Now Available: Virtual Support Group for Women, A New Book + Survey Extension
Two new resources to help people who want to stop being abusive... do just that
Although of course I’d prefer none of these resources were needed, but the fact is they are, so I choose to be grateful and hopeful when new tools and support show up!
Today, I have two new things invitations, along with an exciting update at the end.
First, have you ever wished for a safe, knowledgeable, understanding group to belong to, so you could heal together, and process your experience with abusiveness?
If there’s anything I’ve learned from the survey I’m conducting it’s that many people wish there were more places to let down their guard, tell the truth when they get stuck in their anger patterns, and get help.
For this reason, I’m delighted that starting this Tuesday, September 21, I will be co-facilitating a virtual support group with the Ananias Foundation.
The Ananias Foundation has been leading these groups for nearly five years, but this is the first time for a group focused on women. If you’re interested in joining, there is no cost, and I would be so happy to get to support you in this new format. Go here to register and get the log in information for Tuesday. You’ll also get to meet the foundation’s founder, Michael Clark, who invited me to help with this group.
Thank you so much Michael for the foundation’s profound contributions over the years - your work has helped so many!
Oh, and if you’d prefer a mixed-gender group, there is one coming up in October as well.
Second, last week I learned that Chris Huffine’s new book is out.
"Becoming Allies . . . With Your Partner, Yourself, and Others: Addressing the Abuse and Control in Your Relationships" is a book for abusive partners, and in Chris’ words:
“It reveals in detail more of what drives abuse and control as well as what needs to change. The first half of the book lays out the problems, the second half offers solutions.”
Aside from Beverly Engel’s book ‘The Emotionally Abusive Relationship” which is my most recommended to date, there are not a lot of titles with this specific focus and I’m excited to read it. More on this to come in future emails.
Last but not least, an update…
With your help, my Master’s program survey called “Exploring Emotional Abusiveness in Current and Past Romantic Relationships” has successfully reached its minimum number of participants. I couldn’t be more grateful!
Based on the responses, I can already see that there’s a LOT of valuable insight to share with you, and I’m honoured to get to spend time analyzing the data in the months to come. Having said that, one thing has changed…
I’ve decided to keep the survey open for participation for a few more weeks.
Previously, the survey was scheduled to be closed by now. But in the last few days, a lot more opportunities to share the word have come in, and I told my supervisor I’d hate to waste this chance to hear from more people and make the study even more robust. He gave me the approval to keep the survey open! So if you haven’t filled it in yet, or you intended to share it (again), here’s your chance.
Use this link to go to the survey yourself, or share this link. It’s 100% confidential.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/abusiveness
By the way, yes, it’s okay to share it in social media in groups you may be in, etc. There’s sometimes confusion and survivors of abuse fill it in, so if you can clarify that this is for people who identify as having been abusIVE, that’d be helpful.
The final word…
Not going to pretend, this Master’s Degree has been a whole lot longer a road than predicted!
It will be almost four years before completing it instead of two and a half due to pandemic interruptions. Yikes! But now that I know there are enough participants to go ahead, whew! I’m doing a big giant exhale.
And just like in years past when the road to stopping being abusive was long, and hard sometimes, I know this work is going to be worth every step.
I trust you’re being very good to yourself wherever you are in the world. Thank you for all you’re doing to create peace within yourself, so you can bring that to the relationships that matter to you most. Remember…
”War is for the weak. Peace is for the strong.” - Stella Ghervais
Gratefully, until next time,
Andrea
P.S. Your feedback about resources I share makes me excited because that signals that you’re working on yourself. <3 If you’re thirsty for more, I invite you to read past articles, listen to podcasts or watch videos, available here.