…has Been in Or Is Currently in An Abusive Relationship:
- Listen to them.
- Tell them it’s not their fault, no matter what.
- Validate whatever it is that they are feeling. Feelings around a DV relationship are varied, but they are all normal.
- Offer them resources, like phone numbers or websites.
- Offer to go with them to talk to someone else or just to look for more information. It will help them to know that they have such non-judgmental support from you.
- Do not say antagonistic things about the abuser. In most cases, the abuser was someone your friend cared about a lot, and it may feel confusing for them to hear you talking in a harsh way about that person.
- Do not tell them to leave. Abusive relationships are very complicated, and often staying in an abusive relationship may seem like the safest option for your friend. Statistics show that when people are most at risk for violence during a break-up and immediately after leaving, so help your friend to safety plan if they do decide to leave