As therapists, we pause this month to honor everyone who has found themselves in an abusive relationship, whether that was yesterday, ten years ago, or still today. You may never have told anyone. You may still be figuring out your next step. You may have already moved on entirely. Whatever your path, your experience matters.

 Abuse often develops slowly and begins to weave itself into everyday life through threats, control, fear and shame. Abuse can be physical, emotional and financial. It can feel confusing, isolating, and exhausting.

This month in particular, but every day, we hold space for those who are still in it, those who have left, and those who are healing. We also hold compassion for the friends and family who have walked beside them, sometimes uncertain of what to say or how to help. Healing takes time, safety, and trust. It takes patience from everyone involved.

If you love someone who is not ready to leave, remember that your steady presence can mean more than you realize. Offer understanding instead of judgment and connection instead of pressure. Leaving an abusive relationship is not a single moment, it is a process, and each person’s journey looks different.

Let’s continue to raise awareness, break the silence, and remind survivors that they are not alone. Love, safety, and respect should never be considered luxuries, they are rights every human being deserves.

Resources for Montgomery County, PA

Here are some trusted organizations right here in Montgomery County.

• Laurel House – Serves individuals, families and communities across Montgomery County. Their 24-hour confidential hotline is 1-800-642-3150. laurel-house.org+1

• Women’s Center of Montgomery County – Provides a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, peer & group support, legal advocacy, safe relocation funding. Hotline: 1-800-773-2424. Women’s Center of Montgomery County+2DomesticShelters.org+2

• Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania – Offers free legal help for victims of domestic violence, including for Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders in Montgomery County. Helpline: 1-855-980-6924. Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania+1

• Victim Services Center of Montgomery County – Helps victims of crimes & domestic violence with advocacy, counseling and resources. Call: 888-521-0983. VSC

• County PFA Court Info – For emergency or after-hours Protection From Abuse orders in Montgomery County: call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-773-2424. Montgomery County PA+1