In this video, Sybil discusses how we hold space for hope in the therapy room with our domestic abuse clients; both when they are feeling hopeless and, on the other hand, when our clients are hopeful about a situation we, as therapists, see as unrealistic or hopeless.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Violence in the home affects all that live there, especially the youngest ones who have no escape.  In these cases, it can be helpful to have Child Protective Services (CPS) involved to help monitor and maintain safety for the children in the home.  CPS can provide resources for housing, childcare, mental health services, and supervised visitation monitoring for the abusive parent/partner.  In theory, these services will help the non-abusive parent leave the relationship and find safety for themselves and children; however, this is not always the case. 

And what about the cases that never make it onto the radar of CPS?  Family Court, due to divorce and custody issues, is also commonly involved with these families.  Many times when judges are trying to determine what is in the best interest of the children, supervised visitation can be ordered to help monitor and assess the safety of a parent.  The goal is to do what is in the best interest of the children; unfortunately, this is also not always the case. 

If your facilitator does not have the proper education and understanding of domestic violence, these supervised visitations can allow abuse to continue.

In this video, Sybil discusses Self Care practices for practitioners working with victims of domestic violence as they navigate the -- often frustrating -- legal system.