Domestic Abuse: Identifying, Getting Help and Providing Support (Part 1)

In this episode

• Today's guest is Ryan Kelly, MSW, Associate Director of Victim Services from InterAct.
• Ryan shares about her role and InterAct and how she helps survivors of domestic abuse.
• Ryan shares about the ways domestic violence shows up in relationships, physical abuse is often only one piece of the problem. She breaks down the power and control wheel that is taking control over their partner.
• Do you feel like you have the autonomy to do what you want to do and feel safe? This is a good gauge to identify if you are in an abusive relationship.
• We highlight how domestic violence does not discriminate against race, sex, or socioeconomics.
• We talk about what to look for in relationships that could be red flags of domestic abuse:
  • Does it progress quickly
  • You see an attack on autonomy
  • The perpetrator attacks healthy relationships in the survivor
• Ending a relationship with an abusive partner can be dangerous.
• We need to become better at listening because people in an abusive relationship may not directly disclose abuse.
• We also need to get better at believing people when they disclose abuse and not find excuses for abusive behavior.
• You don't need to know the truth to support someone, often asking questions about the nature of the abuse can cause the survivor to feel like you are victim-blaming.
• The National Coalition to Against Domestic Violence estimates about 10 million men and women in the United States experience intimate partner violence per year. 
• The pandemic exasperated the instances of domestic abuse.
• The good news is that a lot of people transition successfully from being victims to survivors. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• If you're interested in volunteering at InterAct all the opportunities are listed on the website.

Help your friends who may be going through a divorce go from victim to victorious and bitter to better.

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