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Author: Rebecca Bywaters As summer is in full throttle, many individuals face dangers that go far beyond the blistering heat. These dangers are not obvious but instead are often hidden behind closed doors. For those experiencing domestic abuse or intimate partner violence, studies have shown that the rates of these forms of abuse experience a 12% spike during the summer months. But why is this? Summer is typically considered the season for fun, relaxation, and de-stressing. The irony of...

Author: Rebecca Bywaters As we approach PTSD awareness day on June 27th, it is important to understand the nature and effects of PTSD on those who experience it. This includes those under acute or prolonged abuse, such as is often the case in issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. A common misconception of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is that it only affects those who have experienced war or intense combat, but this understanding is lacking. In reality,...

Author: Kaitlyn Savage New Directions Center has a 30-year history of providing free, confidential, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. As the organization has grown, it has also recognized the impact this violence has on adolescents in our community. Through its Youth Program, New Directions Center provides counseling services for children ages 5 and up to help them navigate the effects of domestic and sexual violence. Whether a child has been directly or...