Trauma refers to an emotional or psychological response to an event or series of events that are distressing or disturbing, often exceeding an individual’s ability to cope. Traumatic experiences can be diverse and may include situations such as accidents, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, combat, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being, leading to a range of symptoms and challenges.
Choosing the right lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you make after leaving an abusive relationship. Not every lawyer has experience dealing with cases involving coercive control, domestic abuse, complex trauma or long-term patterns of psychological harm. While many are excellent family lawyers, your case may require someone who understands far more… Read More Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Abuse Case
For many perpetrators, the divorce decree or financial settlement feels like the final chapter. They believe the marriage is over, the paperwork has been signed, and they have escaped accountability. They assume that because the relationship has legally ended, the abuse has been buried with it. But for some survivors, that is not the end… Read More When They Think They’ve Got Away With It
One of the biggest misconceptions about domestic abuse is that once the divorce is final and the financial settlement has been agreed, everything is over. It isn’t. A divorce legally ends a marriage. A financial settlement divides assets and resolves financial claims between spouses. Neither necessarily addresses the physical, emotional or psychological harm caused by… Read More Can You Still Take Your Abuse Case to Court After the Divorce and Financial Settlement?
For generations, domestic abuse was often viewed as a “private family matter.” Unless there were visible injuries, many survivors were dismissed, disbelieved, or told to simply “work things out.” Today, the courts are beginning to recognise a truth that survivors have always known: abuse leaves wounds that cannot always be seen. A recent Canadian court… Read More The Hidden Wounds of Domestic Abuse: Why Justice Must Recognise More Than Bruises
The case is significant not only because of the extreme violence described, but because the court recognized that long-term intimate-partner violence can justify a substantial civil damages award. Justice Susan Vella of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice awarded the woman $400,000 in damages after a nine-day trial. The decision followed a 54-year marriage in which the judge found… Read More Landmark Canadian domestic-abuse judgment.
One question has surprised me more than any other since rebuilding my life. As I meet new people and they learn that I have left an abusive relationship, the conversation often follows a similar path. “What was your ex’s name?” If they recognise the name, the response is frequently immediate. “Oh… I’ve heard of him.”… Read More “Can I See a Photo of Him?”
When people think of domestic abuse, they often picture shouting, threats, or physical violence. What is less recognised is financial abuse—a form of coercive control that can quietly erode a person’s independence, confidence, and future over many years. Financial abuse isn’t simply about one partner earning more than the other. It is about using money as a… Read More When Financial Abuse Is Hidden in Plain Sight
One of the most painful experiences for survivors of domestic abuse is hearing someone close to them say: “I doubt he’ll kill you.” It may be intended as reassurance, but to someone living with abuse, those words can feel dismissive, minimising, and dangerously out of touch with reality. The truth is that relatives, friends, and… Read More “I Doubt He’ll Kill You” – Why Well-Meaning Relatives Can Get It Wrong
One of the most astonishing aspects of abusive relationships is not always the abuse itself. Sometimes it is what happens afterwards. An abusive partner may deny everything, rewrite history, invent elaborate stories, and even swear under oath that their version of events is the truth. They may accuse their victim of lying, exaggerating, or being… Read More When an Abuser Invents a Story Under Oath… Then Expects You to Take Them Back
Perhaps the saddest stories are not always those of abuse itself. Sometimes, they are the stories of people who reached out for help… …and nobody listened. Every year, there are heartbreaking cases where people tell someone they are frightened, overwhelmed, or unable to cope. They send messages. They confide in family. They speak to friends.… Read More The Cry That Went Unheard
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 