A Story by Dissociative Scapegoat
Today, we share with you a story from someone who refers to herself as “Dissociative Scapegoat”. She is a woman of great strength and deep determination and love. She shares…
We dispel ignorance about Covert Emotional Abuse, a dangerous and common form of Domestic Violence, which significantly harms its victims and extends its reach to the whole family and its community. Children living in violent homes, even if not directly abused, can experience mental, physical, and/or psychological impairment that affects their development and can last into adulthood. By stemming the tide of abuse through education, we protect families and foster healthy environments in which all individuals can thrive.
By training individuals and organizations most likely to receive a victim’s disclosure of abuse, TMP is creating a shift in domestic violence counsel and care and providing a pathway to healing. We prevent Double Abuse® by promoting trauma-informed and compassionate responses and refusing to permit first responders to disbelieve, shun, silence, or mock a victim who courageously speaks out about the abuse they are enduring. We provide tools to prevent Double Abuse® while promoting clarity, empowerment, accountability, and restoration.
We provide in-person training or presentations and written and online video curriculum to equip NGO’s, therapists, social workers, universities, faith-based organizations, and other first responders about how to identify signs of abuse, respond to abuse, empower victims, lead abusers toward change, and identify cultural biases that foster Double Abuse®. Our trainings are available in-person or online. M3ND trainer and founder, Annette Oltmans, also speaks at regional and national events or conferences on these topics.
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Two M3ND: Responding to Abuse training cohorts beginning August 15, Registration opens July 1.
For Responders: If you interface with people in high conflict relationships that may be abusive, this course is for you! For leaders, staff, volunteers, ministers or even family or friends.
For Victims/Survivors: If you are struggling within a high conflict, stressful and confusing relationship, or are a victim or survivor of abuse, this course is for you.
Both courses are offered in manageable segments over 7 weeks. Our interactive virtual curriculum will help you identify behaviors that harm, recognize personal trauma, learn how to respond, and so much more. Check out our Training and Curriculum Page for more detail!
The M3ND Project knows that many families are struggling significantly right now during ongoing COVID-19 quarantine and shelter-at-home mandates, and extreme stress is on the family unit. Perhaps your children are acting up in ways they never have or this is an ongoing issue for you. If so, there are ways parents and children can interact to help diffuse toxic exchanges.
In this blog, we continue to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing one young child’s journey through the foster care system, as seen through the eyes of his volunteer child advocate. Like the more than 400,000 children living in foster care within the United States, this young child whom we will call Darius did not choose to grow up in “the system.”
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it would be remiss if we did not address Covert Emotional Abuse as a form of child abuse which affects so many. As it does in adults, emotional abuse against children is often a precursor to other types of abuse but not always. This is especially true now that many states have issued shelter-in-place mandates to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Each year during April, Child Abuse Awareness month, we have the opportunity to be a light to the most vulnerable in our population, our children, who are facing abuse in unprecedented numbers. If you have been reading the news, you will know the current shelter-in-home or quarantine mandates have created an environment in which the incidence and severity of all forms of abuse have increased.
Without a doubt, we are all facing unique challenges during this COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that this season can be especially difficult for victims of abuse, particularly those who are still living with their abuser. If this is you, The M3ND Project wants to be a light for you by providing hope and some simple steps you can take to help freshen your perspective and lift your spirits.
At some point in our lives, most of us will be a first responder for a victim of abuse. The M3ND Project defines a “first responder” as any individual to whom an abuse victim discloses their story of abuse or who helps a victim with their abuse situation. This could be a therapist, pastor, co-worker, spouse, sibling, friend, parent, mentor, etc. You never know when you will be a first responder.
Today, we share with you a story from someone who refers to herself as “Dissociative Scapegoat”. She is a woman of great strength and deep determination and love. She shares…
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Today, we are sharing a story from a victim that highlights not only how tormenting Covert Emotional Abuse can be, but how being a male victim abused by a woman…
I experienced unfathomable abuse as a child. Now that I have children of my own, I’ve had to face the darkness in my past all over again.
In this week’s blog, we share a story submitted on our website by “Valerie” (not her real name). Valerie’s journey through the family court system might sound extreme to some…
In last week’s blog, we shared what it is like to grow up with a parent who is a narcissistic abuser. We shared the struggles victims have in understanding the…
Today, we are sharing a story from a brave woman, named Crystal (a pseudonym to protect her privacy). In abuse cases, victims often say that the covert emotional abuse was…
Today, we share with you a story from someone who refers to herself as “Dissociative Scapegoat”. She is a woman of great strength and deep determination and love. She shares…
In today’s blog, we are talking about Institutional Abuse. Again… Truly, it’s becoming so challenging to hear about this issue over and over again and to see it played out…
“‘There will be joy in the morning,’ she said as she prayed for me one day. “Joy in the morning.” After the pain, hurt and grieving I’d been feeling for…
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I never intended to hurt my little girl with my words and responses to her. I really had no idea how badly I had been harming her. It wasn’t until…
In this blog, we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing one young child’s journey through the foster care system, as seen through the eyes of his volunteer child…
It is daunting to look at the history of domestic violence world-wide and ask ourselves, “How far have we come?” As a woman who is face to face with the…
Today, we are talking about “Toxic Positivity”, a subject that really strikes a chord with our team at The M3ND Project. For some of us, putting “toxic” and “positivity” together…
I know what others did to me was out of my control. It was not my fault. I did not cause it. Or that’s what I keep being told. But…