someone you know
Tips for Helping Someone in an Abusive Relationship
- Become Informed – Contact programs and services in your area that assist battered women and their children.
- Lend a Sympathetic Ear – Don’t force the issue, just let your friend know you care by listening.
- Guide Her to Community Services – When she asks for advice on what she can do, share the information you’ve gathered with her privately.
- Focus on Her Strengths – Give her the emotional support she needs to believe she is a good person deserving of a life free from abuse.
- Be a Friend – Provide whatever you can: transportation, child care and financial assistance.
- Confront Her With the Danger – Help your friend face up to the dangerous reality of staying in an abusive relationship.
- Help Her Develop a Safety Plan – Encourage your friend to develop a plan to protect herself and her children.
