Becoming aware of how they react to their child is a big step. Getting them to separate their own problems before dealing with children is another big issue. Individual therapy or group therapy with other children is helpful for the child. As children, what we see in our families is what we think the world is really like. Children sometimes don't know how to express themselves about what's going on.
Stress is one of the biggest factors in verbal and emotional abuse.
People are separated from their support systems and that, too, can take its toll. Although many people encounter these problems every day and do not abuse their children, a family history of abuse may increase the risk. I think there is also a lack of understanding of the child's development. During counseling sessions, parents are given information about what children are capable of doing. There may just be a lack of information, along with limited knowledge of how to deal with problems.