CCSF Newsletter August 2021

“Change – desirable change – starts with longing and takes determination.”

― Dr. Nancy Murphy

Dear Friends,

As ever, we try to find interesting and helpful articles for our readers with a focus on ways to keep the family vibrant and safe in these challenging times. We hope you will visit our Facebook page and “like” us or comment on our articles! Many more happy summer days!

This month’s e-newsletter includes:

Do you know about CCORS?

High praise for Domesticshelters.org

Lifespan Integration

Domestic Violence in Affluent Marriages

Yard Signs for DV Awareness Month in October

Stop the Abuse, Heal the Family, Change the Future

Email: ccsf.hope@gmail.com

Website: https://www.ccsfhope.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristianCoalitionforSafeFamilies

Christian Coalition for Safe Families August 2021

“Change – desirable change – starts with longing and takes determination.”

― Dr. Nancy Murphy

Do you know about Children’s Crisis Outreach Response System (CCORS)?

CCORS helps families achieve stability, helps prevent future crises, and helps children remain in their home. Services offered include mobile crisis outreach and 24/7 stabilization services. Specially trained teams will go to the family home or other location as needed in order to help deescalate the situation.

The team works with the family to put in place ongoing services and supports to prevent future crises. Outreach services include mental health and suicide risk assessments and links to community resources. Non-emergent outreach appointments are also provided within 24 to 48 hours for those families who are not in acute crisis but need quick support and linkage to services. Based on the family’s needs, in-home support is available for up to eight weeks following the initial acute crisis.

Eligible children and youth are those not enrolled in the King County Mental Health Plan (KCMHP), who are up to age 18, and who live in King County. Their identified caregivers and families (including foster parents) are also eligible. CCORS can be contacted through their Crisis Line at 206-461-3222 or 1-866-4CRISIS.

We can’t recommend DomesticShelters.org highly enough!

Domesticshelters.org has verified information on domestic violence programs and shelters across the country. One can select domestic violence programs based on location, service, and language needs and find 24-hour hotlines.

In addition, domesticshelters.org offers helpful and highly relevant articles. You can search 869 easy to understand articles in 34 topical categories ranging from identifying abuse to healing from abuse.

You can also find information on everything from large national conferences and campaigns to local support groups and awareness activities. See them at DomesticShelters.org or like them on Facebook.

From the Therapist’s Corner: Lifespan Integration (LI)

Lifespan Integration is a gentle, body-based therapeutic method to free the body from trauma. LI therapy was developed in 2003 by Peggy Pace. It was originally designed for adult survivors of childhood abuse or neglect.

Pace soon found that LI therapy facilitates rapid healing in people of all ages and is effective with a wide range of therapeutic issues. LI utilizes repetitions of a visual timeline of memories to facilitate integration of life events resulting in rapid healing.

Clients come to understand, on a biological level, that they are living here and now in present time. Neuroscience tells us that a space-time life-map is key to a unified sense of self. After LI therapy, people find themselves spontaneously reacting to current challenges in more age-appropriate ways.

Body-based therapies focus on energy and emotions and release your emotional blocks which are often held in your physical body. They are shown to be effective for concerns such as trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

For more information or to find a Lifespan Integration therapist, see www.lifespanintegration.com. CL

Domestic Violence in Affluent Marriages

“There has long been an erroneous belief that domestic violence mainly affects low-income families… While research shows that increased financial stress ups the likelihood of domestic violence, abuse does not skip over the wealthy by any means.” (1) Susan Weitzman, Ph.D., Psychotherapist and founder of The Weitzman Center. The Weitzman Center is a nonprofit aimed at raising awareness about “upscale abuse.” It addresses the characteristics of abuse in upscale income homes, often those with influence and notoriety in their community.

“Opening up about domestic violence is often difficult and frightening for many survivors. Some feel a sense of guilt and shame as though some amount of responsibility for the abuse falls on their shoulders.” (1) Weitzman speculates that many abusers in upscale marriages feel an overabundant sense of entitlement. Many affluent abusers seem to feel above the law. And wealthy abusers often exploit their wife’s fear of poverty. (1)

“The woman may be living in an affluent household, but she often has as much access to finances as someone with no money at all.” (2) In the courtroom, high-income husbands can assemble what Weitzman calls “legal dream teams.” (2) As well, once “she has exposed his abuse from behind closed doors, and possibly ruined his career, there’s a campaign against her.”

(2) “As well the abuser will try to hurt the abused in the way it hurts most, by getting custody of the kids,” states Jan Edgar Langbein, executive director of the Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas. (2) Some abusers continue their vindictiveness through “court abuse”, unnecessary litigation against abuse victims. (2)

Some women’s shelters are developing specific programs for wealthy women. In 2007, a shelter in Naples, Florida developed a “Women of Means” program. (2)

To read both articles see 1) Domestic Violence in Affluent Marriages and 2) Domestic Violence Among the Wealthy Hides Behind ‘Veil of Silence’.

In my most humble but experienced opinion, most women who experience domestic violence, of all ages and all income levels, experience feelings of guilt and shame, and the fear that no one will believe them. As well, women who have much to lose financially or little to lose financially still fear the loss of what they have.

And no matter their financial position, abusers often feel a sense of entitlement. Perceived differences between affluent domestic violence survivors and women with far lesser means, melt away when huddled around the circle in a support group; all voice the same fears, they all suffer, their dreams are broken, and their futures are uncertain. LK

Yard Signs

With thoughts ahead to fall, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year we had yard signs made and we have a few available for free. Please let us know if you are interested.