My son has been having nightmares and waking up crying ever since he saw his father get violent with me. He even trembles when he sees his dad. How can I help him?

In cases of domestic violence, we often forget or overlook the children who witness the violence. When the violence occurs, these children may be witnessing it firsthand or hear it happening. 

Afterward, they may see the injuries sustained by the victim, or hear others describing the violence. All these experiences can have a negative impact on their young minds. 

Although their wounds may not be visible, they need our assistance even more because witnessing violence can affect their sense of safety, relationships, self-image, and/or emotions. Younger children may often exhibit symptoms like anxiety, fear, nightmares, bedwetting, or unexplained physical disability. 

However, statistics show that less than 30% of children who witness domestic violence receive individualized assistance from child social workers or counselors. Therefore, our organization aims to combine “Domestic Violence Adult Protection and Witnessed Children’s Services” to create a “Safe Haven for Children” and initiate their journey of recovery, providing solace for their minds and healing their trauma.