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