‘I Don’t Need Therapy:’ Why I Was Wrong

May 29th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Be honest: What’s your reaction when you hear someone mention his or her therapist? People who need therapy have something fundamentally wrong with them, right? They must have major issues from childhood, or they must be emotional time bombs. They’ve likely suppressed trauma from emotional,... Read More

Stephanie_Schroeder_4_clr_photo_by_Maeghan_Donohue

Writing Through Mental Illness and Recovery

May 27th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” There are many paths to self-examination. The most obvious is psychotherapy, in which I wholeheartedly believe. I’ve spent the greater part of my adult life in therapy. Another type of self-examination comes with writing. This could mean journaling privately, writing poems or songs for a loved one, writing letters... Read More

Brief Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool Proves Effective

May 27th, 2013 . 2 Comments

The percentage of intimate partner violence victims and perpetrators in substance abuse treatment is estimated at about 50%. This alarmingly high rate has prompted the inclusion of partner violence screening at patient intake. Currently, the most commonly used assessment tools for partner violence in substance use treatment facilities are the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Although these two measures have proven to highly... Read More

Four Ways to Help Domestic Violence Survivors Without Opening Your Wallet

May 17th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Despite radical movement toward women’s equality, domestic violence remains a major stumbling block that prevents many women from feeling safe or achieving full equality with men. Some studies indicate more women are injured by domestic violence than any by other cause while ... Read More

Witnessing Domestic Violence Decreases Gray Matter Volume

May 10th, 2013 . 7 Comments

Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at much greater risk of developing psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress (PTSD) when compared to children who have never witnessed domestic violence. Being a witness to abuse, verbal aggression, or physical violence can increase... Read More

stalking-aggression-domestic-violence-0405137

Why Stalkers Stalk—and What to Do If You’re a Victim

April 5th, 2013 . 6 Comments

Being stalked can be paralyzingly frightening. Victims aren’t traumatized just once; they’re perpetually unsettled by attempts at contact and often begin to feel like there’s no safe place to go. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that about three million people are stalked every year, most by people they know—often a former intimate partner. As many as 10% of stalking victims fear for their lives, and all victims face massive disruptions to... Read More

Domestic Violence, Both Seen and Felt, Puts Children at Risk

April 2nd, 2013 . 3 Comments

Children who witness violence within their homes are more likely to struggle with psychological and behavioral problems than those who do not witness aggression within their families. Some of the consequences related to witnessing violence include externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Similarly, children who experience violence at the hands of parents and family members are at increased... Read More

Bidirectional Violence Occurs in the Majority of Violent Intimate Relationships

April 1st, 2013 . 2 Comments

Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs in a large percentage of young adult relationships. Several factors increase the likelihood of IPV, including low socioeconomic status, living in urban communities, drug and alcohol use, witnessing or experiencing familial or domestic violence, and younger age. It has also been theorized that many relationships that experience IPV also have a component of reciprocity.... Read More

Socioeconomic Disadvantage Increases Risk of Partner Violence for Women

March 26th, 2013 . 3 Comments

Intimate partner violence (IPV) takes many forms, including physical violence, emotional abuse, and sexual violence. Research into IPV has explored a variety of factors that influence risk for IPV. It has been theorized that individuals from lower socioeconomic communities may be at greater risk for IPV because of increased exposure to risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use,... Read More

Super Bowl Sunday: Worst Day of the Year for Domestic Violence?

February 1st, 2013 . 4 Comments

The claim that domestic violence is at its peak on Super Bowl Sunday has been repeated so often that it’s widely accepted as fact. It certainly jives nicely with popular ideas about the ways in which alcohol, stress, male bonding, loyalties, ... Read More

Teachers Can Help Student Victims of Domestic Abuse, with Resources

January 14th, 2013 . 5 Comments

School is often the only safe place for young children who live with domestic violence. Witnessing or being exposed to physical abuse can have a significant impact on the well-being of a child. Whether it is sexual, verbal, or physical abuse, when a child witnesses this type of abuse... Read More

Do Partners Contemplate Murder More than Divorce?

January 4th, 2013 . 4 Comments

The new movie This is 40 has a lot of people talking. It is not only crass and funny, but also controversial. The two main characters in the movie reveal that they have secretly fantasized about killing each other. The wife admits to her husband that she has thought about poisoning him with a cupcake. The husband, on the other hand, tells his wife that he had contemplated putting her through a wood chipper. And as they share their morbid fantasies, the married lovers... Read More

The Case of Rihanna: Why Do Domestic Abuse Victims Return to Their Abusers?

January 1st, 2013 . 8 Comments

If you are one of the few individuals who do not tweet or blog, you may not be aware that Rihanna and Chris Brown have recently reunited. The fact that he violently assaulted her three years ago does not seem to be of much concern to the couple or to the enthralled crowd of virtual onlookers who follows their every move. Why are we so obsessed with such drama? And why would Rihanna... Read More

Interpersonal Violence Affects Men and Women in Similar Ways

December 31st, 2012 . 12 Comments

Some statistics suggest that women are more likely than men to be the victims of intimate partner sexual assault. Date rape, sexual assault, and even stalking are highly concerning issues for women. These events can increase a woman’s risk of psychological issues, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, substance ... Read More

Helping People Find Therapists & Advocating for Ethical Therapy

Category: Domestic Violence

The Good Therapy Blog

‘I Don’t Need Therapy:’ Why I Was Wrong

Writing Through Mental Illness and Recovery

Brief Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool Proves Effective

Four Ways to Help Domestic Violence Survivors Without Opening Your Wallet

Witnessing Domestic Violence Decreases Gray Matter Volume

Why Stalkers Stalk—and What to Do If You’re a Victim

Domestic Violence, Both Seen and Felt, Puts Children at Risk

Bidirectional Violence Occurs in the Majority of Violent Intimate Relationships

Socioeconomic Disadvantage Increases Risk of Partner Violence for Women

Super Bowl Sunday: Worst Day of the Year for Domestic Violence?

Teachers Can Help Student Victims of Domestic Abuse, with Resources

Do Partners Contemplate Murder More than Divorce?

The Case of Rihanna: Why Do Domestic Abuse Victims Return to Their Abusers?

Interpersonal Violence Affects Men and Women in Similar Ways

Search Our Blog:

Blog Categories

Find the Right Therapist

Dear GoodTherapy.org

Is It So Wrong That I Don't Care About My Husband's Affair?

I Can't Seem to Stop My Self-Destructive Behavior

Note to Self

Recent Comments

Blogroll

Blog Archives