Our Commitment to the Community
Serving women in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Eads, Germantown,
Lakeland, Millington, Northaven, and unincorporated Shelby County, Tennessee
Programs and services offered from two offices in the communities where our clients live and work
Trauma-informed staff and volunteers who compassionately advocate for survivors and victims
Clear, respectful communication with English and non-native English speakers
Key community partnerships to support basic client needs for food, housing, transportation. and safety.
Opportunities for program graduates to maintain strong relationships formed in the TWAC community
​A safe, comfortable, and welcoming space where confidentiality is protected
What our Clients Say
Economic Security
I was so happy when you helped me get a job. I cried, because now, I can take care of my children. Thank you for believing in me.
Healthy Relationships
The support group is great. My son is involved, too and that's a win for us. I feel like we are getting our lives back on track.
Stable Families
Thank you so much for your help and support. You guys are like angels in my life!
Strong Faith
There was a point where I gave up and was angry with God. I'm more open to giving it another chance.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, there are a two key things you should know. First, it's not your fault. Second, there are people who can help.
Contact us today.
What Is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse, sometimes referred to as domestic violence or intimate partner violence, is a pattern of behavior in which one partner in an intimate relationship attempts to harm or injure, threatens to harm or injure, or actually does inflict harm or injury to the other party, their children, or their property. According to the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, "domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone."
​
The Power and Control Wheel below was developed by Ellen Pence, Michael Paymar, and Coral McDonald after years of working with battered women in Duluth, Minnesota. The wheel gives a visual example of how an abuser seeks to exert power and control over a dating partner or spouse.
​
The legal definition of abuse in Tennessee is similar to the federal definition. In Tennessee "'abuse' means inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on an adult or minor by other than accidental means, placing an adult or minor in fear of physical harm, physical restraint, malicious damage to the personal property of the abused party, including inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by an adult or minor, or placing an adult or minor in fear of physical harm to any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the adult or minor;" - T.C.A. Section 36-3-601
Power and Control Wheel
What Is the Cycle of Abuse?
The cycle of abuse has historically been used to help identify abusive patterns of behavior between intimate partners. In recent years, a new way of thinking about easily identifiable patters of behavior has been used.
​
What is now known as the "Narcissistic Abuse Cycle" focuses on idealization and devaluation with transition stages in between. In the "idealization phase" the abuser focuses a lot of attention and energy on their partner. Psychologist describe this time as the abuser putting their partner on a pedestal. In the "devaluation phase" the abuser's affections change. Their partner is no longer seen as "perfect". Now, they are viewed as worthless. During this phase there is frequently psychological, physical, and verbal abuse.
Between the idealization and the devaluation phases are points of transition. At these points, one or the other in the intimate relationship can take steps to stop the cycle of abuse. For the person being victimized, this can be hard to do without important resources and support.
Idealization - Marked by praise, approval, gifts, excessive attention, and kindness. This is also known as "love-bombing". This is the starting point.
The Transition - The relationship is abandoned by one or the other party in the relationship, or the relationship continues following this cycle.
Devaluation - There is criticism, cruelty, disapproval, degradation, rejection, rage, threats of exclusion, and the silent treatment.
The Transition - You set a boundary, you call the person out on their behavior, they meet someone new, or you don't give them what they want.