Sometimes the person who caused the abuse is not the only person who keeps the truth hidden. Families can become part of the silence. They may minimise what happened. They may rewrite the history. They may describe violence as “marital problems”, “arguments” or “something between the couple”. They may insist that nobody should talk about… Read More When Families Keep the Truth Hidden: How Secrecy Can Protect Abuse
There is a difference between having a past and having a pattern. Everyone comes into a new relationship with history. Previous relationships, mistakes, regrets, disappointments and difficult experiences are part of being human. But what happens when someone’s history includes violence and abuse across two marriages spanning decades? What if there have been convictions for physical violence?… Read More When the Past Is a Pattern: Should a New Partner Be Told About a History of Violence and Abuse?
Starting a new relationship usually involves gradually getting to know one another. You talk about your past, your family, your previous relationships, your hopes, your mistakes and the experiences that have shaped you. But what happens when someone’s past includes convictions for domestic abuse, physical violence, threats or breaking restraining orders? At what point should a… Read More Coming Clean: Telling a New Partner About a History of Abuse, Violence or Restraining-Order Breaches
A restraining order is not a suggestion. It is a court-ordered legal restriction designed to protect a person from further contact, harassment, intimidation, approach or violence. When a person deliberately breaks that order, the breach can become a new criminal offence in its own right. This is particularly important in cases involving domestic abuse, physical violence, threats or… Read More Breaking a Restraining Order: Why a Breach Can Be a Serious Criminal Matter
Restraining/protection order imposed because of physical violence, and the person then broke that order, that is potentially a significant criminal matter in both Spain and the UK. The exact offence and maximum penalty depend on the type of order and the circumstances. 🇪🇸 Spain In Spain, breaching a judicial restraining order can constitute quebrantamiento de condena under… Read More Restraining/protection order imposed because of physical violence
Crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT) is a legal term, most commonly encountered in U.S. immigration law, although the concept can also arise in professional licensing and other legal contexts. It does not simply mean that a person has behaved badly or immorally. What does “moral turpitude” mean? In U.S. immigration law, the term has no single statutory definition. Case… Read More What does “moral turpitude” mean?
The difference between a good conversation and a forgettable one often comes down to something surprisingly simple: Were you actually listening? Not listening while planning what you are going to say next.Not waiting for your opportunity to tell your own story.Not subtly steering the conversation back towards yourself. Actually listening. Being present enough to notice… Read More The Art of a Good Conversation: Why Being Heard Matters
Have you ever been told something about yourself repeatedly, yet somehow never really seen it yourself? Perhaps friends have said: “When you walk into a room, people notice you.” “Men are always looking at you.” “You don’t realise how attractive you are.” You may have dismissed it, laughed it off or simply not understood what… Read More When You Don’t See What Others See: The Neuroscience of Self-Perception, Trauma and Being Seen
Have you ever been told something about yourself repeatedly, yet somehow never really seen it yourself? Perhaps friends have said, “When you walk into a room, people notice you,” or “Men are always looking at you.” You may have laughed it off, dismissed it, or simply not understood what they meant. Even years later, you may still not particularly… Read More When You Don’t See What Others See: The Gap Between Self-Perception and How Others See Us
Cruelty can be abuse, but cruelty and abuse are not interchangeable terms. A useful way to understand the progression is: Cruelty describes harmful treatment.Abuse describes a broader pattern of harmful, controlling, exploitative or coercive behaviour. When cruelty becomes repeated, deliberate and part of a pattern that causes physical, emotional, psychological or financial harm, it can properly… Read More When Cruelty Crosses The Line
