Domestic Violence

Reeva Steenkamp was to give "abusive relationships" speech

Jaclyn Brandt — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:15:00 -0800

Her boyfriend is charged with her murder, but the South African model was set to give a speech to high school students about a past abusive relationship the day she died.

Report: Hope Solo weds man accused of assaulting her

Sara McGinnis — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:45:00 -0800

Hope Solo has reportedly married fiance Jerramy Stevens, despite his having been arrested on suspicion of assaulting her just two days ago! In between court hearings, it is reported the pair snuck off and exchanged vows on their original wedding date.

My family is abusive: How to deal with bullies in your family

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:08:00 -0700

One of the things that I hear often as a therapist is the struggle many clients have dealing with abusive parents or siblings. There is almost always this sense of guilt when it comes to dealing with family members who are bullies. If we would not put up with it in our personal lives, then why do we put up with it in our families? This is a difficult question to answer for many who have had to deal with abuse dynamics for years. Here are some tips to start putting a stop to the abuse.

An open letter to Rihanna and domestic violence victims

Sheri Meyers, Psy.D. — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 06:00:00 -0700

It seems that Rihanna may have forgiven Chris Brown. Yes, it's a wonderful thing to forgive another who has hurt you and to choose love and inner peace over fear. However, when it comes to forgiving and then returning to an abuser who has put your life in danger, it's not as simple as changing your mind and giving him another chance.

Beauty Beat: How Ashley Greene is using beauty to empower women

Catherine Conelly — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 07:00:00 -0700

On the set of her photo shoot for Mark Cosmetics and their most recent M.Powerment campaign, Ashley Greene gave us the low down on the beauty and the cause. Plus, she relives her best red carpet moment ever!

How to safely leave an abusive relationship

Colleen Crane, MSW, LCSW — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:29:00 -0700

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that "approximately 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year." With these statistics it is important to talk about how you can safely leave an abusive relationship without increasing the risk that you and your children might be hurt more. Here are three things you can start doing today.

Leaving the past behind: Healing yourself and your kids

Sarah W. Caron — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Healing after escaping a violent situation isn't easy — but it's necessary. How can you help your children process what happened and move ahead?

Witnessing domestic violence: The effect on children

Sarah W. Caron — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:00 -0700

It's a sobering thought: When a mother is domestically abused, she isn't the only one who carries the haunting scars — so do the kids. How are children impacted by this?

What is emotional abuse?

Michele Borboa, MS — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:26:00 -0700

Did you know that one in every four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime? Even more concerning is that most women are afraid to report abuse by an intimate partner. Domestic violence is one of the most chronically underreported crimes, with only approximately one-quarter of all physical assaults and one-fifth of all rapes being reported to the police. But what about when the abuse doesn't leave physical marks? Gunta Krumins, BA, PMP, author of The Detrimental Effects of Emotional Abuse, says psychological or emotional abuse isn't readily reported and, because it is hard to prove, is essentially a silent epidemic that many women wrongly endure. Krumins is on a mission to expose emotional abusers and fight for the rights of the victims.

Rape: Lessons for surviving sexual assault

Jennifer Wheatley-Wolf — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:51:00 -0700

On August 21, 1988, I faced the terror of being sexually assaulted. As a survivor, I was overwhelmed with feelings of humiliation, embarrassment and fear, not realizing this was the isolation felt by many other sexual assault, incest and rape survivors. I didn't see the face of the man who tried to strangle and suffocate me and raped me in my home that late summer night; it would take 20 years for my attacker to be found and brought to justice. He was out there and I had no way of identifying him, an idea that paralyzed me with fear.

Terrence Howard: I'm not a wife beater!

Castina Watson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:02:00 -0800

Actor Terrence Howard -- whose credits include Iron Man and Law & Order: Los Angeles -- is hitting back at allegations that he hits his wife.

Dr. Drew: "Kim Kardashian is guilty of domestic violence"

Castina Watson — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:02:00 -0800

Celebrity Rehab's Dr. Drew is weighing in on the Kris Humphries-Kim Kardashian divorce drama. The TV doc has prompted dialogue and debate after accusing the reality star of battering her estranged spouse.

Domestic violence: How one woman survived the abuse

Michele Borboa, MS — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:27:00 -0700

When you hear about women being abused by their boyfriends or husbands, how often do you ask “Why in the world do these women stay with these guys?” It’s logical for a woman to leave an abusive relationship, but abuse isn’t logical. We talked with abuse survivor Tami Keele, author of GET OUT! Save Your Life, to shed light on the reasons women don’t leave their abusers and how, despite the physical and emotional damage that results from abuse, women can heal from the scars and even come out victorious once they break free.

Shauna Sand and husband arrested for domestic violence

Susannah Breslin — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:13:00 -0700

Playboy Playmate Shauna Sand and her husband were arrested last night after a domestic violence incident. Reports say Sand sprayed her husband in the face with mace.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted

Liz Seccuro — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:05:00 -0700

Though April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, being more aware for a month isn't enough. Perhaps one day, sexual assault will get as much attention as the well-deserved issues of breast cancer, AIDS and autism. One day, the shame and stigma of talking about something so common will be removed, so that we can get stronger sentences for offenders and more services for survivors and secondary survivors, struggling to put their lives back together. Sexual assault knows no boundaries. It can happen to you. And if it does, here is what to do if you’re sexually abused.

Michael Lohan charged

Jillian Jamruszka — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:10:00 -0700

Michael Lohan, Lindsay Lohan's estranged father, has been charged with misdemeanor domestic violence.

Charlie Sheen: Why are we so fascinated?

Michele Borboa, MS — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:12:00 -0800

Charlie Sheen is like an impending train wreck – we know it’s going to have a gruesome ending but we can’t help but watch it. Why are we so obsessed with watching Sheen’s downward spiral? Is it because we know people like him, or does his behavior remind us -- even just a little -- of some of our own conduct? We talked with behavioral expert Beverly Flaxington, author of Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior, to get a deeper understanding of the public fascination with Charlie Sheen and how we can protect ourselves when faced with people like Sheen. Here’s what Flaxington had to say.

Protect yourself: 10 Tips to avoid dating abuse

Michele Borboa, MS — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:08:00 -0800

Did you know that 30 percent of women murdered in the US are killed by their boyfriends, husbands, or exes? Or that 20 to 25 percent of college women will experience attempted or complete rape in college? Date rape, intimate violence and relationship abuse are issues that many women face every day. We talked to New Jersey-based counselor Dari Dyrness-Olsen, author of Safe Dating for College Women, about what women can do to protect themselves while dating and in a relationship. Here are her top 10 tips for staying safe.

Most common crimes against women and how to protect yourself

Molly Cerreta Smith — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:20:00 -0700

While you should not live your life in fear of being a victim, you should be aware of the common crimes that happen to unsuspecting women like you every day. Here are some of the most common crimes against women and how you can protect yourself.

Tips and advice to get out of abusive relationships

Katarina Kovacevic — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:52:00 -0800

US statistics on domestic violence are terrifying. A woman is battered every 15 seconds. One in four women will be physically assaulted by her partner. One in three teens will be abused by her boyfriend. While both men and women have been known to carry out acts of violence, 95 percent of hospitalized victims of domestic violence are women.