Breaking the Silence: Honoring Survivors During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to bring visibility to an issue that touches countless lives across every community. Domestic violence is not only about physical harm. It is about control, fear, and the breakdown of a person’s sense of safety and self-worth. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have had the privilege of sitting with survivors as they begin to find their voices again. Each story is unique, yet what connects them all is the strength it takes to survive and the courage it takes to heal.
Domestic violence can appear in many forms: emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, or physical. Often, it begins quietly. It can look like a partner who isolates someone from friends or family, who uses money to control choices, or who slowly undermines confidence. These behaviors can build over time, creating a cycle that leaves survivors feeling powerless and unsure of how to break free. Leaving is rarely easy. It can be frightening, dangerous, or complicated by children, finances, or cultural and spiritual beliefs.
A trauma-informed approach to healing recognizes that survivors have already experienced deep violations of trust and safety. In therapy, the goal is to restore a sense of control and agency. Survivors are not defined by their trauma; they are the experts in their own experiences. My role as a therapist is to create a space where safety is rebuilt, where emotions can be expressed without fear, and where healing unfolds at a pace that feels right for the individual.
Therapy is not about forcing disclosure or rushing recovery. It is about listening with empathy, validating what has been endured, and helping survivors reconnect with their strengths. Healing often includes learning to recognize triggers, developing grounding techniques, and rebuilding relationships that support safety and connection. Over time, survivors begin to reclaim parts of themselves that were silenced by the abuse.
As a community, we all have a role in supporting survivors. This means believing people when they share their stories. It means speaking up when we see signs of abuse and supporting programs that provide resources and safe housing. It also means holding compassion for the complex emotions that come with surviving—grief, anger, guilt, hope—and allowing survivors to define healing on their own terms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone. Help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential, 24-hour support at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788.
This October, and throughout the year, may we commit to creating spaces where survivors feel seen, believed, and supported. Healing from trauma begins with safety, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves relationships rooted in respect and peace.