MFT3 is kicking off Domestic Violence Awareness Month with education, information and conversation!

As promised, Katherine Allen made a return appearance on Nina Sutton‘s radio show, One Smart Mother, heard Tuesdays at 9a on WGCH-AM 1490 of Greenwich, CT (read about our first appearance here).  You can listen to the 30 minute interview in its entirety below (also available through this direct link to the MP3):

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Today’s topic was DV among the affluent and teen dating abuse, to launch DV Awareness Month. There is far too much information to squeeze into a half-hour radio show or this blog, so please look at the resources listed below and contact DVCC’s state-wide hotline at 1-888-774-2900 to ask about events and information in your hometown.

Domestic Violence can be stopped with conversations, education and collaboration.

As mentioned on the show, here is a link to the “Love Is Not Abuse” website, and some excerpts from the “Love Is Not Abuse” teen dating curriculum (LINA sample pages). The therapists of MFT3 are all able to present this program to your school, congregation or community; please contact us if you would like to learn more.

The book, “Not to People Like Us” by Susan Weitzman, PhD is a great resource regarding upscale abuse. One thing to mention is the payoff principle hidden in upscale abuse. A woman (typically) will continue to put up with abuse on the “slot machine” principle; I have taken so much, my payday is surely to come soon. She sees his assets and gains, often projecting them onto her children’s futures, so continues to take the abuse, hoping for the elusive payday in the end.

Some local events:

• Weston DV Task Force Meeting: Friday, October 2, 9am, Weston Town Hall, open to any and all interested people.
• Weston Awareness Day: Saturday, October 3, 9am-12 noon. Town Center. There will be an official Town Proclamation by Woody Bliss, Teen Task Force bake sale, Information table and Purple Ribbon display.
• Westport Train Station Awareness Event: Thursday, October 8, 5:30am. Saugatuck train station will be where adult men and male teens will be handing out awareness materials during the morning commute, spearheaded by Westport Police Sargeant John Pitoniak.
• Metanoia-Prevent Violence Against Women: UCONN, week of October 5-9.
• On October 1 at 11:00 a.m., First Selectwoman Evonne Klein will give a Proclamation at the Darien Library declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Ninety-one purple ribbons are tied on the trees lining the downtown area and Noroton Heights.  The purple ribbons are a symbol of remembrance for the victims of domestic violence. During the fiscal year 2008/2009, there were 91 domestic disturbance calls to the Darien Police Department.
• Posters highlighting the power and control tactics used by perpetrators of domestic abuse to control their victims will be displayed by local merchants in their storefront windows or within their store. Domestic violence is not about anger but power and control.
• Ringing of church bells on October 1 at 12:00 p.m. The bells will ring 91 times for each call made to the Darien Police Department.
• The classic film “Gaslight” will be featured at the Darien Library’s Friday Film Night on October 9.
• “The Legal System’s Response to Domestic Violence” – Presentation by Nancy Dolinsky, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and Ken Edwards, Jr., an Inspector in the CT Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, Specialized Domestic Violence Unit – October 14, 10:00 a.m. Darien Town Hall, Room 206.
• Fairfield University: Saturday October 24, members of MFT3 will be panelists for a discussion regarding Domestic Violence.
• “Hit Me On Your Cell”: Thursday, December 3, 9-7pm, Saxe Middle School, New Canaan, CT. Several town DV task forces join with the DVCC to present a program focusing on teen digital abuse. John Seigenthaler of Weston will be the moderator. In addition, teens are working on a short video illustrating what the students have seen, heard, or experienced concerning this issue.

And the list goes on. Please feel free to contact MFT3 by e-mail or by phone at 203-416-6008 as our clinicians are trained to respond in a sensitive and confidential way to any of your questions.

We look forward to serving residents from Monroe and all of the surrounding towns. Thank you for your warm welcome.

Katherine and Virginia manning the table

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Today’s topic was one near and dear to my heart and my profession as a therapist – domestic violence. I embrace every opportunity to speak about the real face of domestic violence, to break the myths and help end the generational cycle of abuse.

As I promised on the show, here are some of the best resources (National and local) if you suspect that you or someone you love is in an abusive relationship. Remember, you don’t need a black eye or a hospital stay for a relationship to be abusive or illegal, some of the deepest and longest lasting wounds happen on the inside.

Help is ready and available. Join me in talking about this problem.

• 24-hour, toll-free National Domestic Violence Hotline  1-800-799-SAFE http://www.ndvh.org
• 24-hour, toll-free Connecticut statewide hotline  1-888-774-2900
• The first of its kind, NTDAH will operate via telephone and Web 24 hours a day and will be staffed by both teen and adult advocates. Teens (and parents) anywhere in the country can call toll free, 1-866-331-9474 or log on to the interactive Web site, loveisrespect.org
• Loveisnotabuse.com Tips and tools to start the conversation with your teen, in your school, in your community.
• CWF  (The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County, Inc.)
  753 Fairfield Avenue,
Bridgeport, CT
 (203) 384-9559 www.cwfefc.org
• DVCC  (Domestic Violence Crisis Center)  1-888-774-2900 www.dvccct.org
  Norwalk, CT (203) 852-1980 and Stamford, CT (203) 357-8162
• CCADV  (Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence) (860) 282-7899 http://www.ctcadv.org
• 2-1-1 Infoline in Connecticut
• Worldwide  hotpeachpages.net

Check back in October for another radio guest spot and further resources for specific populations, namely affluent victims and resources for teens regarding dating choices.

As always, MFT3 is ready and able to help if you are experiencing abuse or violence in your relationship. We can be reached at (203) 416-6008 or at . All calls and emails are completely confidential.

Her show “One Smart Mother” airs on Tuesday mornings at 9am on AM WGCH Greenwich 1490 (http://www.wgch.com/guests.shtml#1242393676).

Tune in and learn from Nina and her guests! But if you miss it, you can listen to the podcast here: http://www.wgch.com/showarchive/osm.shtml.

PLEASE JOIN US!

As a person devoted to the life-changing transition to motherhood, you are cordially invited to meet Nina Sutton at our latest open house:

Friday June 5 between 10 am and 4 pm at the offices of MFT3

Marriage & Family Therapy of Trumbull
2 Corporate Drive, Suite 211
Trumbull, CT 06611 (get directions via Google Maps)

To quote Nina…

Over twenty years ago, my work with mothers began. At the time, I owned one of the first contemporary nanny placement agencies in Connecticut. While my business was assisting in child care choices, my true role was to provide support to women as they faced the many obstacles and decisions along the road of balancing career and motherhood.

My passion was born. After having two daughters of my own, I have launched a practice to help women as they face many of the same life choices. In addition to my certification as the first and only certified educator of the Gottman Bringing Baby Home program in CT and a member of the Continuing Education Program of Harvard Medical School, my education also includes an MA in Psychology in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

We are pleased to announce the exciting partnership between Nina and MFT3. Please join us as we combine efforts in working with families along every stage of parenting. We hope Nina’s services, as well as those of MFT3, will provide your clients with the psychosocial support that is so crucial along the pre- and post-birth process.

Between 10 am and 4 pm on June 5, Nina and members of the MFT3 team will be on hand to answer your questions about our services. At 1 pm, Nina will offer a brief presentation describing the Gottman program as well as her own Becoming a Mother series.

To learn more about Nina’s work, you can visit her web site, www.ninasutton.net. For more about the Gottman program, visit the Bringing Baby Home site at www.bbhonline.org.

To confirm your attendance and or to ask questions, please contact Nina via e-mail or by phone at 203-984-6149 or 203-416-6008.

We look forward to meeting you on Friday, June 5!