| The last thing an abused woman needs to hear | | | | survivors of domestic abuse at the bequest of |
| while seeking safety from domestic violence | | | | their perpetrators. And over the years, |
| is that she's crazy. Unfortunately, however, | | | | actually decades, they became the enemies of |
| this may be one of first things she learns | | | | battered women. |
| from the evaluating mental health | | | | |
| professional. | | | | I have since learned that this is |
| | | | understandably so, especially for women |
| The Battered Women's Movement and Clinical | | | | residing in domestic violence shelters. It is |
| Psychology are as far apart as the North and | | | | estimated that over 90% of women going |
| South Pole. Yet, many people outside of these | | | | through the abuse shelter system will be |
| circles/disciplines believe domestic abuse | | | | "certified" (i.e. blessed with a psychiatric |
| treatment and advocacy are sub-specialties of | | | | diagnosis) by virtue of their navigating the |
| the practice of psychology. Not at all so! | | | | mental health care system-while in route to |
| | | | safety-as a survivor of domestic violence. |
| After I fled from the danger I lived in | | | | |
| Chicago, I retreated into a life of solace | | | | This truly disturbed me, as a practicing |
| and wrote All But My Soul: Abuse Beyond | | | | psychologist and domestic abuse survivor. |
| Control. Creating that publication was the | | | | Even more disturbing was the fact that I |
| most amazing experience of my life-right up | | | | could find little to no domestic violence |
| there with the birth of a child. It was my | | | | curricula offered in psychological training. |
| fourth child. | | | | |
| | | | In no way am I suggesting that one not seek |
| With the enthusiasm of a child, I approached | | | | the services of domestic abuse advocacy; to |
| individuals in the domestic violence arena, | | | | the contrary. I strongly believe in the work |
| eager to share what I had learned and | | | | of domestic abuse advocates. However, I |
| produced in the manuscript. Initially, I was | | | | recognize that when utilizing domestic abuse |
| not received well and couldn't understand | | | | advocacy, one must be mindful of the |
| why, until an individual from the inner | | | | importance of also securing the expertise of |
| circle of the Battered Women's Movement | | | | a mental health professional, authentically |
| shared the inside politics with me. | | | | knowledgeable in domestic violence. |
| | | | |
| "You will have a hard time breaking into this | | | | The front line treatment for domestic |
| line of work," she said, "because you are a | | | | violence and the actual practice of |
| psychologist." Funny thing is I thought this | | | | professional psychology are truly as far |
| was my asset, until she helped me realized it | | | | apart as the automotive industry and the |
| was my liability among battered women. | | | | practice of dentistry. I vowed to commit |
| | | | myself to helping bridge this huge knowledge |
| She explained that historically the | | | | and service gap. |
| psychologists were used in re-victimizing | | | | |