Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is devastating and pervasive and has a serious impact on victims and survivors both while in the relationship and for a long time after leaving. Whether you have been out of the relationship for a while or don't even know whether you want to leave the relationship, these courses can help you.
**Please see "trauma" for more helpful courses.**
Available Courses
Safety Plans
There are many safety plans available online or through other providers. While there is nothing wrong with those plans, I have spent a lot of time studying all the available safety plans, talking with experts and developing an extremely comprehensive and personalized safety plan that spans from long before you leave until long after you have left. I also do not publish my safety plan anywhere, so there is little chance that your abuser will be able to gain access to this safety plan, like they could with the ones online, making it harder for them to anticipate your actions and find ways to circumvent the safety measures you put into place.
Safety plans are provided at a flat fee. Please contact me for more information and pricing.
Preparing to Leave
When you are in a violent relationship, it can seem impossible to escape. You might not even be sure whether you want to leave or even if the relationship is abusive. This course focuses on helping you work through any confusion or doubt you are having, and helping you develop a plan for leaving that focuses on overcoming any obstacles you face and will not only make the possibility of escape seem real but also achievable.
Learning to Trust and Have Healthy Relationships Again.
Being in a violent relationship can make it seem next to impossible to ever trust anyone again. It can strip you of the hope of ever being in healthy relationships again. This course uses a range of techniques to help you begin to learn to trust yourself and others again, to learn to identify red flags and to start to form healthy relationships with others.
Daring to Dream Again
Domestic violence often robs you of your dreams and ambitions. Your sole focus while in that relationships is surviving the day and everything else is put to the side. It can be hard to envision a future outside of the relationship or start to dream again. This course focuses on helping you rediscover or develop new dreams so that you may begin to once again see a future without domestic violence.
Court Support
The legal system is complicated, confusing, scary and often lonely. Furthermore, often our support system is just as confused and scared as you are. I have studied law and understand the legal system. I also understand the emotional impact that being a survivor in the legal system can take on you. I can provide support and guidance through all aspects of the legal system, whether it's a hearing for a protective or custody order, to criminal or civil suits. I can even accompany you to court hearings as a support person if you are in St. Louis or the surrounding areas. If not, I can still meet with you directly before and/or after court hearings to support you in the emotions that are coming up.
This is a highly individualized service that is based upon your needs. Please contact me for more information and pricing.
Advocating for Yourself
Domestic Violence has a way of stealing your voice. It makes speaking up for yourself and asking for what you need seem scary and unsafe, because it was unsafe in the relationship. The relationship can also make you believe that you are unworthy of asking for help or getting your needs met. This course focuses on helping you work through those feelings of fear and unworthiness and reclaiming your voice so that you may effectively advocate for yourself and ensure that your needs are met.
Working or attending school as a survivor of domestic violence.
Being a survivor of domestic violence can create unique challenges for you at work or school. Whether its having to figure out how to be safe there, or needing to have difficult conversations with others about the abuse or managing work or school while dealing with the trauma or even the stress of reentering the workforce or academia after being out of it for so long, or a myriad of other things, work or school can be extremely challenging. This course focuses on identifying the challenges you are facing and developing ways to combat them so that you may be as successful as possible in work or school.
Life After Domestic Violence
Domestic violence doesn't end when you leave the relationship. There are safety issues to consider and effects of the trauma you suffered that may persist for years after you have left. This comprehensive course utilizes various techniques to help you build a life outside of the relationship while also managing any safety issues that may be ongoing. From grieving the loss of the relationship and the person you were before the relationship to accepting the person you are now, this course aims to address any area's that you are struggling in and develop a life that allows you to move from just surviving to thriving.
This is a 3 month course.