Financial abuse is one of the most common, yet forgotten, forms of abuse. According to a Center for Financial Security study, 99% of domestic abuse victims experience some form of economical abuse. Financial abuse can take many forms; some common forms are stealing or withholding money. It is important to recognize the signs of financial…

Many of us know the unfortunate statistics when it comes to domestic violence – 1 in 3 women in the United States will experience intimate partner violence in her lifetime. We also know that the majority of abuse happens behind closed doors. But what about those rare moments when the abuse seeps outside of the…

The media is the largest, broadest and deepest form of communication to the masses. With that unyielding power comes colossal pressure and responsibility to convey messages and share information in an accurate, reliable way with integrity and empathy. Unfortunately, the dynamo that is media sometimes drops the ball and stories are delivered in a biased…

It seems like nowadays, every social media platform and magazine rack is filled with articles promising to transform relationships with just “5 new steps” or “7 easy communication techniques.” Over the years, there have been amazing advances in research that prove that relationships and communication can improve by utilizing concepts such as mindfulness, bids for…

Danger for One Can Mean Danger for All According to the 2020 National Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report, out of the 264 police officers killed in the line of duty in 2020, the second highest cause of death was firearms-related fatalities, where 48 officers were killed in the line of duty – and 7 out…

Faith leaders respond to domestic violence and sexual assault of women  As the name suggests, the Podcast on Crimes Against Women (PCAW) covers a wide variety of topics related to the investigation of violent crimes and their impact on women. In June 2021, I had the unique privilege to interview a diverse group of faith…

Lisa* met the man who would subsequently stalk her for nearly 30 years when she was a first-year college student. While taking some evening classes to catch up on credits she needed in order to transfer to another university, she was befriended by a man, Brian, twice her age. He was married with a family…

Asphyxiation – being deprived of oxygen by impeding blood or air flow – is one of the most highly lethal forms of abuse commonly used within intimate relationships. Asphyxiation includes strangulation (external pressure on the neck/throat), choking (internal blocking of the airway), drowning, hanging, and suffocation. And, even though strangulation is a felony in Texas,…