La Casa, Inc. is here to help survivors.

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La Casa, Inc. was highlighted in an amazing article by Mike Cook of The Las Cruces Bulletin, “Domestic violence: Mary’s story of survival and triumph.”

We want to share with you this article that gives a glimpse of how La Casa, Inc. works and helps survivors.

 

 

“I’m a survivor,” said a Las Cruces woman about her 17-year struggle with domestic violence.

Mary (not her real name) was 18 years old when she met Frank (not his real name), the man with whom she would begin a long-term relationship and have a child.

“When I met him, he was super mysterious,” Mary said. “I never really put up red flags with him because he was so charming.”

The two began dating and were “doing really good,” she said. Then, one morning, “I was nagging him,” Mary said, because she was late to work. She was driving him to his house before she went to work. He told her to “be quiet or I’m going to get you quiet.” Mary said she kept nagging him, and “all of a sudden I just saw knuckles coming toward my face. It happened so fast.” She was bleeding as she continued to drive the car, and was also crying by this time, Mary said. Frank told her “to get quiet” or his response “would get much worse.”

“That was my introduction to the world,” Mary said.

When she began visiting La Casa more than two years ago, “I was really broken down,” Mary said. “I’ve learned super wonderful things there.” La Casa, she said, has offered her “super wonderful support,” and a safe haven. “They never looked at me like a victim,” Mary said, seeing her instead as “a person who shared my story. I felt dignity going there instead of being judged.” La Casa’s question to Mary, she said, was “’How can we help you?’”

“I got to hear other stories,” she said. “Other couples are going through this.”

That helped Mary to find the voice to speak up for herself, she said, and the courage to set personal boundaries.

Mary has also learned from La Casa that she is okay without Frank.

“My role there is to provide education, advocacy and support,” said La Casa Lead Nonresidential Case Manager Stacy Carbajal. “Domestic violence is a viscous cycle,” she said. “We understand that.”

Mary said La Casa has never pressured her to end her relationship with Frank. Instead, she said, “they gave me tools on how to make my relationship healthier,” and also to help her deal with the shame she has experienced because of the abuse.

Carbajal remembers Mary was surprised when she was told she would not have to give up her relationship with Frank to continue treatment at La Casa. “It’s your choice,” Carbajal told Mary.

La Casa helped her with creating boundaries and learning to be more assertive to create healthier relationships, Carbajal said, so Mary could decide for herself about her future.

Mary said she would recommend La Casa to anyone dealing with domestic violence. “You don’t have to be silent,” Mary said.

 

Thank you Las Cruces Bulletin for sharing Mary’s story. We are so glad to be able to help and to be a part of her survival story.

 

 

You can read the full article here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]