Sometimes healing feels lonelier than being hurt. Dear Survivor, There’s a quiet grief that doesn’t get talked about enough: the loneliness that shows up after you finally see the truth. At first, awakening to realizing it is abuse can feel like relief. The fog lifts. The confusion starts to clear. But then something unexpected happens. […]
Realizing It Is Abuse: The Loneliness of Waking Up Read More »
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t leaving, it’s staying gone. Dear Survivor, One survivor asked me a question that lives in the heart of so many who’ve walked away from painful relationships: “Why do I still miss her?” He had done what felt like the impossible, left a home that once made him feel small. This
The Invisible Chains of Trauma Bonding Read More »
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
Summer Mental Health Support for Survivors Read More »
Finding Mental Health Support After a Breakup Leaving was not just about heartbreak. It was about survival. Dear Survivor, A woman once told me that after she left, people treated it like a typical breakup. They asked if she was dating again. They encouraged her to get over it. What they did not see were
Mental Health Support After a Tough Breakup Read More »
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
Beyond Survival: Supporting Post-Traumatic Growth in Survivors Read More »
Love should never feel like walking on eggshells. It should not come with conditions and strings attached. Dear Survivor, At first, it may have looked like devotion, romance, infatuation, and even felt like love. The constant check-ins, the jealousies framed as care, the subtle sabotage, the need to be with you all the time. It
How to Recognize Coercive Control When Love Is the Bait Read More »
What looks like protection may actually be power and control. Financial abuse is real and, often, very covert. Dear Colleague, Financial abuse is one of the least recognized forms of control in intimate partner violence. It often hides behind the appearance of care. A partner offers to manage the bills, handle the bank account, or
When Care Is Control: Understanding Financial Abuse in Survivors’ Lives Read More »
Every survivor needs a foundation of safety before healing can begin. Dear Colleague, Survivors often walk into our offices carrying invisible alarms that never turn off. Safety is not just physical. It includes emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial dimensions that are frequently overlooked. As providers, we are not only asked to recognize danger. We are
Every Survivor Deserves to Feel Safe. Here’s Where We Start Read More »
Your pain is part of your story — but it is not the end of it. Dear Survivor, One of the cruelest lies abuse leaves behind is this: you are broken beyond repair. When you survive narcissistic abuse or an abusive relationship, you may carry shame so deep it feels fused to your bones. You
You Are Not Broken: The Myth of Permanent Damage 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 »