10/23/2025
Proud to have contributed my expertise to helping other social workers during . Thank you to the NYU Silver School of Social Work for the opportunity! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nyu-silver-school-of-social-work_domesticviolenceawarenessmonth-dvam2025-withsurvivorsalways-activity-7387119938014031872-MoJn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGvXMUB3n4M8CJxEkRJfyTYUu5LerjU1RE
It’s estimated that nearly 12 million Americans are victims of domestic violence each year, yet, clinicians and advocates are often unprepared for the unique challenges that arise in cases of intimate abuse.
Adjunct Assistant Professor Shari Bloomberg, DSW ’22, who teaches our MSW elective in Social Work & Family Violence, shared three key considerations for social workers who are working with domestic violence survivors.
1. Prioritize Immediate Safety and Planning
The paramount concern is the immediate safety of the adult survivor and any children. Work collaboratively to develop a personalized safety plan, ensuring it is reviewed regularly as circumstances change. Advise the survivor to prepare a ”go-bag” (medications, documents, clothes, and other essentials) for an unexpected escape.
2. Hold Perpetrators Accountable
It’s vital to clearly identify the abusive behavior and hold the abuser solely responsible. Avoid language that minimizes the perpetrator’s actions, such as framing the violence as a “couple’s issue” or mutual “conflict.” Social workers must actively counter the false narrative that survivors are to blame.
3. Practice Trauma-Informed Empowerment
Adopt a supportive, empathetic, and non-judgmental attitude towards the survivor. By shifting the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you? you acknowledge the profound impact of trauma on their life. Always treat the survivor as the expert in their own life, respecting their choices and self-determination above all. Your professional role is to provide resources, support, and options, rather than forcing a decision.
[Photo by Mattia on Unsplash]
