Boundaries aren’t walls — they are the doors to your peace. Dear Survivor, After surviving an abusive relationship, setting boundaries can feel almost impossible. You may fear being called selfish. You may worry that saying no means you are “just as bad” as your abuser. You may wonder if you even have the right to […]
Survivor Strength: Building Boundaries Without Guilt Read More »
Isolation feeds shame — connection breathes life into healing. Dear Survivor, Abuse thrives in isolation. It teaches you to keep secrets, to distrust others, to believe you’re the only one who feels this broken. Narcissistic abuse, in particular, carves out loneliness like a second home, leaving survivors stranded in their own pain. But you were
You Are Not Alone: Finding Your Survivor Community Read More »
Understanding manipulation tactics is key to helping survivors stay empowered and safe in their abusive relationship. Dear Colleague, Two concepts every survivor — and provider — needs to understand are gray rocking and bread crumbing. When survivors know what to expect, they can protect their energy, set stronger boundaries, and move forward more confidently. Helping
Gray Rocking and Bread Crumbing: Tools Survivors Need to Know Read More »
The true goal isn’t just surviving abuse — it’s building a life beyond it. Dear Colleague, When we support survivors, we aren’t just helping them leave an abusive relationship . We are helping them reconnect to themselves. And we are helping them break the cycle for good. By focusing on empowerment over rescue, we help
Breaking the Cycle: Empowering Survivors Toward Freedom Read More »
Thriving isn’t a destination — it’s a daily act of choosing yourself. Dear Survivor, There was a time when survival was your full-time job. Every day was about enduring, navigating, keeping the peace, staying invisible. You measured success by how little you upset your abuser, by how much you could endure without breaking. You were
From Surviving to Thriving: What Recovery Can Look Like Read More »
Healing from narcissistic abuse takes more than time. It takes clarity, safety, and support to rebuild trust and self-worth. Dear Colleague, Guiding survivors through the aftermath of narcissistic abuse means understanding the deep emotional and psychological toll it leaves behind. This form of relational trauma is often invisible to outsiders but profoundly disruptive to a
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Minimizing your pain doesn’t make you stronger — it only makes healing harder. Dear Survivor, How many times did you tell yourself, “It wasn’t that bad”? Maybe you stayed because you thought others had it worse. Maybe you believed love meant forgiving everything. Maybe your abusive partner convinced you that the harm wasn’t real. Gaslighting
The Myth of “It Wasn’t That Bad.” Read More »
Not all abuse leaves bruises. Some of the deepest wounds are emotional—and they’re often hidden in plain sight. Dear Colleague, Recognizing the signs of emotional abuse is essential when working with survivors of domestic violence and relationship trauma. Unlike physical violence, emotional abuse often leaves no visible marks, but its impact can be just as
Signs of Emotional Abuse Providers Must Recognize Read More »
Your intuition often sees the truth long before your mind can explain it. Dear Survivor, In every abusive relationship, there are warning signs — little moments that make your heart race, your stomach tighten, your spirit shrink. Maybe it was the way they mocked your dreams, isolated you from loved ones, or twisted every argument
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Trauma bonding can feel invisible, yet it powerfully keeps survivors tethered to abusive relationships. Dear Colleague, Understanding trauma bonding is essential for anyone committed to trauma-informed care. It is one of the most misunderstood dynamics in abusive relationships and one of the most emotionally complex. Trauma bonding occurs when a survivor forms an intense, often
Supporting Survivors Through Trauma Bonding Read More »