Personal Stories:

  World Book Day is an awareness event to encourage children to read. It’s also as good a day if you grew up with Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) to do some reading. You’re an adult now, but that child inside you still bears a mark on you.  This childhood trauma is still impacting your adult life and as hard as it may be, revisiting your memories of childhood, and seeking out a new...

One of our CDV Champions, Shirley Sanguino, has been writing blogs for us since she first provided her story back in January 2023. Her latest blog focuses on the idea of reconciliation with family after growing up with Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV). Can it be done? Is forgiveness possible, or even necessary and healthy? And what is the path to move forward to heal from any triggering effects...

  Artwork by Jolene Dames Jolene Dames is our most recent CDV Champion. As a child, she found a creative outlet to escape her harsh realities and traumas from living in a home with domestic violence, art. Although she may not have called it art therapy, it was at first a means of self-discovery and escape. It transcended a means of escape, into something she knew would be part of her life-long...

Diane Sammett grew up in a home with violence. Although she was not the recipient of it, her mother was, she understands now that living and seeing the violence has changed her life. When you grow up living with domestic violence, that’s Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV). And this childhood adversity can negatively impact all areas of your life, leaving you to struggle mentally and physically....

Sidney Cooper is a young woman who has seen enough anger and violence for a lifetime.  She grew up with Childhood Domestic Violence. At its heart, Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) occurs when a person grows up living in a home with domestic violence (DV). CDV is violence between parents or violence towards a parent — perhaps from a stepparent or significant other. The violence can be physical,...

Valentine’s Day is often hard for many people out there. But if you grew up with Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) and are also enduring a violent relationship in adulthood, it can be the worst day of the year. Children who grow up with domestic violence are 2-3x more likely to enter a relationship with domestic violence as adults. According to UNICEF, Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) is the...

Shirley S. is now a thriving 23 year-old young adult who grew up with Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV). She shares her story of what she experienced as a child - watching her mother be beaten when she was only 6 years old and witnessing her mom attempt suicide more than once. Shirley grew up with Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) Shirley may not put a name to what she experienced growing up but...

Meet the Graingers - a dynamic mother-daughter duo bringing awareness about and offering solutions for Domestic Violence (DV) and Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV) in Ireland. Priscilla Grainger initially thought the abuse she endured was normal - often a typical mindset for those who endure DV. It started on Priscilla’s honeymoon and continued for 15 years, with escalating violent incidents...

Dr. Linda Olson is a psychologist, licensed psychotherapist, and social worker with over 30 years of experience in private practice and an emphasis on treating childhood trauma, focusing on Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV). Dr. Linda Olson is a psychologist, licensed psychotherapist, and social worker with over 30 years of experience in private practice and an emphasis on treating childhood...