This month, survivors at Bethesda House are continuing their work toward stability and independence through consistent, skill-building opportunities. One of these opportunities consists of our survivor-made items we sell through Purple Lotus. While the public only sees the finished items, the deeper impact is found in the process. Through making these items, survivors are building confidence in their ability to complete tasks, and we are seeing a growing sense of pride in t

The following statement should not be a surprise: We see the evidence of a lot of crummy fathering at Bethesda House. Yet we know there are great dads out there. Part of our job is helping women and children understand what a good one looks like. So, here’s the list we share every time we get an opportunity. A good father shows up — not just physically, but emotionally. He creates a home where his children feel safe, loved, and heard. He models integrity by keeping his word

May is full of important things. This month, we turn our focus to mental health and motherhood. When the Past Shows Up at the Playground: Mental Health, Trauma, and Mothering There's a moment many mothers know but rarely talk about. Your child throws a tantrum in a grocery store, or slams a door, or cries in a way you can't fix — and something shifts inside you. Your heart rate climbs. Your chest tightens. Your response comes from somewhere in the past, somewhere deeper than

"Thriving" means "prospering, highly successful" and "growing vigorously; flourishing" (THRIVING Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com). Our motto, "Love-Heal-Thrive," reflects our belief that love fosters healing, which makes thriving possible. During an intake session, a survivor I'll call "Sarah" asked me, "What does thriving look like?" Exhausted after 40 years of marriage marked by physical violence and relentless emotional abuse, she struggled to believe she had any w