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In this episode of Partnered with a Survivor Ruth Stearns Mandel & David Mandel discuss professional and mental health terms commonly used which hide perpetrator responsibility for patterns of abuse. They discuss how this impacts victims moving through systems which are not grounded in a practice of pivoting to focus on the perpetrator's patterns of behavior. David & Ruth also discuss viewing the effects of abuse only as a pathology, a deficit in victims and how this does not honor the full reality of how bodies respond to abuse and harm, and how this leads to victim blaming. They examine mental health and psychological diagnoses which are commonly used by reporting agencies with the intent to help the victim heal but which is often used poorly by systems to the detriment of safety, nurturance and healing. Ruth shares her personal experience in navigating mental health systems for her own healing, as well  how words can be used to hide the realities of abuse in personal relationship.  

Now available! Mapping the Perpetrator’s Pattern: A Practitioner’s Tool for Improving Assessment, Intervention, and Outcomes The web-based Perpetrator Pattern Mapping Tool is a virtual practice tool for improving assessment, intervention, and outcomes through a perpetrator pattern-based approach. The tool allows practitioners to apply the Model’s critical concepts and principles to their current case load in real

Check out David Mandel's new book "Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to transform the way we keep children safe from domestic violence."

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