Community Connection: Abuse Counseling & Education

Writer  /  Erin Smith
Photographer  /  James Eichelman

“Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

“Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

“Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.” (Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

Are you or is someone you know suffering from abuse?

Stories present themselves through the media every week about domestic abuse. Unfortunately, for every story that makes the 6 o’clock news there are thousands of victims who are silently suffering from unreported abuse.

Here is the chilling statistic: One in every four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. The next time you pick up your children from practice, or you attend church or go to work, think about this. Most likely, you are interacting with victims of abuse every day. It’s an uncomfortable thought, but one that caring, responsible people must be aware of in order to effect change.

There is hope, and resources are available for victims and abusers, thanks to organizations like Abuse Counseling and Education, a local non-profit that provides educational programs geared toward helping abusers identify inappropriate behavior and challenging them to change. Mattie Herald, a survivor of domestic abuse, is a licensed addiction counselor who runs the Nonviolent Alternatives program in Greenwood. The Nonviolent Alternatives program is NOT an anger management program. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), participants are taught skills to have loving, kind, happy and healthy relationships. Folks also learn how to change bad habits like blame-shifting and denial in order to be self-accountable for their behaviors.

Are you a victim of abuse? My hope is that this article empowers you to connect to safe resources whether it be calling a hotline (State of Indiana Domestic Violence hotline: 800-332-7385), connecting to a church community or confiding in a professional.

Are you an abuser? My hope is that you will seek help through educational programs like Nonviolent Alternatives that value you as a person and genuinely want you to experience relationships that are loving, kind and safe. Most importantly, if you know of someone in an abusive relationship, please act. Approaching a victim of domestic violence can be scary and unpredictable. Consider your approach carefully and enlist the help of professionals, should safety be a concern. If you are unwilling to act, imagine how a victim must feel. Victims need our non-judgmental support and strength to face what seems to be an insurmountable life circumstance.

Staff
Mattie Herald, LAC, CADAC II, ICADC, Addiction Clinician and BIP Supervisor/Trainer
Carrie Ballinger, BS, Program Coordinator and Administrative Support
Kim Moore, Volunteer, Assistant Program Director, BIP Supervisor and Director of Youth Services