The Quiet Power of Naming Psychological Abuse

Breaking the Cycle: Leadership, Care, and Change

In this episode, Jaél sits down with Liz Roberts, CEO of Safe Horizon - the largest victim services organization in the United States—to explore the realities of domestic violence, psychological abuse, and the long road to healing. Liz shares her personal journey into this work, beginning as a teenage hotline volunteer and shaped by her own experiences witnessing violence as a child. Together, they unpack how intimate partner violence extends far beyond what happens behind closed doors—rippling into families, communities, and society at large. The conversation examines: * Why emotional and psychological abuse can be as damaging—or more damaging—than physical violence * How coercive control, gaslighting, and isolation erode a survivor’s sense of reality over time * The long-term psychological, financial, and developmental impacts on survivors and their children * Why abuse is learned behavior—and what accountability, prevention, and early intervention can look like * How Safe Horizon supports survivors at every stage, from crisis response to long-term healing Liz also discusses innovative intervention programs, the importance of trauma-informed care, and why healing is always possible - no matter how long it has been or how deep the harm runs. This episode is both an intimate conversation and a call to look more closely at how we understand abuse, responsibility, and recovery - and how survivors can move from pain toward purpose, on their own terms.

The Quiet Power of Naming Psychological Abuse

With Maureen Curtis, Vice President of Criminal Justice & Court Programs at Safe Horizon - America’s largest domestic violence agency In this episode, Jaél sits down with Maureen Curtis - who helped train the NYPD on responding to domestic violence calls - to unravel the subtle dynamics of psychological and covert abuse, including gaslighting, manipulation, and coercive control. Together, they explore why naming these patterns is a powerful first step in helping survivors regain clarity, agency, and a sense of truth. Jaél also reflects on her own experience of being wrongfully arrested when she called for help, shedding light on how gaps in training, awareness, and trauma-informed response can retraumatize victims. Through their conversation, they highlight the urgent need for survivor-centered approaches and systemic change. This episode offers clear insight into the often unseen dynamics of psychological abuse, and the quiet strength that comes from naming them.