Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence

My entire life people that I love have been harmed by people who "love" them. From early high school to the present I come up against bullies that use the blunt and cowardly weapon of violence to preserve their personal world order or to expel their own hurt onto others. I have worked as a domestic violence advocate in confidential shelter, and with trafficked girls in jail. The meaning of helping someone find the call to freedom and joy from incarcerations of this kind is unspeakable.

I have extensive experience working with domestic violence survivors, providing trauma-informed care and support to help them navigate the complexities of their experiences. My approach is centered on safety, empowerment, and long-term healing to promote a life-free from abuse. You deserve to feel safe with the person you love.

I've worked extensively with survivors of intimate partner violence as a community based advocate, including working with individuals and educating community partners on violence within relationships. I recognize the impact of ALL forms of abuse, including psychological and emotional abuse, and know that healing from these relationships (whether from an intimate partner, parents, siblings, or friends), can take many years and specialized therapeutic approaches.

I am a certified domestic violence counselor for the state of Connecticut. I worked with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a safe house advocate for 10 years and have gone through extensive trainings to support survivors of domestic violence. I also have court experience and have been in roles as a state victim advocate helping victims/survivors of domestic violence navigate these difficult systems.

Research shows that both men and women can be victims of domestic violence or family violence, and both can be perpetrators as well. I have developed and published a domestic violence documentation format which also serves as an interview guide to thoroughly identify all forms of domestic or family violence. I perform domestic violence evaluations in immigration cases, and I also prepare extreme hardship evaluations in immigration cases.

Not sure if your relationship is healthy? I can support clients who are current in or recently out of an abusive relationship. I provide clients with support and education on dynamics of domestic violence, warning signs, safety planning, and healthy relationships. I can provide specialized support on dealing with technology abuse.

Getting hurt by someone you’ve cared for is especially painful. While the physical traumas can be scary as hell, the emotional traumas can take a lot more work to heal. When I work with domestic violence survivors certain themes come up over and over again. Survivors often wonder if something’s wrong with them, why this person hurt them and why they might still care for them. These are complex questions worthy of exploration. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

I have about a decade's experience in working with folks experiencing DV or partner violence. Beginning with my internship during my Master-level work, my experience in this area has ranged widely by gender and has been primarily community-based work. My understanding of DV is led by an anti-oppression lens and has deeply influenced the way I practice today.

I have extensive experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence, in both the hospital and emergency shelter settings. Whether you are still experiencing violence or have been out of the situation for many years, I would love to provide you with the support you are looking for. I believe that my clients are the experts of their own lives and should be in control of every aspect of their therapy experience.

I am deeply committed to helping clients who have experienced domestic violence and abuse. There is no judgment here just support. With years of experience in this area, including writing my thesis on helping individuals in abusive relationships, I understand how important it is to have someone who truly gets it. If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I'm here to help you figure things out. Reach out when you're ready.

Survivors of intimate partner violence often experience deep, relational trauma. This can lead to significant anxiety and self doubt, making it hard to trust yourself and your gut/instincts. When this happens, attempts to protect ourselves can sometimes make us more vulnerable. I can help you understand your experiences, your responses, and learn to trust yourself again.

I have worked at a domestic violence agency for over seven years providing advocacy-based counseling, safety planning and crisis intervention, facilitating support groups and therapy processing groups and providing individual therapy to adult survivors of intimate partner violence. I use a survivor-driven and DV-informed approach, and have trained other mental health providers on how to use this approach.

I have been supporting the survivors of violent acts since I was an undergrad in college. Since 2007 I have been an advocate for those who most often feel voiceless. It is so important to provide a safe place for survivors to share their story, find safety and work to rebuild their life. I use a variety of tools to help you combat trauma and increase safety.

I have nearly two years of experience working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I come from a place of empathy and understanding to assist clients in exploring options in a nonjudgmental, person-centered manner. Issues of IPV and sexual assault are not always easily navigated and I take care and caution to ensure trauma informed practice to avoid further pain and hurt.

I have extensive experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence, in both the hospital and emergency shelter settings. Whether you are still experiencing violence or have been out of the situation for many years, I would love to provide you with the support you are looking for. I believe that my clients are the experts of their own lives and should be in control of every aspect of their therapy experience.

My journey in public/community mental health truly began when I started volunteering on the crisis line at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., an organization serving survivors of domestic violence. I found a calling there & developed skills in counseling, support group facilitation, crisis response, & safety planning. My value for client self-determination & empowerment blossomed here & I continue to bring these lessons to my work in supporting people who are recovering from unhealthy & abusive relationships.

Domestic violence is often misunderstood as strictly physical violence against one's partner. But it is much more complicated than that. Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse, gaslighting, control, and manipulation are too often not considered in domestic or intimate partner violence. I have experience with all of these forms of abuse and understand the complexity and difficulty of these relationships.

I began my work at Peace Over Violence, a non profit organization that offered free services including therapy, crisis intervention, legal services, and more to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. My training there educated me on the legal aspects of both, and how to best emotionally support populations who are hoping to escape, have escaped, or have long been out of abusive dynamics.

Whether you are currently experiencing, or have experienced Intimate Partner Violence, the effects of someone you trust and love making your life a hell you do not recognize takes time and courage to process and heal from. In our work together you can expect that I will draw from evidence-based practices to help you rebuild your relationship with yourself. My goal is to help you rediscover a deep trust in yourself, and to foster strong, discerning and loving connections with others. We got this!