Domestic Violence Advocacy & Counseling

The Department of Justice defines domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by one partner in any relationship to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.  Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.  This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Facts:

• One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime
• 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year
• 85% of domestic violence victims are women; 15% are men
• Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk
• The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year
• Every year an estimated 3 to 10 million children witness assaults against a parent by an intimate partner.

Adults and children who witness or experience domestic violence are at risk for many difficulties. These include post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety, depression, problems with attention, concentration, school/work performance, aggressiveness, and other problems managing emotions.  With supportive counseling, these effects can be addressed to reduce long-term negative consequences.

In response to the needs of individuals and families, Strength United provides:

• Crisis intervention
• Individual counseling
• Support groups
• Safety Plan development before you leave
• Safety Plan support after you leave
• Civil legal services
• Escape list creation
• Abusive relationship checklist