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Expressing Emotions and Empathy is the second of the Assertive Communication Skills series. They complete the self-defining skills along with requests and refusals covered earlier.

This assertive communication skills series begins with two self-defining skills: assertive request and assertive refusal.

Assertive Beliefs is the seventh blog in my empowerment series for victims of partner abuse. You must believe you have the right to be assertive before using skills: this article builds that foundation. It covers definitions, benefits, beliefs that may interfere, an assertiveness skills list, and steps to work on the belief that you have the right to stand up for yourself.

Repairing physical and emotional boundaries is the fifth in my empowerment series that began with How to Empower Yourself. This step begins with believing you have the right to set limits.

Noticing and adjusting your thoughts is an important mental health skill for everyone. Change negative thinking and you'll change your life.

Centering self-care de-stresses and connects you to your emotions and thoughts. This creates a resilient buffer from all stress, including abuse. By regaining your former self-care methods and perhaps adding new ones, you can reconnect with yourself and regain your power.  

Looking at the assumptions that underlie coercive control helps explain why your partner behaves abusively. Sometimes they admit these beliefs, but mostly it’s their behavior that shows you what they believe.

Calling out abuse means naming what happened” as abuse, coercive control, gaslighting, intimate partner violence, domestic abuse—whatever term feels right to you. It includes acknowledging that the person you love is willing to harm you. This will hurt! However, it’s the beginning step toward freedom.

This blog is the beginning of a seven-part series regarding therapeutic basics that I found addressed survivors’ concerns and encouraged post-traumatic growth. Each of my next six blogs will go into more depth. I think you will find they help you to empower yourself.

Recovery together or apart requires accountability, ability to look at one's self, a willingness to let go and forgive if staying together, or a willingness to rebuild trust in yourself and others if the relationship doesn't continue.

Dr. Boss reveals that resilience is especially important when there are no immediate solutions. This is often what intimate partner abuse survivors face: no immediate solution. Sometimes, coercive behavior continues even after leaving. Dr. Boss prescribes adaptability, flexibility, and tolerance for ambiguity. What do these mean for victims of intimate abuse?

Betrayal Trauma is a phenomenon that occurs when there is a violation of trust by someone whom we depend on for survival or to whom we are significantly attached.

Intimate partner abuse victims often search for therapists who help them recover from the emotional injuries they experience. The purpose of this blog is to guide both prospective clients and therapists toward treatment success.

Writing is a way to know ourselves. It eases us through unsettling times. A bonus: robust self-awareness provides guardrails against accepting coercive control.

There is a simple tool that helps many trauma survivors; simple but not always easy. So, ahead of time, give yourself wells of permission and patience.  

Grief is always a normal and important part of healing for intimate partner abuse survivors.

Relationships without trust are like trying to drive a car without wheels. It won’t take you to where you want to go.

None of us escape from the language of patriarchy. Increasing our awareness of sexist language releases us from unjust outlooks on men and women.

As we begin a new year, it's important to recognize that new beginnings include telling your own story.

Here are some questions whose answers offer clues about whether you are dealing with someone who is emotionally abusive. Proceed with caution and talk about it if you don’t like what you see.