Cycle of Abuse

Learning about the Cycle of Abuse can be illuminating for a client who is struggling in an abusive relationship. Oftentimes, people are shocked at how closely the cycle mirrors their own experience. This printout depicts the common pattern followed by many abusive relationships, beginning with building tension, an abusive incident, the honeymoon phase, and then a calm.

Encourage your client to discuss their own experiences, and how they relate to or differ from this model. This worksheet is especially good at helping clients see their own experiences in a new light, and helping them relate to others who have been in similar relationships.