Children don’t have to be the direct target of abuse to be affected by it. Hearing arguments, witnessing intimidation, or seeing the aftermath of violence can leave lasting emotional and…

When people think about sexual abuse, they often picture an assault committed by a stranger. While those cases do happen, they’re not the most common. In reality, most people who…

Financial abuse is present in 99% of all abusive relationships but it can be difficult to recognize because it often starts subtly. What may seem like support, generosity, or “taking care…

Healthy relationships are characterized by behaviors that create trust, respect, safety, and equality between partners. No relationship is perfect, and everyone will occasionally fall short. However, these eight elements of…

Gaslighting is a term that has become increasingly common, but its true meaning is often misunderstood. While people sometimes use the word colloquially to describe any disagreement or difference of…

One of the most confusing aspects of domestic violence is that abusive behavior usually doesn’t happen all the time. If a relationship were abusive 24 hours a day, seven days a…

When most people hear the word “consent,” they immediately think about sex. But consent shows up in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Consent is about permission, choice, and…

“Am I being abused?” It’s a question no one wants to ask themselves. It can be difficult to imagine that someone you love might be hurting you. Yet domestic violence…

The most dangerous time in a victim’s life is when they are leaving their abusive relationship. When an abusive partner feels they are losing control, their behavior may escalate. That’s…