How to Get Help

Family Violence Prevention Services in Manitoba

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Willow Place services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour Crisis Line:

24-hour Support Line

204-615-0311 or 1-877-977-0007

                         NEW!!! Text only line: 204-792-5302

Willow Place Shelter Services

What we offer

  • Protective housing with private, confidential location
  • Safe transportation to shelter may be provided
  • Daily staff support and counselling
  • Family violence information and education
  • Safety planning support
  • Assistance with the preparation of protection orders
  • Contact with community supports
  • Contact with Legal Aid
  • Support finding housing
  • Assistance with Provincial Assistance (EIA), if required

What you can expect

  • All services and supports are no cost
  • Shared living/accommodations
  • All meals and snacks provided
  • Clean bedding, linens and towels
  • On-site laundry facilities
  • Counselling and staff support available 24/7
  • Individual and group supports
  • Support to access community resources

If you are experiencing family violence

You are not to blame – everyone has a right to respect and safety

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Common Abusive Behaviours

If you are experiencing abuse, please seek support – family violence includes intimate partner, sibling and other relationship conflicts, including elder abuse.  Some examples include:

  • Makes me feel afraid
  • Is possessive
  • Is always “checking up” on me
  • Is sexually demanding
  • Teases, bullies and puts me down
  • Gets violent, loses temper quickly
  • Tries to control me
  • Keeps me from seeing my friends and family
  • Makes all the decisions
  • Hits me
  • Takes my money and other things
  • Always blames me
  • Threatens to leave if I don’t do what I’m told
  • Threatens to harm self, others, children and/or pets

Forms of Abuse

Violence and abuse may occur only once, can involve various tactics of subtle manipulation over a period of months or years. In any form, violence and abuse have serious negative impacts on individual health and well-being.

There many forms of violence and abuse including:

  1. Physical violence;
  2. Sexual violence;
  3. Emotional violence;
  4. Psychological violence;
  5. Spiritual violence;
  6. Cultural violence;
  7. Verbal Abuse;
  8. Financial Abuse; and,
  9. Neglect

The Cycle of Abuse

The Distinct Patterns of Abusive Relationships

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Most abusive relationships display a distinct pattern, known as the Cycle of Abuse or Cycle of Violence. Abuse is rarely constant but cycles between tension building, acting out, the honeymoon or “make up” period, and calm.

Not all relationships follow the same cycle, and individual experiences vary. Some stages, especially the honeymoon or calm periods, may shorten or be left out completely, especially as the abuse intensifies over a period of time.

Each stage of the cycle can last from a few minutes to a number of months, but within an abusive relationship, the following stages can often be pin-pointed:

Tension Building

    • Tension starts and steadily builds
    • Abuser starts to get angry
    • Communication breaks down
    • Victim feels pressured to yield to the abuser
    • Tension becomes too much
    • Victim feels uneasy and the need to watch every move

Explosion

    • Any type of abuse occurs
    • Physical
    • Sexual

Honeymoon 

    • Abuser apologizes for abuse; may beg forgiveness or show remorse
    • Abuser may promise it will never happen again
    • Victim blamed for provoking the abuse or denies abuse occurred
    • Abuser minimizes or denies the abuse
    • Abuses may decrease or stop
    • Abuser acts like the abuse never happened
    • Promises made during honeymoon stage may be met
    • Abuser may give gifts to victim

    • Victim believes the abuse is over and the abuser will change

Abuse is not about you, or something you did wrong.  Abuse is rooted in power and control – abusers seek to dominate their victims.  If you recognize these signs, you or someone you know, may be a victim of abuse.

You are not alone.

24-hour Support Line

204-615-0311 or 1-877-977-0007

Not Looking for Shelter?

Willow Place can still help – talk to us about:

Caring Dads  •  Counselling  •  Support Groups  •  Follow-up services