#toxicrelationships

Legislative session is in full swing here in the Mountain State, and we are honored this month to bring you the story of Celena Roby Henry in celebration of her story of survival and the positive change she made for survivors in West Virginia. Public policy can often be confusing or even disheartening, and it can be daunting for both survivors and advocates to try and communicate needs to lawmakers. Join us as we talk to Celena about her journey of empowerment and what she sees as emerging needs for people experiencing domestic violence in our communities.

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to. victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

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This week's episode is about knowing when it's time to move on from a relationship, job and everything in between. Letting go could be one of the hardest things to do in life and knowing when it's actually time to go could save us from continued hardship, stress, sadness and disappointment. Let's talk about it.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and, while we've talked about the evolution of this kind of victimization before, we had yet to delve into the specifics of how advocacy programs serve survivors of trafficking. Join us as we chat with friend and colleague, Katie Spriggs Brown, Executive Director of sister program, Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center.

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to. victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

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QUICK CHAT: Domestic Violence - Does the cycle always continue?

There is no doubt that when you have been exposed to psychological or physical Domestic Violence, there are high odds (due to dangerous subconscious psychological forces) that you will end up in another Domestically Violent relationship. But... this is when the patterns remain under our conscious awareness and therefore out of our control. The cycle can break! Well and truly! This QUICK CHAT explains why it is a myth that Domestic Violence will repeat and explores the 'whys' and  'hows' of change. 

On a personal and societal level, we all need to be skilled in our knowledge about this issue to take away the power of Domestic Violence in families. 

Tina and Ann delve into quotes that have echoed in many hearts and souls. Does God give us more than we can handle? Tina and Ann have a very interesting discussion on these words. This quote-filled episode is carefully guided through the topics of boundaries, healthy healing, healthy grieving, ridding of toxic relationships,  the importance of advocating and empowering insights to help carry you through your day.

Do words change our perspective? Does a quote whisper to our soul and understand us, at our depths? Can a quote mean something different to two different people and change meaning through time.  Join us as we talk the power of quotes, their personal resonances, and the dual interpretations that Tina and Ann have. Tina has been gone during a difficult time and she shares why she brings these quotes to the episode and Ann discusses quotes she learned from Alcoholics Anonymous and their meaning in her life. 

This is a deep dive on a very interesting, thought-provoking topic.

Go to realtalktinaann.com and leave us your email in the contact section and you will get a special message from Ann. Leave us a voicemail on our website and you might end up on our podcast.

Follow us on Tina and Ann's website  https://www.realtalktinaann.com/
Denise Bard's website: https://denisebard.com/
Facebook: Real Talk with Tina and Ann | Facebook
or at:  podcastrealtalktinaann@gmail.com or annied643@gmail.com
Apple Podcasts: Real Talk with Tina and Ann on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Real Talk with Tina and Ann | Podcast on Spotify
Amazon Music: Real Talk with Tina and Ann Podcast | Listen on Amazon Music
iHeart Radio: Real Talk with Tina and Ann Podcast | Listen on Amazon Music
Castro: Real Talk with Tina and Ann (castro.fm)

Domestic Violence services are not often thought of in the realm of "homeless service providers," but it's actually one of the most important things we do, given fleeing abuse is federally-recognized as a leading cause for people to experience homelessness.

In this episode, we're highlighting our place within the local homeless service collaborative, The Cabell-Wayne Continuum of Care, as we speak with Brittany Ochoa, the Executive Director of Harmony House and the C-W CoC. Join us as we talk barriers to services, the Housing First model, and how our work together strengthens the community.

For more information on the Cabell-Wayne CoC, check out the website and follow the Continuum on Facebook!

To reach Brittany, you can call (304)523-2764, ext. 101, or email her at Brittany.Ochoa@harmonyhousewv.com

You can learn more about the Housing First model in our previous episode, "Safe Housing for Survivors."

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

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Podcast - Why do people stay in toxic relationships? Co-presenter Kristen Coggan. 

I am often asked this by distressed friends and relatives who painstakingly see their loved one stay in a toxic relationship. This is a tough question to be sure. I'm glad to take the time to flesh this out and really examine why people stay in a relationship that harms them. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Jump on and share. 

It's officially spooky season! Here at Branches, we're united in our love for Halloween but somewhat divided on how spooky culture makes us feel. For some, it's a wondrous, magical time of our favorite decorations and nostalgic movies, while, for others, it can be just one more way the world seems scary. What do you think?

Join us for a conversation about how to prioritize self-care during spooky season, whether that's diving head first into the holiday or changing up your emotional safety plan for yourself and the survivors in your life. Available wherever you stream your podcasts or at branchesdvs.org/podcasts.

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to. victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

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Bianca was excited to start a new chapter with her husband after finding out she was pregnant. The couple had always spoken about children and having been together for years, it felt like the right next step. But after giving birth, Bianca began to see a side to her husband that she had never, in the 6 years they'd been together, ever see.

A story of resilience and survival, Bianca shares how quickly families can change and how it is hard to ever fully know someone.

