This project in now complete.
In Canada, one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime, with research indicating that rates are as high—or higher—among transgender and non-binary individuals compared with their cisgender counterparts.
Many survivors seek counselling or psychotherapy to address the psychological impacts of abuse. However, mental health professionals often receive limited training on recognizing and responding to IPV, which can result in survivors feeling unsupported or invalidated while abuse dynamics remain undetected and unaddressed.
In partnership with Dr. Ellie Gutowski, who leads the Trauma-Informed Responses Research Group in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto, this community-based qualitative research project will examine the experiences of survivors who have accessed counselling and/or psychotherapy services for mental health concerns in Ontario. The study will focus on the experiences of cisgender women, transgender, and non-binary adults aged 18 and older.
Through in-depth interviews, the research will explore survivors’ experiences accessing mental health services, navigating therapeutic relationships, and the perceived impact of counselling and psychotherapy on their well-being. The findings will inform policy and practice and strengthen training for mental health professionals to better recognize and respond to intimate partner violence
This project has been funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Get Involved
For more information, please contact:
Priya Shastri
Director of Programs
Partners
