Survivors

Participating survivors have already spent significant time in counseling but still have questions that only an abuser can answer.

Questions like:
Why did this happen to me?
Was there something I could’ve done to stop the abuse?
How can I ensure it won’t happen again?
Can I trust another person again?
Can I trust myself?
How do I keep from passing this emotional inheritance on to my children?

If you have questions for your abuser that, for safety reasons, you could never ask, DVSD offers a safe and honest environment to obtain groundbreaking, healing answers.

"The Domestic Violence Safe Dialogue program helped me to have confidence in my own instincts. If I had trusted my instincts before, I would never have stayed" -- Becky, a domestic violence survivor and DVSD participant.


Survivor participants say that after DVSD they have felt:

• Empowered in their personal relationships, some for the first time in their lives
• Clarity about their previous relationships
• An ability to trust their Inner Voice and instincts
• A strong sense of ownership over their past and their recovery.

Survivor Participation Guidelines

Adult Survivors must have:

• Significant number of weeks in counseling (individual or group) *3-6 months recommended *Plans for continued counseling following the dialogue session
• Significant amount of time from last abusive incident *3-6 months recommended, depending upon individual circumstances
• Level of ability to cope with abuse * Degree of emotional stability (anger, sadness, etc.) *Realistic goals for dialogue *Appropriate and consistent coping skills
• Level of ability to recognize cycle of violence *A degree of understanding of their abuser's tactics
• Voluntary participation at every point during the program *Not an environment of being pressured or persuaded by others
• Referred by counselor

Teen Survivors must be/have:

• Between the ages of 15 and 20 at the time of the dialogue.
• Significant number of weeks in counseling (individual or group) *3-6 months recommended *Plans for continued counseling following the dialogue session
• Significant amount of time from last abusive incident *3-6 months recommended, depending upon individual circumstances
• Level of ability to cope with abuse *Degree of emotional stability (anger, sadness, etc.) *Realistic goals for dialogue *Appropriate and consistent coping skills
• Level of ability to recognize cycle of violence *A degree of understanding of their abuser's tactics
• Choice *Voluntary participation at every point during the program *Not an environment of being pressured or persuaded by others
• Referred by counselor