Meet A Volunteer: Amalie ? National Domestic Violence Hotline

Here at The Hotline, much of the work we do is made possible by the dedication and effort of our volunteers. We met up with Hotline volunteer Amalie, one of our many advocates on the receiving end of the calls, to talk with her about her experience working here.

How did you become interested in advocating for victims and survivors of domestic violence?

I?ve volunteered for the past 5-6 years. I worked for a citizen review board that monitored children that had been in foster care or in homes with domestic violence ? so I had seen a lot of domestic violence before in families. I knew that this was an area I wanted to pursue further.

How did you feel when you answered your first call?

I was really nervous ? nervous that I wasn?t going to be able to provide the right tone, and that I was going to seem like I was nervous talking to them. I was worried that I wasn?t going to have the knowledge to give them all of the resources that they needed.

My first call turned out fine. Once you just start talking to a caller, you realize that you can find common ground, and that you?re not in completely different places. It wasn?t as overwhelming as I thought it would be.

What aspects of your job satisfy you the most?

So many! After every phone call, I know that even if the caller doesn?t use the resources I?ve given them, at least they?ve made the phone call, which is a positive first step. Hopefully after the call they know that there?s hope for change.

I like taking the time to speak with the callers ? for callers to receive any kind of validation can be huge. I am not there to fix the callers problems or tell them what?s the right path. I can only try my hardest to provide the callers with safe resources and avenues to do this, so they can gain back the quality of life and respect they deserve. If I can help the caller with this in any small way, I have been rewarded in an invaluable way.

You receive calls from family and friends who might be concerned about a loved one. What would you say to someone who?s frustrated and wondering, ?Why won?t they just leave??

It?s just not that easy. The person in the relationship can be scared. They can feel very confused. They can feel at fault. There was a reason initially that they got into that relationship or fell in love with that person.

I try to explain that they should consider giving their loved one support and space to process their feelings. The victim is already being controlled and overwhelmed by their abuser. Telling them what they should do or trying to do it for them only pushes the victim deeper into their isolation. By giving them non-judgmental support and an environment that feels safe they can be empowered to make the necessary changes through their own actions and self-discovery.

Do you receive any calls from abusers?

Yes. Regardless if the caller is an abuser, I still keep an unbiased tone. The fact that they?re calling is a positive step. Most callers that identify as abusers are seeking help. Whether that?s court appointed or they?ve seen behaviors in themselves that they want to change, I try to be supportive of that and try to find them resources in their area.

What are some common myths about domestic violence that you see regularly?

One myth is that it?s easy to leave and the women who stay are just weak. It?s so much more complicated then that. It?s a web. A victim needs to be slowly able to crawl out of it, and catch their footing. There are just so many different dynamics.

The one that really gets to me is this: the victim must have done something to initially start the abuse. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! No one should EVER justify any form of abuse in relationships. It is never okay and never the victims fault. The abuser is making a distinct choice to react to their emotions in a certain way. They could have just as easily taken a long run or left the relationship.

What message do you have for someone who is recently out of an abusive relationship?

I get phone calls from people who have been out of their abusive relationship for 15 years and they?re just calling now to seek counseling. The fact that they?re reaching out now for support is huge.

There?s a lot of trauma after leaving an abusive relationship. Whether you?re a family or friend of someone who has gone through an abusive relationship, or the survivor yourself, there are support groups out there. You do not have to endure the journey alone. It?ll take time ? it?s a process.

The healing process is unpredicatable, so don?t be disheartened if some days are harder than others. Be okay with the fact that it?s not going to be easy. And allow yourself that space to acknowledge and be be aware of what you need. And it?ll be hard. If you feel sad, and feel defeated on some levels ? be okay with that, and you can move on from there. By leaving your abuser you have won the biggest battle. ? One foot in front of the other.

Final thoughts about your experience at The Hotline?

Volunteering here has been a really beautiful thing for me. Every time I come in here, I?m learning something myself based on how I react to different calls and the feelings I?m left with after the phone calls. These callers re-ground me constantly and I am constantly blown away the incredible strength within these women and men. I am grateful for what they?ve taught me.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 1st, 2013 am30 9:00 am
Categories: Hotline News, share your voice

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Source: http://www.thehotline.org/2013/04/meet-a-volunteer-amalie/

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