How to Help Your Daughter in an Abusive Relationship

One of the most challenging situations a parent faces is a daughter who is in an abusive relationship. A parent is not powerless to provide support and assistance for a daughter in an abusive relationship. There are a number of avenues you can take in order to provide your daughter with meaningful help.

Things You'll Need

• Temporary restraining order

Instructions

1. Obtain a temporary restraining order to provide some legal protection for your daughter. Your local county court provides standard forms to complete and file with the clerk of the court to obtain an immediate temporary restraining order.

2. File a police report with your daughter detailing the abuse. While one of the goals is to get the police to investigate the case, another objective is to have a formal record of the events in place.

3. Provide your daughter with temporary shelter. Even with a temporary restraining order, keeping your daughter's estranged partner away can be a difficult task. Consider a shelter for women who are the victims of domestic violence as an alternative.

4. Schedule an appointment for your daughter with a qualified and experienced domestic violence counselor. Even if your daughter appears to be holding up well in light of her circumstances, the emotional trauma associated with an abusive relationship is profound.

5. Plan events--including quiet evenings at your home or with family and friends--for your daughter. These types of activities will help your daughter regain a sense of normality. Moreover, enjoyable events allow your child a break from the concerns and issues associated with her significant other.

References

• Domestic Violence Sourcebook, Dawn Berry, 2000
• DomesticViolence.org
• Handbook of Domestic Violence Intervention Strategies: Policies, Programs, and Legal Remedies, Albert R. Roberts & Marjory D. Fields, 2002

Resources

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Violence Against Women: State Resources