Domestic Violence Survivors: Spirituality and Social Support

Abstract

A review of the literature revealed that few domestic violence programs include ongoing social support or a focus on the spiritual concerns of domestic violence survivor. The literature appears to support the development of this spirituality and support group theory and confirms the importance of caring communities for domestic violence survivors and thrivers. The focus of this article is to propose a model of spirituality and social support for domestic violence survivors and thrivers. A synthesis of the Rite of Passage framework in combination with the Dance of the Spirit spiritual growth theory of Maria Harris is presented. An outline of a seven week spirituality group for those who have left the domestic violence situation is presented and implications for practice are discussed.