Not all family and domestic violence is physical, coercive control refers to a pattern of behaviour used by perpetrators to exert power and control over their partner which could be emotional, financial or even technological.
DVAssist chief executive Esther Schwald said while one in four women experience domestic violence, the statistics did not recognise coercive control.
"When you expand the definition of domestic violence past the physical which coercive control does, it is really hard to measure because people are ashamed or embarrassed that it happens or they do not even know," she said.
The DVAssist website dvassist.org.au includes quizzes for people because quite often they don't not know if they were experiencing emotional abuse, especially those living in regional or remote areas.
"Their sense of normal is sometimes distorted so people can go onto the website and do a quiz to help them understand if they are in an abusive relationship," she said.
"That is sometimes the first step they can take, they can then use our webchat to start that conversation.
"It is that instant access to support, they do not have to pick up the phone and make that phone call which is a huge first step for somebody."
The webchat is a new service to help women living in regional WA to seek help silently without compromising their safety or privacy.
It removes the fear that 'everyone in a small community will know you have sought help', which is a barrier to people reaching out.
Counsellors advise webchat users how to quickly end the conversation and delete the website from their browsing history, as well as, how to use a private browser or incognito mode.
Ms Schwald said they always had a quick exit button which took people to a Google page in case someone walked in a room.
"Sadly, many people who are using violence in a relationship check their partner's phone and internet use," she said.
"People go to the extent where they put tracking devices on vehicles, and software on phones. We even tell our clients if they are going to an appointment to leave their phone at home or in the car.
"Apps can be stored on phones without their knowledge that can track them and listen, that is really scary."
Ms Schwald said sometimes people only had a matter of moments to access support, and the DVassist webchat was launched with this in mind.
"Users are instantly connected to a real person - not a bot - who is a specialist family and domestic violence counsellor with an understanding of living in regional, remote and rural communities.
DVassist's live webchat and confidential telephone helpline are available Monday to Friday, from 10am to 10pm. Webchat is available via dvassist.org.au and the helpline via 1800 080 083.
The DVassist website is available 24/7.
