Treatment and Follow-up : Emotional Abuse

Appropriate treatment for emotional abuse depends on many factors. If the abuse is the result of family dysfunction, such as resulting from the inability to provide for physical, developmental, or emotional needs, the treatment includes providing appropriate community services.

Children/adolescents whose parents are mentally ill, have drug or alcohol problems, or have problems with parenting due to disabilities may also require interventions from local social and mental health services.

Children/adolescents with disabilities, particularly communication disorders, may not exhibit the expected symptoms of emotional abuse. They may benefit from intervention by communication experts in order to express their needs. For more information, see APPENDICES : Appendix G - List of New York State Community Services .

The treatment is more complex if emotional abuse is the result of intentional psychological maltreatment, such as spurning, exploiting, terrorizing, ignoring, isolating, or unwarranted denial of mental health care, medical care, or education. Treatment for psychological maltreatment may involve separating the child/adolescent from the offender. Mental health support for all family members, offending and non-offending caregivers as well as the children, is usually necessary.