“What makes someone hit the person they love?”
“How does (the cycle of) domestic violence even happen?”
“Why don’t victims just leave?”
“I’ve never been hit, so is this abuse?”
“What exactly is domestic violence?”
“Can the abuser be helped?”
These are just a few of the questions I am typically asked by clients, victims or other people when talking about domestic violence. The reality is that most people do not have a clear understanding of the intricacies of domestic violence. And that doesn’t come as a surprise given that we have had little to no exposure to education regarding the matter in our society. Yet, it runs rampant in every community despite age, race, sexual preference, religion, social-economic status, culture etc. No one is immune.
My hope for this series is to delve into different aspects of domestic violence to empower individuals and communities with a further understanding of its dynamics and the many facets that are involved. With this information, we can help the ones we love, ourselves and the future generations to end domestic violence.
To finish this first segment, allow me to paint the alarming picture that is domestic violence and how truly prevalent and damaging it is with these facts:
– 85% of domestic violence is committed by men against women.
– Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.
– 10 million children witness domestic violence annually.
– Everyday in the U.S., at least 3 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
– 1 in 4 Americans will experience Domestic Violence at some point in their lifetime.
– Domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes.
– The cost of domestic violence in the US alone exceeds $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion for direct medical costs and $1.8 billion for productivity losses.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the series as we understand what exactly is the Cycle of Violence.
________________________________________________________________________________
Learn more about Phil Zaffos, MA, LPC & Heidi Zaffos, MA, LMFT, LPC and Foundation Counseling .
Foundation Counseling 