{"id":3320,"date":"2026-05-05T09:50:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/?p=3320"},"modified":"2026-05-05T09:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:50:41","slug":"behind-closed-doors-the-truth-about-domestic-violence-and-how-to-stop-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/2026\/05\/05\/behind-closed-doors-the-truth-about-domestic-violence-and-how-to-stop-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind Closed Doors: The Truth About Domestic Violence and How to Stop it"},"content":{"rendered":"

When individuals think about trauma, they often imagine something sudden or even extreme. The truth is, from many survivors of domestic violence, trauma happens quietly\u2013 Behind closed doors, and every day moments that slowly build into long-term emotional and psychological harm.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the United States, domestic violence is more common than many realize. Research shows that about 22% of women experience intimate partner violence, yet less than 40% to seek help. The guy alone says a lot. It reflects not just fear, but also the lasting trauma that can make speaking out almost feel impossible. Domestic violence is not only physical. It includes emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse\u2013 forms of harm that often leave invisible scars. These experiences can lead to anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder, making it difficult for survivors to feel safe, trust others, or regain control over their lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where the violence against women act becomes important. Created in 1994, VAWA was designed to respond to the serious issue of violence against women by funding support services, legal aid, and law enforcement training. On paper, it represents progress, and in many ways, it is. Through VAWA, survivors can access counseling, legal support, and protective services. These resources are essential because trauma doesn’t end when the abuse stops. Healing requires time, support, and access to care. Therapy, for example, can help survivors process what they’ve experienced and begin to rebuild their sense of self.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But while VAWA has made a difference, it is not perfect. One major issue is accessibility. Many survivors still struggled to find services due to long waitlists, distance, or lack of available resources in their area. When someone is already dealing with trauma, barriers like these can discourage them from seeking help at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another issue is how trauma is handled within the criminal justice system. Even though law enforcement receives training, not all officers fully understand the emotional and psychological impact of abuse. Survivors may feel dismissed, misunderstood, or even blamed. This can deepen their trial instead of helping them recover. There is also the question of inclusivity. While VAWA focuses on women, domestic violence affects people of all genders. Statistics show that one in four men also experienced physical violence from a partner. A more inclusive approach could ensure that all survivors feel seen and supported.<\/span><\/p>\n

From my perspective, this is where changes are needed. Informed care should be at the center of every response to domestic violence\u2013 whether it’s law enforcement, legal systems, or support services. Survivors need to feel believed, understood, and supported, not just questioned or overlooked. Domestic violence is not just a legal issue; it\u2019s a trauma issue. If we do not address the trauma, we’re only solving part of the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

VAWA is a step in the right direction, but it shouldn’t be the final step. Expanding access to services, improving trauma and form training, and making support more inclusive are all necessary if we want to truly help survivors heal. At the end of the day, healing from trauma isn’t just about surviving; it’s about being able to live without fear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/p>\n

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence<\/i><\/b> https:\/\/ncadv.org\/STATISTICS#:~:text=1%20in%203%20women%20and,be%20 considered%20%22 domestic%20violence.%22 text=1%20in%207%20women%20and,injured%20by%20an%20 intimate%20 partner<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ballard Brief by Kaitlyn Short<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/ballardbrief.byu.edu\/issue-briefs\/domestic-violence-against-women-in-the-united-states<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Justice OVW (Office on Violence Against Women)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/file\/29836\/download#:~:text=What%20Is%20the%20Violence%20Against,services%20for%20 victims%20and%20 survivors<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

National Domestic Violence Hotline<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.thehotline.org\/resources\/violence-against-women-act-vawa\/<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thriveworks<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/thriveworks.com\/therapy\/domestic-violence-therapy\/#:~:text=Survivors%20often%20suffer%20from%20a,survivors%20to%20process%20their%20 experiences<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edward R. Molari Attorney at Law<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.molarilaw.com\/blog\/video-and-audio-recordings-evidence-massachusetts-domestic-violence-trials#:~:text=The%20Basics%20of%20Wiretapping%20Laws%20in%20Massachusetts&text=This%20means%20that%20it%20is,also%20consent%20to%20being%20recorded<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Personal experience dealing with the criminal justice system from 2022-2023<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n



<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When individuals think about trauma, they often imagine something sudden or even extreme. The truth is, from many survivors of domestic violence, trauma happens quietly\u2013 Behind closed doors, and every day moments that slowly build into long-term emotional and psychological harm. In the United States, domestic violence is more common than many realize. Research shows […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25953,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25953"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3320"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3321,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3320\/revisions\/3321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}