October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Tomorrow evening, I am speaking at a small church (in a home) about how Christians can respond to domestic violence victims. To help prepare for that, I decided to update this list of my own blog posts on the topic (the blue and gray links), as well as other related web links (the brown links).
I hope that this post will give you resources and courage to help yourself or someone else find safety and sanity. Please know that my heart and prayers are with you. I would be delighted to hear from you, so feel free to e-mail me.
If you are using a computer that others also use, and you need to visit web pages discretely for safety's sake, please stop for a moment consider whether you can proceed without undue risk. You may try using an incognito browser, but if somebody has placed keystroke tracking software on your computer, you are still at risk. Consider going to a friend's house or a public library to use a different computer.
On this page you will find links to articles on my own blogs and other sites, phone numbers, books, and Central Florida domestic violence centers. Please note that I do not endorse everything at these sites or by these organizations. I trust that you will use your own discretion. Also please note that many of the links within the blog posts may be obsolete, but the ones on this page should work.
Please realize that though I am using the phrase "domestic violence" in the blog post title, there are many more forms of domestic abuse beyond physical violence. These include coercion & threats, intimidation, emotional abuse (which includes spiritual abuse), isolation, minimizing / denying / blaming, using children, male privilege, and economic abuse.
It is also important to note that even if a situation seems calm at a given moment, there may still be a continuing "cycle of violence." It's not the abuse stops, but that the outward forms of it go dormant for a while. It is still an abusive relationship that can escalate at any time.
- Phone Numbers
- Domestic Abuse in Christian Marriages
- Domestic Violence Basics
- Practical Help & Safety Planning
- Counseling & the Psychology of Abuse
- How Christians & Churches Can Help Abuse Victims, Promote Mutual Respect, and Empower Women
- Dating Violence
- Domestic Violence and Children
- Central Florida Resources
Phone Numbers
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800)799-7233
- USA Domestic Abuse Hotline: (800)999-SAFE
Domestic Abuse in Christian Marriages
- Recognizing Pervasive, Poisonous Power in Marriage
- What to Do about Toxic Power in Marriage
- Five Things Home School Moms Should Know About Abusive Marriages
- The Bad Boy and the Angel
- Abigail's Story: Responses to Domestic Violence
- Elizabeth's Story: Domestic Violence in a Ministry Home
- Mara's Story: Anger After Abuse
- Flying Free Now - blog by Natalie Hoffman
- Sweeter on the Other Side
- Give Her Wings: Help and Healing After Abuse - this book by Megan Cox is her story of escaping an abusive marriage in which her husband was a pastor.
- Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife: My Story of Finding Hope after Domestic Abuse book by Dr. Ruth A. Tucker (a seminary professor and noted author)
- Called to Peace
Domestic Violence Basics
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Cycle of Violence
- Information on Domestic Violence
- Faith Trust Institute
- Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership
- Futures Without Violence
- National Network to End Domestic Violence
Practical Help & Safety Planning
- Personalized Safety Plan at DomesticViolence.org
- NCADV Financial Education Webinars for DV Survivors
- Domestic Violence Shelters (find one in your area)
- Apply for Medicaid (based on income and family size)
- The 4D's of Bystander Intervention: How to Make the World a Better Place
- Free Yourself from an Abusive Relationship: 7 Steps to Taking Back Your Life book by Andrea Lissette, M.A. and Richard Kraus, Ph.D.
Counseling & the Psychology of Abuse
- Why Couples Counseling is Not Recommended for Abusive Marriages, Even Christian Ones
- Psychological Socialism: Manipulating through Equalizing Blame
- When Abuse Leads to Cynicism
- Bonding and Bondage in Abusive Relationships
- 12 Reasons Why Couples Counseling Is Not Recommended When Domestic Violence Is Present
- Power and Control Wheel
- Trauma Bonding
- Gaslighting Technique
- Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men book by Lundy Bancroft which you may find at your public library. This is a wealth of information.
- The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize It and How to Respond by Patricia Evans
How Christians & Churches Can
Help Abuse Victims,
Promote Mutual Respect,
and Empower Women
- No Little Women (Poem from CBE17)
- International Women's Day: What Do You Stand For?
- Top 20 Very Best Things to Say to Someone Who is Struggling (Guest Post by Susan Moore)
- War Room: Hope or Hype?
- My Thoughts on the Sexualization of the Church
- Naghmeh Abedini and Responding to Marital Abuse
- The Puritans, The Quakers, and Little Old Me
- If You Expect Real Respect...
- Abuse Thrives in a Culture of Shame and Silence
- Give Her Wings - this organization helps DV victims financially, and Megan Cox wrote a great book!
- No Place for Abuse: Biblical & Practical Resources to Counteract Domestic Violence - book by Catherine Clark Kroger and Nancy Nason Clark
- Domestic Violence Expert Julie Owens - training available
- The Best Way to Save an Abuse Victim
- Why I Decided to Write About Domestic Violence
- Confronting Domestic Violence with Love and Authority
- The Christian Coalition Against Domestic Abuse
- Focus Ministries Domestic Violence
- Christians for Biblical Equality (domestic violence)
Dating Violence
Domestic or Sexual Violence and Children
- Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Youth
- Children and Domestic Violence
- The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
Central Florida Resources
- Safe House of Seminole: A confidential shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children, includes counseling, practical support, legal help, etc.
- Harbor House (Orange County): Shelter for victims of domestic violence, includes counseling, practical support, legal help, etc.
- Elizabeth House: Faith-based transitional home in Seminole County where victims and their children can stay for several months and receive supportive services.
- Kids House of Seminole Children's Advocacy Center: Help for families dealing with child abuse; friendly, non-threatening atmosphere; includes counseling, support, information on resources, referrals for substance abuse treatment, etc.
- Heart of Florida United Way 211: Extensive database of human services available in central Florida, such as financial assistance, shelters, counseling, etc. You can also dial 211 to get this information and a listening ear over the phone. (Note: I am an employee in the 211 call center.)
