When Rose first arrived at WTLC’s shelter, she was very guarded. She shared very little with her Advocates about her life—just that she was being forced to work as an escort and was ready to leave this exploitative situation behind. She had been referred to...
Dear Friends of WTLC, I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday. I probably gained 5 pounds over the weekend, but I have a feeling that most of you probably did as well – so that makes me feel a bit better about myself. ;) As...
Edith’s smile stretched from cheek to cheek as she opened the door to her apartment, welcoming us into her new home. She wasted no time giving us a tour of her new living space, proud of the home she had built for her family. Three years...
Regardless of where you fall on our political spectrum or what you support, we can all agree that the confirmation process of Justice Brett Kavanaugh received wide-spread attention. This may be due to the fact that this year is a year of cultural awakening in the...
What does domestic violence look like? This is not a question we usually ask ourselves when beginning a new relationship. Most abusive relationships do not start out as severe physical violence, as domestic violence is commonly associated with. In fact, abusive partners are often charming...
Laughter radiated the halls as Angelique and her roommate walked to their first Personal Empowerment Program (PEP) class together. Evelyn sat comfortably, wearing a vibrant pink dress that matched her personality. Her bubbly manner and frequent jokes temporarily masked the recent trauma that she had...
Dear Friends of WTLC, Last week, Shannan Watts, who was 15 weeks pregnant and her two daughters, Bella (age 4), and Celeste (age 3), were reported missing. The following day, Shannan’s husband Chris Watts gave an emotional interview in front of their home in which he...
It’s Friday at 9:50 AM and Camille drops her children off in the children’s room on her way to WTLC’s Relapse Prevention Group meeting for the 3rd time this month. This meeting marks the half-way point of her 6-week journey of recovery and continued stabilization....
Some of the most significant challenges faced by survivors in filing a restraining order is the re-traumatization, anxiety, and worry the court process has on them. For example, survivors are often fearful of facing their abuser in court or having to recount their trauma in...
Dear Friends of WTLC, I hope everyone survived the extreme heatwave that swept through Southern California in recent weeks! Living in Orange County for the past 25 years, I don’t remember ever feeling that close to the sun, but it did remind me of the summer...
