Therapy post abusive relationship

[CurlyMess]

Hi all
I’ve been struggling with coming to terms with the fact that my ex was both emotionally and physically (only once) abusive to me.
It was my decision to walk away from the relationship even though it killed me to do so as I still love him and his daughter dearly.
What makes it even worse is that he has moved on and seems all happy whereas I can’t stop thinking about the way he treated me and why he couldn’t have treated me the way he is clearly treating his new girlfriend.
Anyway, a very good friend of mine is a psychiatrist and I’ve been speaking to her about seeing a therapist. She suggested that I needed people’s therapy as CBT wouldn’t be of much use since the way I feel is completely normal for what I’ve been through.
I suppose I’m just a bit sceptical of people’s therapy. From what I’ve researched the therapist listens to you and helps you come up with the answers. However I’ve been over on my head and with my friends 100s of times and it hasn’t helped!
Wondering if anyone has had people’s therapy or any therapy for dealing with life after emotional abuse and what worked best for them?
I have my first appointment on Monday so with me luck!!

I would think that the Freedom Programme run by Womens Aid would be of more benefit to you in the long term. Have a look at this online and if at all possible enrol personally onto this programme.

Remember that the only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none; one time was one time too many. It is indeed to your credit that you walked away from him. It was hard but you did it and you need to concentrate now on further healing your own self. The abuse he inflicted on you was not your fault and you did not make him do it; its all on him.

I would also think that his new girlfriend aka target will be treated just the same as you have been in due course. Such men feel entitled to act as they do and with him its not just a question of if but when.