A path to safety
Are you or is someone you know stuck in a harmful relationship? Here are some resources to help you gain wisdom and direction for stepping toward freedom.
How to Know If You’re in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship
Emotional abuse has been proven to be one of the most damaging types of abuse long term. Three types of emotional abuse can easily be disguised: gaslighting, retaliation and projection. Learn about the common types to become aware if you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship.
Setting Boundaries to Create Safety: Healing an Emotionally Abusive Relationship
If emotional abuse is present in your relationship, setting boundaries is crucial. If you think your safety’s at stake, learn the steps to effectively set boundaries in harmful relationships.
How to Help Someone in an Abusive Relationship
You may want to know how to support someone you love who’s in an abusive relationship. Here are several ways that can enable you to be there for them.
Additional resources
Marriage Q&A: My Spouse Is Verbally and Emotionally Abusive
Marriage Q&A: My Husband Is Physically Abusive
Play it SAFE: Dealing With Domestic Violence tips sheet
Resources: Healing From Emotional, Verbal, Physical, & Spiritual Abuse
How to Deal Wisely With Manipulative People
Broadcast: Dealing With Abuse in Marriage
Broadcast: Finding Hope in the Midst of Domestic Violence – Part 1
Broadcast: Finding Hope in the Midst of Domestic Violence – Part 2
Broadcast: Allowing God to Heal My Messy Marriage – Part 1
Broadcast: Allowing God to Heal My Messy Marriage – Part 2
Broadcast: Reclaiming Hope and Safety in a Destructive Marriage (Part 1 of 2)
Broadcast: Reclaiming Hope and Safety in a Destructive Marriage (Part 2 of 2)
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Is it abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims
What is Spiritual Abuse in Marriage?
What is Financial Abuse in Marriage?
What is Sexual Abuse in Marriage?
Abuse in Marriage – Darby Strickland
What Is Domestic Abuse in Marriage? – Darby Strickland
Do you suspect that you’re suffering from domestic abuse in your marriage? Maybe you’ve become confused and have lost the ability to see your situation clearly.
Darby Strickland, counselor and author of Is It Abuse? describes the different types of domestic abuse and encourages victims to seek help and share their story with a trusted individual.
How to Help Someone in an Abusive Marriage – Darby Strickland
Darby Strickland explains how to help someone in an abusive relationship. She encourages helpers to stay at the victim’s pace and to be careful with how they respond to information shared.
Misconceptions of Abuse in the Church – Darby Strickland
Counselor Darby Strickland talks about the common misconceptions of abuse, especially within the four walls of the church. She describes the motives behind an abusive spouse, and how an abuser often is different behind the scenes versus when the spotlight is on him or her.
If an Abusive Spouse Is Not Repentant – Darby Strickland
Darby Strickland, author of Is It Abuse? talks about the sad reality of an unrepentant abusive spouse who is unwilling to change. She lists some ways in which churches and counselors approach situations such as this.
If Abuse Isn’t Physical Abuse in a Marriage – Darby Strickland
What if someone is being abused by their spouse, but it’s not necessarily physical? Darby Strickland explains how to address this instance.
She challenges people to ask, “What impact is the abuse having on a victim?” rather than only focusing on the type of abuse.
Hope for Abuse Victims – Darby Strickland
Darby Strickland offers hope to victims of spousal abuse and encourages them. She explains how God doesn’t just come to save us from our sin; He also comes to save us from our suffering.
Domestic Abuse – Kari Trent Stageberg
Kari’s Story of Abuse in Marriage
Kari Trent Stageberg suffered in an abusive relationship. Her story of domestic violence is not uncommon. She tells of her struggles, thought processes and emotions as she was dealing with an abusive husband.
Abuse isn’t just punching or slapping. Kari talks about various types of physical abuse but also touches on verbal and emotional abuse.
Kari Trent Stageberg – Types of Abuse
Kari Trent Stageberg describes several different types of abuse in relationships: verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. She explains how to identify each type and stresses the importance of knowing how to distinguish one from the other.
She also highlights that verbal and emotional abuse can cause the same PTSD symptoms as physical abuse.
Domestic Violence – Don’t Stay Stuck in an Abusive Relationship
Forgiving After an Abusive Relationship – Kari Trent Stageberg
Kari Trent Stageberg discusses the journey of forgiving after an abusive relationship. While forgiveness doesn’t excuse what the abuser did, choosing to forgive is God’s gift to you to let go and move forward in freedom.
She speaks about her experience walking with God through every moment of the damaging relationship and letting Him speak truth back into her life where lies remained.
A Prayer for Our Viewers – Kari Trent Stageberg
