Principle 3: understand why clients may not disclose abuse
It is important to understand why some clients may not disclose their experiences of economic abuse.
They may be:
•ashamed about the situation they are in;
•afraid of the abuser finding out that they have spoken to an adviser;
•worried about being judged in the response they receive;
•concerned that it will negatively affect the support they are offered;
•unaware that a debt adviser can support them if they are experiencing economic abuse;
•coming to terms with the abuse they are experiencing.
The client may have lived with the abuse for a long time. It may seem ‘normal’ to them, and they may be unaware they are experiencing a type of abuse.