Photo By Laurie Pearson | The chain of abuse can be broken by your response to people and situations in your life.... read more read more
As October comes to an end, the focus on Domestic Violence Prevention continues aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, with programs available throughout the year.
Some of the available programs are intended to help individuals and their families understand the elements that can lead to abuse, and ways to avoid them. Others are intended to help people overcome prior abuse, in order to lead fulfilling, rewarding lives, effectively becoming the broken link in the chain of abuse.
“Within domestic violence, there’s a term known as intergenerational or transgenerational violence,” explained Michelle Adams, Prevention & Education specialist and Victim Advocate with the Behavioral Health Section on base. “Intergenerational violence occurs when abuse passes through the family, starting from the older generation, such as the parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, to the younger generation of children exposed to violence in the home. Abuse tends to be a learned behavior that is taught to be acceptable as small children are exposed to violence and it becomes ‘normalized.’ In this chain or cycle of abuse, children who have been abused, or who have witnessed violence in their households growing up, are more likely to continue the abuse they have suffered or endured as adults.”
She explained that some children who grew up in abusive families may take on a victim role as abuse was normal and even expected behavior, and they did not have appropriate role models to learn how to avoid or leave abusers.
“Although intergenerational trauma survivors are more susceptible to repeating abusive behaviors which they have seen or suffered, they can also take a stand by breaking the link in this chain of violence,” she said. “They can choose to write a new story for their life, one that begins with respect and having healthy relationships.”
Through various types of counseling and therapy, to include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, people can learn to interpret behaviors, events, and circumstances in their lives differently. In doing so, they can then also learn to respond in healthier manners than they may have been taught growing up.
“There are often a lot of risk and protective factors that work for and against the person and that are taken into consideration,” said James Maher, Behavioral Health Section head. “Each person’s situation is different, but one thing that helps determine how things turn out is definitely the social support network that is accessible to them. Having a community that is united and that supports its victims and survivors by organizing a coordinated community of care and response for them is key.”
The Family Advocacy Program is ready and willing to help coordinate a plan tailored to each person’s unique situation. The more protective factors a person has, the less likely they are to tolerate abuse and the more likely they are to reach out and take advantage of the resources available.
“It is also important to remember that without appropriate intervention the abuse is likely to become more serious,” Maher said.
“Preventing abuse in the military community starts with promoting an understanding of what safe and healthy relationships look like, and providing ways for individuals to take steps such as setting boundaries and seeking help in stressful times, and knowing what support is available in a crisis,” Adams said.
This month’s theme for DV Awareness and Prevention is “United to End Abuse: The military community respects, defends and supports victims of domestic abuse.”
“With this theme, we are saying to any victims, survivors, their family members and anyone whom needs help, that in these current times that our country is facing, with the ongoing pandemic and isolation, that we all stand united in our efforts to recognize this issue and are here to offer support and resources to those in need,” Adams said.
There are myriad resources on base to take part in, to include:
• Marine and Family Programs
• Family Advocacy Program - Includes a Prevention Program, Anger Management workshops, Married and Loving It and Within My Reach Workshops, Stress Management and parenting workshops.
• New Parent Support Program - Provides Infant Massage, Baby Boot Camp, Home Visits with virtual and telephone options.
• Victim Advocacy - People ready to assist you in a moment’s notice.
• Sexual Assault & Response Program
• Substance Abuse Program - Can help with tobacco and alcohol cessation
• Community Counseling Program - Offers short term, solution-focused therapy for service members and their families. The CCP is a voluntary, free, preventive program that helps active duty service members and/or their family to address stress and learn skills before problematic, inappropriate behavior becomes entrenched or abusive.
Within the same building other programs are also available such as:
• Personal & Professional Development Program - Can help you build your resume, help with educational opportunities and information and much more.
• Library Services
• Retirement Office
• Marine Corps Family Team Building and Family Readiness
• Exceptional Family Members Program with the School Liaison Office
• FOCUS Project - Helps couples learn to communicate more effectively and develop a better understanding family developmental issues and stress and so much more!
Your life is not a pre-written script, developed by circumstances and individuals in your lives. You have choices in how you interpret and respond to events and people in your lives. Behavioral Health is staffed with a skilled team of people who are prepared to assist you in embracing opportunities to do more than just exist. They can help you thrive! And if you’ve been exposed to abuse, they will help you develop skill-sets that can help you become the broken link in the chain of abuse.
Stop by building 218 to learn more, or call 577-6533 to inquire or to set an appointment.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2020 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 381744 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Becoming the broken link in the chain of abuse, by Laurie Pearson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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