109. Treating Survivors of Domestic Violence

Need a deeper understanding of intimate partner violence—and how to support those impacted by it?

In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we are joined by Christy Sim, a therapist at Ellie Mental Health in Grapevine, Texas. Christy brings incredible insight to the conversation, shaped by her doctoral research and years of working directly with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).

We explore the many forms IPV can take, how it's different from what people typically think of as domestic violence, and how to recognize the signs—especially when they’re subtle or masked by shame, fear, or trauma. Christy walks us through safety planning, how to support clients who are still in the thick of abusive situations, and what healing can look like (even when it feels out of reach).

We also dig into trauma-informed care, EMDR, narrative therapy, and the power of reframing negative beliefs. Whether you’re a clinician or someone looking to understand this complex issue more deeply, this conversation offers both practical tools and meaningful perspective.

LINKS:

• Power and Control Wheel: ⁠https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/power-and-control/⁠
• Christy's book: ⁠https://amzn.to/3IEVLsO ⁠

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

00:00 – Welcome + intro

03:24 – Types of IPV

05:59 – Spotting the signs

08:28 – How to create a safety plan

14:18 – Therapeutic approaches that help

21:04 – Using EMDR

21:44 – Narrative therapy in action

28:54 – Generational trauma + breaking cycles

36:14 – Co-parenting with an abusive partner

37:55 – Final reflections + resources

This is a tough topic, but it’s such an important one. We hope this episode helps you feel more informed, empowered, and equipped—whether you're supporting clients, loved ones, or yourself.