While we hope that every client we work with chooses to permanently stay away from her abuser, some make the decision to go back. Why?

There may be many reasons behind someone’s decision to return: a desire to return to some semblance of normalcy; to try and keep her family together for the sake of her children; a perceived lack of resources, or emotional ties.

While we want every client to continue through our program and live free from abuse, we also want to respect each survivor’s choice.

Unlike a perpetrator of domestic violence, we don’t force our clients to stay. It’s not our place to tell a survivor what she must do.

So although we want everyone to stay free from abuse once they initially escape it, it is our responsibility to support each client’s choices and make sure they know we have their back. When a survivor decides to go back, we offer them resources and let them that we are here if they should need help.

Because our job isn’t to force a survivor into where we want her to be – it’s to support her choices and provide her with the tools she needs to empower herself if she chooses. To be there – that’s our purpose.