9 Things You Can Do to Promote Healthy Relationships in 2016
January 06, 2016
2016 is here, and while last year’s news has brought issues like sexual assault and dating violence into the spotlight, now is the time for action. Anyone can become an advocate to end dating violence, including you! Here are nine things you can do this year to promote healthy relationships:
1…. Read More
December 16, 2015
When people start dating, new emotions are very intense. No one goes into a relationship thinking about when the tide will turn and you have to start thinking about breaking up. But at some point your feelings may fade and be replaced with a feeling that you should break up. So how can you… Read More
December 02, 2015
At Break the Cycle, we strive everyday to help educate, promote, and spread awareness of healthy relationships behaviors for young people. And we know you believe this is a worthy cause, too. That’s why we’re asking you to consider donating to Break the Cycle.
Your funds help our organization do… Read More
November 24, 2015
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we wanted to take a moment and give thanks to what we’re grateful for in our partners and healthy relationships. See what the Break the Cycle staff had to say!
Charlotte Keenan, Staff Attorney:
I am thankful for trust and open communication… Read More
November 11, 2015
Everyone jokes around and teases their family and friends, as well as in dating relationships. However, there’s a line between being playful and insensitive or mean. What happens when “teasing” goes too far?
One of the biggest red flags of an unhealthy or abusive relationship is name calling. By… Read More
November 03, 2015
This past October, we were busy participating in National Domestic Violence Awareness Month events across the country, raising awareness and educating youth, parents and community members! Check out some of the amazing conferences, talks, and more we got to be a part of in this roundup of events to… Read More
September 30, 2015
As teenagers transition from preadolescence into adulthood, studies show there is “a substantial increase in the experience of negative emotions”. However, they may not have learned yet how to deal with these negative emotions in a constructive manner. One study suggests that teens who engage in an… Read More
September 21, 2015
This week’s guest blog was written by National Youth Advisory Board member Tatsumi Romano. Tatsumi is seventeen years old and travels between New York City and Los Angeles as an actress. She has been on the board for one year and is a high school student. She uses the arts platform to engage… Read More
September 09, 2015
Ah, the “honeymoon period” — that spark of magic where everything in a dating partner seems perfect. It’s exciting, it’s exhilarating, it’s romantic! And then, the magic starts to fade. The wave of new discoveries slows down and we find ourselves in a relationship that doesn’t feel shiny and new… Read More
September 02, 2015
With school starting back up, so does the opportunity for new or continuing romances. While relationships or casual hookups can be exciting at first, it’s extremely important to know the warning signs of dating violence. Recognizing these signs can help prevent a dating partner from becoming hurt… Read More
August 26, 2015
With over 120 colleges and universities now under investigation for their handling of sexual assault cases on campus, it’s inordinately evident that the system needs to change. Fortunately, there are resources, experts and legislation available to help support survivors and advocates…. Read More
August 20, 2015
As your teenager heads off to school, they’re walking into a maze of adolescent experiences waiting to happen, including dating and sex. If you talk to your teen about sex and sexuality, they might react indignantly or recoil in horror (“Mom! Dad! Gross!”). Young people are often hesitant to open… Read More
August 06, 2015
The idea of sexual consent continues to dominate the news. California and New York have recently signed or are in the middle of discussions on “yes means yes” bills, which would require both partners to give “affirmative consent” before performing sexual acts with each other. Over for the… Read More
July 20, 2015
It’s exciting to be with a new dating partner. However, even if things are casual, it’s important to set boundaries. Sometimes boundaries also shift and change as a relationship progresses, which is okay as long as you both agree to discuss the shift honestly and you both feel good about the… Read More
July 15, 2015
Everybody gets angry from time to time. Traffic is a nightmare, your favorite sport team loses their championship game, your new shirt was ruined in the laundry — the list of common grievances like delayed flights and having a waiter bring the wrong dinner goes on and on. Yet when someone acts… Read More
June 29, 2015
Part of being in a healthy relationship is communicating effectively, including when someone feels angry or disappointed. Disagreements and fights are bound to happen in any relationship, which is why it’s crucial to know how to fight fairly with a dating partner.
What is unfair fighting? It’s… Read More
June 19, 2015
A recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that within a year, 21 percent of high school girls and 10 percent of high school boys were physically or sexually assaulted by someone they dated. We often hear about the harmful impacts of physical or sexual abuse in… Read More
June 10, 2015
People view dating abuse victims as being overwhelmingly female. However, one in three teens experience some form of dating abuse, including male victims. And 35 percent of girls reported being the perpetrator at some point in their lives, while 37 percent of boys reported victimization…. Read More
June 03, 2015
June is Pride Month, and we celebrate all healthy and happy relationships, including relationships with gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans* people. Being a young person in a same-sex relationship should be as healthy and loving as a heterosexual relationship. However, LGBTQ relationships experience… Read More
May 29, 2015
We had a chance to interview Dr. Lisa Fontes, author of Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship, about what it means to be in a relationship where a partner uses coercive control as a form of dating abuse.
1. Tell us briefly about your book, Invisible… Read More