Teen Dating Violence

Every parent worries about who their teenager dates. After all, who could be good enough for your little ray of sunshine? However, some cases warrant more concern than others.

Many people associate violence between romantic partners with adult married couples. But the truth is that teens experience dating violence, too. Teen dating violence or TDV is very dangerous and can lead to serious physical or emotional harm, or even death.

Violence in early romantic relationships can shape the way teens understand romantic relationships and how they engage in relationships later in life. If you’re afraid your child is experiencing TDV, then doing research like this is a good first step. Being able to identify the signs of this type of relationship can help you help your child before they face serious harm.

If your child has experienced TDV, it’s important that you know they are not alone. In fact, according to the National Institute of Justice, 10% of teens in the U.S. experience dating violence. And TDV is no stranger to the Buckeye State. At the end of 2009, then-Governor Ted Strickland signed Ohio House Bill 19 into law, which requires high schools to teach TDV prevention in their health classes. The bill is nicknamed the “Tina Croucher Act,” after Ohio teenager Tina Croucher, who was shot and killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend in 1992.

Whether your child has already experienced TDV or you’re afraid they may experience it, it is important that you don’t blame yourself. The fact that you’re on this page is a good first step.

Physical Violence

Physical violence is one of the more visible and easily noticeable forms of teen dating violence.

Physical violence may include:

• Hitting
• Kicking
• Biting
• Scratching
• Shoving
• Hair pulling

Physical violence, or the threat of physical violence, may take other forms as well. Physical violence is often used as a tool for one partner to maintain power over the other. This may be to stop one partner from ending the relationship or to get them to do other things within the relationship, like not doing things that the abusive partner doesn’t like.

However, TDV is never the victim’s fault. Using physical violence to manipulate a romantic partner is always wrong.

Your child may show signs of experiencing physical violence, like bruising, bite marks, or scratches. They may also express fear of physical contact or be afraid of sudden sounds or movements. Your child may also do things to try to hide signs of abuse, like cover up marks with makeup or baggy clothes.

If you are afraid your child is being physically abused by a romantic partner, talk to them about what they are going through. Make sure to express your concern for their wellbeing, and let them know you will help keep them safe. It is also important to talk to your child about what physical abuse looks like and the fact that it is never OK for their romantic partner to hurt them.

Psychological Aggression

Psychological aggression does not leave physical marks on a person, but it can be extremely harmful. People who experience psychological aggression at the hands of a romantic partner often struggle to tell people about the abuse. They may come to believe they deserve the abuse they have experienced, or that what their partner says is true. However, no one deserves to be abused.

Psychological aggression includes:

• Bullying
• Talking down to your partner
• Intentionally embarrassing your partner
• Controlling where your partner goes and who they talk to
• Name-calling
• Shaming your partner

This kind of abuse can be difficult to identify. However, if you see your child’s partner acting cruelly, or you notice that your child’s mental health is declining, you should talk to your child privately about the issue. Make sure your child knows how much you care about them and that they never deserve to be treated badly by a romantic partner.

Treatment at SUN Behavioral Columbus

If your child has experienced teen dating violence, they may benefit from seeing a teen therapist who can help them work through the trauma they have experienced.

TDV can have different effects on different people, but TDV often contributes to new or worsening mental illnesses. These can include depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, emotional disorders, and eating disorders.

At SUN Behavioral Columbus, we focus on treating our patients using evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective in treating mood disorders. We use a combination of psychopharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Psychopharmacology refers to the use of medication to help manage symptoms of a mental or behavioral disorder. The use of medication does not mean an instant recovery will happen. Medication is a tool used to allow an individual to better focus and engage with our therapists during CBT.

CBT is a therapy that focuses on helping our patients uncover the deeper psychological issues that can affect their mental health. CBT works by helping patients identify unhelpful thought patterns and ideas, and empowers them to change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in reaction to a situation.

Regardless of what form of TDV your child has experienced, we are dedicated to helping them recover. We believe in the importance of helping our patients identify their needs and obstacles as a part of therapy.