As both a survivor of domestic violence and a trauma-informed psychotherapist, I bring a unique dual lens to the vital conversation around preventing the reoccurrence of domestic violence in survivors. My lived experience within a DV marriage and years of post-separation and systemic abuse through the Family Court, DV Court, and police—has deeply informed my therapeutic practice and my understanding of what truly helps survivors heal.

This presentation will explore how trauma-informed psychological therapy, when rooted in compassion, safety, and empowerment, can interrupt the patterns that make survivors vulnerable to re-victimization. Far too often, survivors escape abusive relationships only to find themselves retraumatized by the very systems meant to protect them. When courts, law enforcement fail to recognize coercive control or implicitly enable perpetrators, survivors face not just systemic injustice, but secondary trauma—being disbelieved, dismissed, or blamed. These experiences can reinforce the psychological conditioning that leaves them trapped in cycles of fear, silence, and self-doubt.

Trauma-informed therapy offers a pathway out. By addressing the root causes—unconscious beliefs, nervous system dysregulation, shame, attachment wounds, and deep conditioning—therapy can help survivors rebuild their sense of self-worth, agency, and safety. I will discuss the importance of a holistic, root cause and survivor-led therapeutic approaches, where evidence-informed methods not only support recovery but also empower survivors to rewrite their internal narratives and reclaim their autonomy.

This session will highlight:

The critical role of psychological therapy in preventing the reoccurrence of DV.

How legal systems can either perpetuate or interrupt trauma cycles.

Therapeutic approaches that restore empowerment, self-worth, and nervous system stability.

The need for practitioners to recognize and respond to secondary trauma and systemic harm.

I advocate for a shift—from managing crisis to fostering long-term healing. Survivors don’t just need to escape violence; they need to truly heal to stay free.