Navigating Safety: Developing a Safety Plan with Teens
Like domestic violence, teen dating violence is controlling behavior. According to DoSomething.org, violent behavior begins between 6th and 12th grade and 72% of young people are already dating by the time they are 13 to 14 years old. At this stage of life when youth are lacking significant experience in the dating world, it is […]
Talking with Teens About Consent
By Jenn Rockefeller A teenager’s world is ever-changing. They face pressures that adults likely did not at their age. Pressures in both school and their social circles can begin to intensify. When a teen begins to reach physical maturity, their world can become a mixture of confusion, anxiety and further pressure from peers. They may […]
Speaking Out Against Abusers
By Rebecca Lynn What would our world be without communication? Communication is essential for society to function. Communication, regardless of what form it takes, allows us to have social relationships, ask questions, understand others, inform, and gain knowledge. Communication has always been a part of society, primarily through storytelling. Telling a story is powerful; it […]
What is Reproductive Coercion?
By Jenn Rockefeller It is not gender specific. It can happen to men, women and non-binary victims of domestic violence. It can happen at any time within relationships. It doesn’t discriminate – it can happen to the rich or poor, and to all those with differing racial backgrounds. What is “it?” It’s called reproductive coercion […]
When Abuse Escalates
By Jamey Sheesley Escalation in abusive relationships is very dangerous. Victims tend to experience a steep increase in the abuse as part of the abusive cycle or if they find any sort of independence from their abusive partner. What is the cycle of abuse? Even though every abusive relationship is different, there is always a […]
Reactive Abuse: What It is and Why Abusers Rely on It
One of the most common tactics abusers use is to shift blame for the abuse onto the victim. The abuser will claim the victim is the abuser because of the reaction the victim has. The abuser may even attempt to convince the victim that there is nothing worth reacting over and that the victim is […]