Things to say or do if your teen is in an abusive relationship
- Be supportive and listen. Avoid criticizing your teen and his or her partner.
- Ask questions to assess the situation. Avoid blaming questions "What did you say or to to provoke your partner?" "Why don't you just break up with your partner?"
- Accept your teens decisions. Avoid pressuring him or her to make quick decisions.
- Avoid power struggles with your teen.
- Keep channels of communication open.
- Be calm and take positive action.
- Talk to your teen alone. Avoid trying to talk to both teens together, which can inhibit what the victim feels he or she can share.
- Assist your teen in assessing the situation. He or she may not want to leave the abusive relationship at this time.
- Help set up a safety plan with your teen if he or she is trying to end the relationship.
- Provide resources for your teen on dating abuse.
- Help your teen find a counselor who is familiar with dating violence.
- Help your teen apply for a protective order (PO) against his or her abuser through juvenile court if he or she wants to go that route.
- Talk with the abusive teen's parents about the situation.
See the source websites below for further information:
A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating Violence
https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/documents/10questions_talking%20to%20your%20teen%20about%20abuse.pdf
Parent's Guide to Teen Dating Violence
http://www.stoprelationshipabuse.org/pdfs/Parents%20Guide%20to%20Teen%20Dating%20Violence.pdf
Constructive Feedback
https://www.erikbohlin.net/Handouts/Constructive_Feedback.pdf
Parent FAQs: Relationship Violence - Help for Parents
http://www.atg.wa.gov/page.aspx?id=1972#.VGj9QVfF-Cd