When Ethics Meets Danger: Navigating Mandated Reporting with DV Survivors

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

What do you do when doing the right thing might put your client at risk? Dear Colleague, Mandated reporting is a legal duty. But for survivors of domestic violence, it can feel like a betrayal. We must walk a careful line, honoring our ethical and professional responsibilities while holding deep awareness of the real-world consequences […]

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The Digital Trap: Helping Survivors Navigate Tech Safety

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

In an abusive relationship, even technology can be turned into a tool of control. Dear Colleague, Survivors are often monitored more closely than they realize. From smart home devices to hidden spyware and GPS tracking, abusers exploit technology in deeply invasive ways. As clinicians, we must assess these risks as part of safety planning. We

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From Powerlessness to Power: Ethical Empowerment for Survivors

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Every ethical choice we make either strengthens or silences a survivor’s voice. Dear Colleague, When a survivor enters our care, they often carry a long history of being told what to do. Abusers, systems, even well-meaning helpers have all taken the steering wheel. Ethical care means giving it back. Even when that feels counterintuitive or

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Survivor Safety Is Ethical Care

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Ethics isn’t just a set of rules. It’s a commitment to protecting those most at risk. Dear Colleague, When working with survivors of domestic violence, our ethical responsibilities extend far beyond informed consent and HIPAA compliance. We are safeguarding lives. The risk of harm for survivors is very real, especially when they are considering or

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domestic violence survivors abusive relationships

Summer Mental Health Support for Survivors

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Summer Mental Health Support for Survivors Summer can bring sunshine, but it also brings risk for many survivors. Dear Colleague, Summer Custody and Co-Parenting Conflicts Custody arrangements often change during the summer months. These transitions can open the door to manipulation, emotional threats, and increased contact with abusive ex-partners. Survivors may feel trapped in patterns

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Understanding Empathy Overload: Signs and Solutions

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Understanding Empathy Overload and Its Effects Caring deeply is not the problem. Carrying it all alone might be. Dear Colleague, You listen to trauma stories every day. You hold space for grief, fear, rage, and despair. You try to be present, steady, and safe. And some days, that gets harder. That heaviness you feel? It

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Gaslighting Recovery: Reclaim Your Inner Truth

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Understanding Gaslighting Recovery for Survivors The most radical thing we can do is believe them. Dear Colleague, Gaslighting is not just deception. It is distortion. It erodes a survivor’s trust in their own memory, emotions, and instincts. Over time, this tactic chips away at their ability to name harm, speak up, or even trust their

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Beyond Survival: Supporting Post-Traumatic Growth in Survivors

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth in Survivors Healing does not mean forgetting. It means becoming someone new on purpose. Dear Colleague, Trauma shakes the ground beneath a survivor’s feet. It can fracture identity, warp trust, and turn the future into something that feels either blank or terrifying. But healing is not just about repairing damage. It can

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From Love Bombing to Bread Crumbing: How Survivors Get Hooked

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

Survivors are not naive. They are being conditioned. Dear Colleague, One of the most confusing parts of emotional abuse is how intensely loving it can feel in the beginning. Survivors often describe a whirlwind. Affection, flattery, gifts, fast commitment. It is intoxicating. And it is strategic. This is love bombing, and it is not love.

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Every Choice Is a Step: Honoring Survivor Decision-Making

Therapists working with DV Survivors /

When we release control, we make room for survivors to reclaim theirs. Dear Colleague, Survivor decisions are not always what we expect. Some stay. Some leave and return. Some say yes in session and no in real life. These moments can feel disheartening, even confusing. But they are not wrong. They are information. Every choice

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