Invisible Bruises

Adverse Childhood Experiences

5 Common Myths About Family Estrangement

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on December 3, 2025

Family estrangement isn’t impulsive or trendy. It’s often the only way survivors can break harmful cycles. Here’s what most people get wrong about going no-contact.

Family estrangement isn’t impulsive or trendy. It’s often the only way survivors can break harmful cycles. Here’s what most people get wrong about going no-contact.

Domestic Violence

When Abusers Hold Power, the Legal System Can Fail Survivors

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on December 2, 2025

Research shows that systems often fail survivors, especially when abusers hold power. Addressing these failures requires both legal and cultural shifts.

Research shows that systems often fail survivors, especially when abusers hold power. Addressing these failures requires both legal and cultural shifts.

Guilt

Is Tipping Getting Out of Hand?

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 24, 2025

Tipping has expanded immensely, creating pressure to tip where it never used to exist. But research shows people tip mainly due to social expectations, not because of service.

Tipping has expanded immensely, creating pressure to tip where it never used to exist. But research shows people tip mainly due to social expectations, not because of service.

Domestic Violence

5 Abuse Red Flags Often Missed by Family Trauma Survivors

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 20, 2025

Growing up with domestic abuse in the home can make survivors more likely to overlook red flags of abuse in adult relationships. Here are five that are commonly missed.

Growing up with domestic abuse in the home can make survivors more likely to overlook red flags of abuse in adult relationships. Here are five that are commonly missed.

Domestic Violence

One Major Fear That Can Keep Abuse Survivors in Denial

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 10, 2025

Fear of being different can keep survivors from acknowledging their history of abuse in their family of origin.

Fear of being different can keep survivors from acknowledging their history of abuse in their family of origin.

Bias

Gacy Series Highlights Systemic Biases When Reporting Abuse

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 2, 2025

A new show highlights many of the systemic biases that LGBTQ victims of crimes experience when reporting abuse or other violent crimes.

A new show highlights many of the systemic biases that LGBTQ victims of crimes experience when reporting abuse or other violent crimes.

Domestic Violence

Common Myths About Abuse That Keep Survivors in Denial

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 24, 2025

Early family dynamics can shape our understanding of what abuse looks like. These false beliefs explain why so many people often miss the warning signs.

Early family dynamics can shape our understanding of what abuse looks like. These false beliefs explain why so many people often miss the warning signs.

Child Development

The Reality of Childhood with an Addicted Parent

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 19, 2025

Living with a caregiver who struggles with substance use can be traumatic for children, leading to long-term mental health challenges and a sense of over-responsibility.

Living with a caregiver who struggles with substance use can be traumatic for children, leading to long-term mental health challenges and a sense of over-responsibility.

Trauma

Trevor Project: LGBTQ Youth Show Worsening Mental Health

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 16, 2025

The Trevor Project’s new Project SPARK report offers a look at how LGBTQ+ youth mental health has changed over time. While help-seeking has increased, so has suicidal ideation.

The Trevor Project’s new Project SPARK report offers a look at how LGBTQ+ youth mental health has changed over time. While help-seeking has increased, so has suicidal ideation.

Trauma

The Trauma of Having a Parent With Untreated Mental Illness

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 13, 2025

Untreated mental illness in a caregiver can be frightening for children, who often end up with a sense of over-responsibility to “take over” and help in the absence of any support.

Untreated mental illness in a caregiver can be frightening for children, who often end up with a sense of over-responsibility to “take over” and help in the absence of any support.

Trauma

The Fear of Becoming Like Our Parents

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 10, 2025

Exploring cycles of domestic violence and family trauma is not about blame, nor is it about excusing abuse. Understanding the why behind these behaviors can help break the cycle.

Exploring cycles of domestic violence and family trauma is not about blame, nor is it about excusing abuse. Understanding the why behind these behaviors can help break the cycle.

Trauma

Understanding What Triggers Trauma Cycle Awareness

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 9, 2025

For many survivors, deeper healing can begin with a trigger or a quiet awakening that reveals patterns they can no longer ignore.

For many survivors, deeper healing can begin with a trigger or a quiet awakening that reveals patterns they can no longer ignore.

Grief

Grief and Ambiguous Loss During Estrangement

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on October 5, 2025

Ambiguous loss, when the person is physically alive but relationally absent, often goes unrecognized in our culture, which can make it especially painful and isolating.

Ambiguous loss, when the person is physically alive but relationally absent, often goes unrecognized in our culture, which can make it especially painful and isolating.

Self-Help

6 Lessons Our Cats Can Teach Us

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on September 24, 2025

Know your worth, prioritize rest, and more.

Know your worth, prioritize rest, and more.

Trauma

How Patterns of Dysfunction Repeat in Families

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on September 15, 2025

Personal Perspective: Trauma and dysfunction are often passed down in families. Healing is not about blame but about recognizing how these experiences shape us so we can move forward.

Personal Perspective: Trauma and dysfunction are often passed down in families. Healing is not about blame but about recognizing how these experiences shape us so we can move forward.

Parenting

Why More Adults Choose to Remain Child-Free

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on September 7, 2025

People tell them,"You’ll change your mind." But fewer do.

People tell them,"You’ll change your mind." But fewer do.

Parental Alienation

The Debate Over Parental Alienation

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on September 1, 2025

Coined to describe cases in which one parent deliberately undermines the child's relationship with the other parent, the term is frequently weaponized against protective parents

Coined to describe cases in which one parent deliberately undermines the child's relationship with the other parent, the term is frequently weaponized against protective parents

Trauma

Why Are You Always Worried About What Others Think of You?

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on August 25, 2025

Concern about how others perceive us is a common experience. But for many survivors of neglect and abuse, fear of not being liked can appear to take over their life.

Concern about how others perceive us is a common experience. But for many survivors of neglect and abuse, fear of not being liked can appear to take over their life.

Parental Alienation

When Criticizing the Other Parent Is Harmful to Children

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on August 22, 2025

Bashing the other parent in front of the child is a less-talked-about form of psychological abuse that, when done frequently, can leave kids feeling confused and anxious.

Bashing the other parent in front of the child is a less-talked-about form of psychological abuse that, when done frequently, can leave kids feeling confused and anxious.

Family Dynamics

3 Ways Black Sheep Break Cycles of Family Dysfunction

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on August 14, 2025

2. Forced to find chosen families, they discover safer connections.

2. Forced to find chosen families, they discover safer connections.