February 25th, 2012 A recent study indicates that children exposed to domestic violence and other dangerous environments demonstrate differences in brain development. The children’s brains are not damaged, but develop patterns that help them to adapt to a dangerous environment. This adaptation that may help them in childhood may make them more vulnerable to anxiety and other mental [...]
November 11th, 2011 Nasty People: How to Stop Being Hurt by Them Without Becoming One of Them
by Jay Carter, Psy.D. (2003) McGraw-Hill
This book will provide you with guidance and support in dealing with all the nasty people in your life. Regain your power without ending important relationships or quitting your job. A good reference for anyone, including [...]
August 8th, 2011 Victims often blame themselves for being victims. As long as you are angry with yourself or hold on to self-hatred you are still a victim. In order to be truly free you must not only forgive your abuser but also yourself. This is the key to victory.
Forgive yourself for being a victim so you can [...]
July 18th, 2011 When you hold on to resentment you are only hurting one person, yourself. Your resentment does not have the power to injure anyone but you. What is the point of holding onto resentment if you are the only one who will suffer? That’s right, there is no point. So let go of your resentments before [...]
June 29th, 2011 Niall Crossen, 24, of Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art, hopes that his senior project will protect victims of domestic abuse. Niall has created jewelry that is designed with a secret button. When depressed the system would send a signal to a crisis call center. In addition, an individual user could be linked with [...]
June 28th, 2011 Feel what you feel, but watch what you do. Although your feelings cannot be controlled the actions you take because of your emotions are in your control. Let your emotions inform, not control your actions. When in doubt talk it out. If you are not sure what to do, talk it over with a trusted [...]
June 13th, 2011 There are many forces so big that we cannot conquer them alone. Ending domestic violence and improving the systems designed to help victims are just two. The power of numbers allows us to change the direction of huge forces in ways we could never do alone. Consider uniting with others today so you can make [...]
June 8th, 2011 The majority of my patients are trauma survivors. Some of my patients are the significant others of those who have been abused. Therapy can be a wonderful place to work through feelings about the abuse of a loved one. I often use the self-help book that I often use “Trust after Trauma,” by Aphrodite Matsakis, [...]
June 6th, 2011 The very nature of domestic violence is that it is a disease the victims try to conceal. We conceal domestic violence because we are ashamed of who we are or what we have done in domestic violence relationships. We try to hide the facts from everyone, including ourselves. However, we cannot and will not get [...]
June 4th, 2011 Self-Confidence Journal exercise: Getting reconnected with your gifts
Make a list of all of your gifts, all of the abilities that are especially yours. If you don’t remember what they are then think back to your childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. What did you enjoy doing? Singing, dancing, drawing? How did you like to express yourself? [...]