
  2. Bite marks
  3. Pressure marks from force of fingers
  4. Hitting
  5. Burns
  6. Fractures

Emotional abuse- A form of abuse to control or manipulate a person by use of emotions toembarrass, criticize, blame, shame another person. It is the use of words and bullying typebehaviors that are used to reduce a person’s self-esteem and mental health. This includes:

  1. Isolating you from others
  2. Afraid to discuss your feelings in relationship
  3. Goal is to make you feel bad about self
  4. Everything is your fault

Economic abuse- A form of abuse when an intimate partner has control over the other partnerseconomic resources which reduces the individual’s capacity to support themselves and forcesthe individual to depend on them for all financial needs.Exploitation- Treating someone unfair by misuse, taking advantage of their resources andgaining benefit from their resources. Examples include:

  1.  Providing unnecessary services
  2.  Forging signatures on financial transactions
  3.  Bills unpaid despite the resources
  4.  Sudden changes in bank accounts

Neglect- Occurs when a person through action or inaction deprives a child or vulnerable adult the necessary care to maintain his or her physical or mental health by lack of providing for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, medicine, or health care needs.

Self-neglect- Occurs when a vulnerable adult fails to provide for their physical or mental healthand jeopardizes his or her wellbeing. Signs include:

  1.  Living in hazardous and unsafe conditions
  2. Living in unsanitary conditions

Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity that is forced, with perpetrators  making threats or taking advantage of victims without their consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Sexual abuse includes abuse of a woman, man or child by a man, woman or child. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors — especially group therapy — appears effective.

 Physical signs:

  • Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing

 Behavioral signs: 

  • Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
  •  Keeping secrets Not talking as much as usual
  • Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers
  •  Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors they had grown out of, such as thumb sucking or bedwetting
  • Overly compliant behavior
  • Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
  •  Spending an unusual amount of time alone
  • Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe

Emotional signs: 

  • Change in eating habits
  •  Change in mood or personality, such as increased aggression
  • Decrease in confidence or self-image
  • Excessive worry or fearfulness
  • Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches
  • Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends
  • Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
  • Self-harming behaviors


Katy, TX

Office Hours

Katy, TX and Laurel, MS

Monday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-3:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed