What is Teen Dating Violence?

Teen Dating Violence is the abuse that usually transforms itself into Domestic Violence.  First, it is important to define abuse. 

Abuse is a pattern of behavior where one person tries to control the thoughts, beliefs, or conduct of a lover, friend, or any other person close to them.  It can include a cycle of violence in the forms of physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, spiritual, and/or economic abuse. 

Abuse, also called battering, domestic violence, and/or dating violence happens in straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, questioning, and transgendered relationships.  It crosses all social, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic lines.  An individual’s size, strength, politics, and/or personality DOES NOT determine whether he or she could be an abuser or a victim.

In the realm of teen dating violence, Susie promotes the concept that healthy teen dating relationships will translate into strong and healthy adult relationships. Susie strives to educate both teens and adults about the seriousness of teen dating violence.  She specializes in speaking about Teen Dating Violence and Healthy & Safe Dating.  She conducts workshops, keynotes, trainings, and seminars on issues specifically related to teens and their relationships.  Related topics to Teen Dating Violence include setting boundaries, safe dates, the Dating Bill of Rights, Cycle of Violence, early warning signs of teen dating violence, teen empowerment, and the differences between healthy and potentially destructive dating relationships.  Because most domestic violence relationships that end in fatalities start in high school (Washington State Fatality Review Board), she feels it a vital necessity to reach out to teens and work toward prevention and safety.