Physical and sexual assaults, or threats to commit them, are the most apparent forms of domestic violence, and they are often the overt actions that allow others to become aware of the problem. However, domestic violence typically consists of much more than tangible and overt violence. Regular use of other abusive behaviors and tactics by a batterer, whether or not they are reinforced by one or more acts of physical violence, make up a larger system of constraint, control, and abuse.
The Power & Control Wheel, created in the 1980s by the Duluth Minnesota Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, represents experiences of women who live with men who beat them. It is a particularly helpful tool in better understanding domestic violence and batters. The tool can shed light on things such as the different ways batterers establish and maintain control over their partner, recognizing the pattern of abusive behaviors directed toward an intimate partner, and why the experience of domestic violence can feel so confusing - especially when overt violence is not immediately at play.
Understanding the dynamics of the power and control that underlay domestic violence, La Casa takes a comprehensive approach to offering survivors healing spaces and tools.
We work collaboratively with the survivors who come to us for help to assess which areas of their lives became disempowered due to their experiences of abuse.
Then we leverage the expertise within La Casa's continuum of services and our network of community partners to provide support relevant to each cluster of need. Survivors regain the power and control over their own lives that was lost during the cycle of violence - building and reclaiming safety, connection, and stability.
If somebody you know is experiencing any of these types of abuse or if you need support, La Casa can help. Call us on our confidential, toll-free crisis line 24/7/365: 1-877-503-1850