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A journey of healed hearts bonded through peace and joy
The face of Meera* showed clear signs of exhaustion, but deep down there were seven years of bruises, blood spots and a black eye – she was a victim of domestic violence and found no way to escape her husband for seven years.
Within a few months into the marriage when her husband first hit her, she did not know what to think. Her thoughts were: Was this real? Did he hit me? She was in great shock.
Coming from a middle-class background combined with the normalisation of domestic violence in her community, Meera kept quiet and endured physical, emotional and verbal abuse at the hands of her husband and in-laws for seven long years every single day. The abuse continued even when she was pregnant.
She felt broken. She was scared. She was ashamed. She suffered immeasurably.
One day in 2019, something terrible happened to Meera. She did not want to disclose the details, but it was beyond her imagination. She fled for safety, reached her natal family, and sought shelter at our Lotus Safe Home.
At our Lotus Safe Home, Meera received emotional support, guidance, and tools to rebuild her confidence. Counsellors taught her techniques to manage her anxiety, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, and structured routines. She also began tutoring students in Maths, which helped her regain financial independence and a sense of purpose.
With support from the Safe Home team, Meera filed an F.I.R against her husband. However, her husband turned the tables against her and made false allegations against her during police counselling. In addition to the legal action, Meera also underwent continuous psychiatric treatment to manage her mental health. Her treatment focused on stabilising her emotions, building resilience, overcoming her obsessive compulsiveness and improving her ability to cope with challenging situations.
As Meera was gaining strength, we invited her husband to join the counselling session. Our counselling sessions aim to address family conflicts, offering emotional support, empowering women to take control of their lives – and work with men who perpetrate domestic violence. We take a closer look at the behavioural patterns of the perpetrators and tailor counselling approaches to the specific needs of the individuals.
At My Choices Foundation, we believe that counselling perpetrators of domestic violence is an essential task and over the years, it has demonstrated effectiveness in promoting accountability and facilitating positive transformation in individuals, families and communities.
That was what happened in Meera’s life. Through multiple counselling sessions, we guided Meera and her husband, Ravi* to look at their lives from a fresh perspective, and helped them to address their issues, focusing on building mutual understanding and prioritising their child’s well-being. They began to communicate clearly and allowed each other the opportunity to speak, without harsh words and any conflict. Respect and equality became their cornerstone.
Meera’s husband understood his wife and children had endured a great deal because of his behaviour. As her husband showed a willingness to change and work on their relationship, Meera, supported by her family, our counsellors, and legal advisors, agreed to give their marriage another chance.
After resolving key issues, Meera returned to her inlaws’ home to begin a new chapter of peace and joy. The couple continued their counselling sessions still and adhered to the session discussions. Today, Meera and her husband are living together with their child, working toward a healthier and more stable family life. Despite the challenges, Meera’s determination, combined with the support of various interventions, has enabled her to rebuild her life and create a safe and happy environment for herself and her child.
*Photo has been used for representational purpose only.
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