Intimate partner violence takes a staggering toll on Texans. One in three Texas women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, which is higher than the national average of one in four. This sobering statistic is even more troublesome when we consider that over three million people—more people than the population of 20 other states—live…

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about domestic violence. One of these myths, that abused children grow up to be abusers themselves, I know to be false from my experience growing up with a survivor of domestic violence. From a very young age, I knew that my father grew up in a house…

When a person wants to start therapy, we always start off by asking what their therapy goals are. Why do they want therapy and what are they hoping to gain from attending therapy? Most people respond by saying they want to feel better. For trauma therapy specifically, the client wants to feel relief from the…

Do you ever wonder who answers the phone when you call, or what face you might see when you come to our Outreach office for the first time? Meet Sarah, the office manager at our Outreach location on Lemmon Avenue! What can one expect when calling or visiting our outreach office? We are so happy…

A few weeks ago as I was getting out of my car and walking into my office at our shelter, as usual, I smiled at our landscaping crew working hard outside. I was met with neutral faces. I quickly realized that I was wearing sunglasses and a mask. Of course, they could not see my…

Domestic violence does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or socioeconomic status. While domestic violence impacts the lives of all women of all backgrounds, society does not treat all victims of abuse equally. Social biases influence how society perceives survivors of domestic violence, and stereotypes often create barriers for care and assistance. This…

One of the questions that is often posed in regard to a woman experiencing domestic violence is why didn’t she contact law enforcement when she was experiencing the abuse? The assumption is it must have not been so bad if it was not worth contacting law enforcement, but the truth is there are many reasons…

Even during difficult times, it’s important to remember and stand up for those who are most vulnerable. April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and though victims and survivors of abuse should have the support they need all year long, the month-long observance brings attention and awareness to issues…

We are living in an unprecedented time during this global pandemic with social distancing and stay at home orders. Counseling is just one of the many areas that people have had to adapt during stay-at-home orders. Genesis and many other domestic violence agencies are offering Telehealth services at this time to survivors. If you have…