Supporting Someone Who Has Experienced Sexual Assault
It can feel overwhelming when someone tells you that they have been sexually assaulted. You want to respond appropriately and show your support. Finding the right words may seem impossible and like nothing is enough. This is a normal feeling. This shows that you care. The response to someone who has disclosed their trauma is critical in their healing process. The most important thing is that they can feel supported with your better understanding of what is an appropriate and healthy response.
Be Outspoken!
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Recent Articles
5 Ways You Can Help Prevent Sexual Violence in Your Community
Learn More An important first step to preventing sexual violence is recognizing its many forms. Learn more about the dynamics of sexual violence – including sexual assault and sexual harassment. Recognize that it can happen to anyone of any gender, age, race or nationality, education level, sexual orientation, economic background, or ability. When we learn more about the dynamics of abuse and its [...]
Providing Support to a Vulnerable Population
Many of us may have a loved one in our lives who is transgender - even if we don’t know it. Transgender people are often misunderstood and treated poorly. Up to date statewide and national data is lacking, but the most recent documentation shows that a disproportionate number of vulnerable trans female youth are exploited, trafficked, abused, and murdered. A 2021 study done [...]
For Sexual Assault Survivors the First Step to Healing is Support
In its infancy the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center with its limited staff managed hotline calls while board members and volunteers responded to area hospitals to serve community members who experienced family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. As the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center grew and hired more staff the need to offer Advocacy Training to its staff was necessary to keep up with [...]
Why Children May Not Disclose Abuse
Roxanne’s House is HCWC’s Children’s Advocacy Center in San Marcos, TX. It is a child-friendly facility with trained staff specializing in child abuse issues including licensed counselors, forensic interviewers, and advocates. The purpose of Roxanne’s House is to assist children in healing after abuse. Our forensic interviewers have the privilege to be trusted with listening to children tell their stories of being sexually [...]
Coping With an Abusive Relationship
Being in an abusive relationship can have a significant impact on various parts of your life such as mental health, safety, relationships with others, and more. You may struggle with understanding your partners behaviors, especially when they treat you with love and kindness one day then anger and violence the next. Many people hope that things will get better and then blame themselves [...]
How to Talk to Teens and Pre-teens About Healthy Relationships
A healthy relationship is something most people desire, so of course we desire the same for our children. However, you may be thinking to yourself, “Well MY parents never talked to me about this, so why do I have to talk about this with my child?” Good question! via GIPHY Talking to your children and modeling healthy relationships [...]
Is Your Relationship Headed for Trouble? – Recognizing Red and Yellow Flags
A new relationship can bring intense feelings of romance, excitement, and hope for the future. Signs that your partner is potentially abusive can be undetectable in these early stages. Abuse may appear weeks or months later. Understanding boundaries is important in having a healthy relationship. It is also important to ask yourself if the attention you are receiving from your partner is overwhelming [...]
Five Things We Can All Do Today to Prevent Dating Violence
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort to raise awareness about the impacts of dating abuse and encourage communities to support teens and young adults in seeking healthy relationships. Though these conversations are important to have year-round, February gives us the opportunity to shine a light on dating abuse and inspire conversations about healthy relationships in order to stop violence before [...]
Download Our February Take Action! Toolkit
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort to raise awareness about the impacts of dating abuse and encourage communities to support teens and young adults in seeking healthy relationships. Though these conversations are important to have year-round, February gives us the opportunity to shine a light on dating abuse and inspire conversations about healthy relationships in order to stop violence before it starts. [...]
Abuse In A Digital World
In an increasingly digital world where technology helps us connect, technology can also be a means of control. Though digital abuse is more common amongst youth and young adults, digital abuse can happen at any age and at any stage in a relationship. Thehotline.org defines digital abuse as “the use of technology and the internet to bully, harass, stalk, [...]
Recognizing Yellow and Red Flags in Relationships
At the beginning of a new relationship, it is not always easy or clear to tell if it has the potential to become an abusive relationship, especially in the very early stages. Relationship abuse and warning signs do not always show up right away. Many abusive people appear like ideal partners in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviors tend [...]
Pets In Pain: The Link Between Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse
Domestic violence and animal cruelty can intersect with one another. There is a great concern when it comes to domestic violence and the person causing the abuse not only for the adult victim but as well for their children and their animals. For the purpose of this article, we will keep it to adults and animals and in particular women escaping abuse. Most often, [...]