16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence (25 November – 10 December 2025)

Each year, from 25 November to 10 December, communities across the world participate in the 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence—a global campaign dedicated not only to raising awareness but also to inspiring meaningful action to end abuse. In the UK, these 16 days highlight the continuing need for prevention, early intervention, compassionate support, and structural change. Domestic violence affects individuals of all genders, ethnicities, social backgrounds, and ages; it is not confined to private spaces but impacts entire communities and future generations.

While statistics help us understand the scale of the issue, it is often psychological insight that helps us understand why abuse happens and how people can recover. Approaching domestic violence through therapeutic theories—such as Person-Centred Therapy (PCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic approaches—can help illuminate survivors’ experiences and guide supportive responses.

A Person-Centred Perspective: Reclaiming Self-Worth

Person-Centred Therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, emphasises the importance of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness. For survivors, whose self-worth may have been systematically eroded by a perpetrator’s control, PCT offers a space to rebuild trust in themselves. Abuse often involves persistent criticism, belittling, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation—all of which undermine a person’s belief in their own capabilities and perceptions.

Within a PCT framework, healing begins with recognition of one’s inherent value. Survivors are supported to reconnect with their internal voice, learning to differentiate their authentic self from the distorted self-image imposed by an abuser. This restorative approach helps individuals regain agency, gradually empowering them to make choices aligned with their own needs and aspirations.

ACT: Finding Strength Through Acceptance and Values

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers another powerful lens. Rather than encouraging people to suppress or avoid painful emotions, ACT teaches that healing comes from acknowledging and accepting one’s internal experience while committing to actions that reflect personal values.

For survivors, shame, fear, and grief may feel overwhelming. ACT recognises these feelings as understandable responses to trauma and encourages mindful awareness rather than self-judgement. By helping individuals identify what truly matters—safety, independence, connection, integrity—ACT supports them in taking steps toward a life guided by values rather than by fear. This can be transformative during and after abusive relationships, when reclaiming one’s direction often feels uncertain or frightening.

Psychodynamic Insights: Understanding Patterns and Power

Psychodynamic theory focuses on unconscious processes, attachment histories, and relational patterns. When applied to domestic violence, it helps us understand how early experiences of care, abandonment, or trauma can shape a person’s expectations of relationships. This does not mean survivors are responsible for what happened to them; rather, it highlights the invisible psychological mechanisms that sometimes keep people tethered to unsafe relationships.

Understanding these deeper layers can empower survivors to break repeating cycles and develop healthier boundaries. It is also useful in understanding perpetrators, whose controlling behaviours may stem from unresolved internal conflicts, distorted beliefs about power, or learned patterns of dominance.

A Highly Recommended Resource: Living with the Dominator

Anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of abusive dynamics—whether survivor, supporter, or professional—may find enormous clarity in Pat Craven’s influential book Living with the Dominator. It offers a simple but powerful framework explaining the behaviours, personas, and tactics commonly used by abusers. Many people describe it as a turning point: the moment when confusing, painful experiences suddenly make sense.

Grab a copy HERE.

Taking Action: Beyond Awareness

During these 16 days, we are reminded that ending domestic violence requires a collective effort. This includes:

• believing survivors without judgement

• promoting healthy relationship education

• challenging attitudes that minimise or normalise abuse

• supporting local charities, refuges, and advocacy groups

• encouraging open conversations in workplaces, schools, and communities

The 16 Days of Action are not only about awareness—they are about empowerment and transformation. By understanding the psychological dimensions of abuse and supporting survivors with compassion, clarity, and informed insight, we can help create a society where everyone is safe, valued, and free from violence.