Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing (CCCNIP) is a fully accredited, non-profit organization providing professional counselling services and community programs to individuals, couples, and families. Of the many programs offered, CCCNIP provides support for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV).
IPV affects individuals of all genders, ages, socioeconomic, racial, educational, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. However, women account for the vast majority of women who experience this form of violence and it is most often perpetrated by men.
Statistics Canada reported that approximately one-third (30 per cent) of all incidents of violent crime reported to the police in 2018 was related to IPV, which represents 99,452 people in Canada.
The report also highlighted that police-reported data for 2018 revealed that rates of intimate partner sexual assault were almost 30 times higher for women than men (29 incidents versus 1 per 100,000 population). Rates of sexual assaults were the highest among women aged 15 to 24 (50 incidents per 100,000 population).
What is IPV?
IPV, also referred to as domestic violence, includes physical, sexual, stalking, and/or psychological violence inflicted by a current or past intimate partner.
With IPV, some women blame themselves for their situation because they see themselves as a buffer, helping their partner to overcome insecurity or to meet their partner’s emotional needs. In doing so, they have difficulty stepping outside of the relationship and understanding the risks that they are experiencing.
Some women will experience IPV once while others will endure violence that lasts for years. At CCCNIP, staff members accept a woman’s choice to stay in a relationship or in her home.
IPV and Stigma
Referring to a woman as a victim of IPV creates a label that can be very unhelpful. Labels carry negative connotations about one’s character and identity, which can be hard to escape. They also create barriers to recovery as labels can trap a person in a negative stereotype.
Women looking to escape IPV situations prefer to be called survivors; the term insinuates strength and resilience, both qualities needed to move past the trauma and begin a fresh start.
Identifying IPV
CCCNIP provides assessments to identify the risks for IPV. Experienced staff will look at the history of violence and controlling behaviour and help women plan for safety and to understand their level of risk. For many women, they can become desensitized to risk when they are in an immediate situation.
At CCCNIP, qualified counsellors guide survivors to relief and recovery through confidential, caring and trusting support. Services for IPV do not focus on blame or what individuals are doing wrong. Instead, they accept what survivors bring and look for ways to reduce the harms.
Ready to get help?
If you are in an IPV situation and want help, please book an intake appointment or call 705-472-6515. For after-hours services, please call the North Bay Transition House at 705-476-2429 or for after-hours services in French call Fem’aide at 1-877-336-2433.
CCCNIP is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of its clients and other stakeholders, striving to be transparent, responsible and accountable in how it treats information.