Episode 305: My Story- Domestic Violence with Julie Owens

Alison Sullivan, an integrative mental health therapist in Fredericksburg, VA, has a discussion about domestic violence with Julie Owens, who is a world renowned domestic violence expert & survivor. The two go in depth sharing their personal domestic violence experiences, address the different types of domestic violence and what it looks like, and how to safely handle domestic violence situations.

Show Notes:

00:10 Introduction

03:01 About Julie

06:25 Conversation With Julie

08:05 Alison’s Confusing Dynamic

09:28 Julie’s Story

17:44 Desire for Control

23:10 When You’re Connected to Empathy

24:10 Survival Behaviors

25:06 Trauma Bonding

31:30 Trauma Related Guilt

32:30 Safety

38:00 How to Know An Abuser is Changing

41:45 Not All Abusers Are The Same

43:50 Safety Planning

47:30 Accountability

50:27 The Bridge Analogy 

52:30 Post Traumatic Growth

53:58 Summary of Conversation

57:30 Content Warning

58:02 Alison’s Letter

Mentioned Resources:

mosaicmethod.com/

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft

Trauma & Recovery by Judith Herman

Behavior Checklist

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Dragonfly Yoga Studio

Skin+Touch Therapy Spa

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