At Genesis, safety is our first priority when working with survivors of domestic violence. For women in abusive situations or for those who are thinking of leaving an abusive relationship, creating a safety plan for physical safety may help women survive potentially dangerous situations. However, emotional safety is also an important aspect of safety that…

Often, community members are curious about what goes on during the intake process in a shelter setting. At Genesis, we are more than a safe place for clients to rest their head at night; we are a holistic program aimed at healing and personal growth by providing advocacy and counseling in addition to a safe…

Now more than ever, survivors of domestic violence are facing some dangerous barriers while being isolated at home during the spread of COVID-19. Many survivors are trapped at home and have no alone time or privacy to reach out for help, and often no way to leave safely due to the abuser being at home…

We’ve all heard it before. Many of us may have even asked it. When it comes to conversations about domestic violence, it’s not uncommon to hear that lingering question: “Why doesn’t she just leave?” While Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support is working to change the conversation, it’s important to understand the challenges women face while…

What is mediation? Is mediation appropriate when there is domestic violence present in the relationship? To begin, mediation is defined as a structured, interactive process where an impartial third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques. All participants are encouraged to participate in the process, keeping…

Each year, five million children witness domestic violence in the United States. Although children are affected by domestic violence, there are ways in which the adults in their lives can help them. Oftentimes, people are under the assumption that children are not impacted by things that happen during their childhood. While people frequently make comments…

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…