If you or someone you know, needs support in leaving an abusive relationship, please access:
https://askizzy.org.au/ (local services)
1800 RESPECT (737 732) (emotional support)
https://www.1800respect.org.au/daisy (safety planning app)
https://www.safesteps.org.au/ (emergency accommodation, VIC only)

Educational resources:
Healthy Relationships Wheel
Power & Control Wheel
Equality Wheel

Share your brave stories and questions to @jade.chiron on Instagram.

Music by ComaStudio.

On a new episode of Root for Each Other, our advocates Sara and Emily are discussing the recent sentencing of convicted rapist, Danny Masterson, and the implications of both character reference letters of support submitted by famous friends of the actor and the powerful Victim Impact Statement read by his former partner at sentencing. As always, this is a difficult topic, so please take care of yourself as you listen and know that you can reach us for support 24/7 at 304.529.2382 and our local partner sexual assault agency, CONTACT Rape Crisis Center at 866.399.7273.

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to. victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Wayne, Mason, Lincoln, and Putnam counties in West Virginia.

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What is narcissism, why do narcissists ghost, and why do they return to haunt people? What is love bombing, and what is narcissistic discard? How can you safely leave a relationship with a narcissist?
In this episode of Coping With Ghosting, you'll learn the answers to all these questions and more. Gretta is joined by Sterlin Mosley, Ph.D., author of The Narcissist in You and Everyone Else, and CEO of Empathy Architects. In addition to delving into narcissism, their conversation touches on compassion, empathy, and Dr. Mosley's experience with ghosting.

Connect With  Sterlin Mosley, Ph.D.:

Websites:Empathy Architects and sterlinmosley.com

The Book:  The Narcissist in You and Everyone Else: Recognizing the 27 Types of Narcissism

Connect with Gretta:

Take Your Power Back Workshop

Free Guide: What to Say To Your Ghost

Free and Private Facebook Support Group |  Instagram | copingwithghosting.com

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer:  This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools for your use. Coping With Ghosting is not providing health care or psychological therapy services and is not diagnosing or treating any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or other registered professionals. 

Are you ready to move forward after being ghosted? Are you tired of worrying, stressing, and struggling to find answers? If you want to regain control of your thoughts and feel more at peace, there’s a solution for you. For less than the cost of one coaching session, you can download the new Take Your Power Back Workshop. In it, Gretta and Coach Estee K. will help you better understand why ghosting happens, ways to feel better now, and actionable steps to take your power back. Your purchase will help support this podcast, so it’s a win-win!

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages).
When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

Join us for a look back at our Summertime Advocate Roundtable about BOUNDARIES: What are they? Are they always healthy? Are they a mass conspiracy created by the Wellness Industrial Complex...?

Seriously, though, promoting healthy relationships is what we do best, besides, perhaps, having opinions. Check out our opinions on this topic and more on this episode of Root for Each Other: A Branches Podcast.

Branches Domestic Violence Shelter has been providing services to. victims of domestic violence in the Appalachian communities of Cabell, Wayne, Mason, Lincoln, and Putnam counties in West Virginia. 

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Advocates, Shannon & Sara, have an in depth conversation with the Cabell County Quick Response Team (QRT) about the intersections of domestic violence and substance use disorder. The QRT has been a revolutionary evidence-based strategy
for combatting substance use disorder in the Cabell County community--we take a few moments to talk about what really makes a difference in affecting healing and how our two fields overlap.

This episode was partially prepared under a grant [21-VAW-011] from the Office for Violence Against Women OVW and JCS. Points of view or opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State of West Virginia or of Justice & Community Services or OVW. 15JOVW-21-GG-00572-STOP

Not feeling good enough? Maybe it's time to tune into what your inner critic is saying and change the channel...

We reference "If" by Rudyard Kipling. It's such a fantastic poem and in the public domain, so we thought we'd put it here.

If you can keep your head when all about you
   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
   But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
   Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
   And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
   If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
   And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
   Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
   And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
   And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
   And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
   To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
   Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
   Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
   If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
   Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

A continuation of the discussion on how childhood trauma impacts adult relationships. 

Jenn jokes that if you had no childhood trauma, you can skip this one. If you did, you'd better heal it or it'll affect your adult relationships. This is part one of this discussion, which we found fascinating. Hope you enjoy it.

In this first of two episodes, we start our discussion on abusive relationships, covering not just physically abusive but also verbal and emotional. For anyone in an abusive relationship, we urge you to seek help. Resources are at the top of this episode.  

In this second of two episodes, we complete our discussion on abusive relationships, covering not just physically abusive but also verbal and emotional. For anyone in an abusive relationship, we urge you to seek help. Resources are at the top of Episode 5.  

It's Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and we're tackling a difficult but important subject, Familial Trafficking, and its relevance to life in Appalachia. Join us for a conversation with Angie Seay, Coordinator of the Hoops Family Children's Hospital Child Advocacy Center as she enlightens us on the diligent work her organization is doing to make a safer community for children. 

It's November, and we want to pause in a moment of gratitude for the people we serve. In this episode, you'll hear stories from advocates across our programming and service area about the privilege of advocacy and how survivors have impacted their lives and work. We're honored to witness their strength and resilience, and we hope these stories are enlightening about the realities of so many of our neighbors who have experienced violence.