Recognising abuse in any relationship can be difficult because often the tactics are so subtle. As well as the generic types of tactics abusers use (constant criticism, belittling, financial abuse, conflict over the children etc ) there are often tactics used within LGBTQ relationships, which are very specific. Tactics you Read more
Letting your ‘soon to be ex’ know that you want to separate is daunting at the best of times, but when you need to tell a partner who is controlling/abusive, it can be very scary. However, you don’t really have an option if you want to move on – they Read more
Images of happy holidays and fun, family times in the media can reinforce that sense of loneliness you might feel in the lead up to Christmas. I understand the heart ache that comes with not being able to see your children at special times of the year, I’ve been in Read more
Recognising the subtle signs of controlling and abusive behaviour can be confusing and difficult to spot so here are some clues: You constantly worry about your partner’s reaction to things you do or say You feel like you can’t do anything right, your partner constantly criticises you You question yourself Read more
I am proud to be an Ambassador for this great intiative! Brave Bird pants were initially developed by the very lovely Sarah : “One of my best friends was in an abusive relationship. She’d been trapped in it for over 7 years and was barred by her partner from contacting Read more
Can you spot the signs of coercive control? If you haven’t watched ‘Marriage’ yet, on the BBC, I highly recommend it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqDfqClfliE You may not be in the mood for watching other people’s relationships on tv, but it certainly opens your eyes as to why people react in the way Read more
Helen came to me after moving back to her mum’s and separating from her husband of over 30 years. Helen had come to realise that in the midst of lots of personal difficulties, her husband had offered no support at all. Reflecting upon her marriage, Helen realised that she had Read more
Legal costs can quckly spiral once you start communicating with your ex through solicitors and if you are heading for Court your case can eat up a lot of your savings very quickly. Top Tips Confirm the exact price per hour that your solicitor charges, detail of exactly what that Read more
On 7th June 2022, non-fatal strangulation became a criminal offence. It also includes suffocation and drowning and there is no time limit to report any offence occurring on or after 7th June 2022. You can read more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-non-fatal-strangulation-offence-comes-into-force Why do you need to know about strangulation? Because Read more
Benita came to see me after struggling to cope – she had recognised she had been in a coercive and controlling relationship and then moved on to another similar relationship. Although she had managed to end both of those relationships, the impact of them had left her feeling vulnerable and Read more