Date

12-19-2023

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Christopher Garner

Keywords

Intimate partner violence, Spirituality, Healing, Trauma, COVID-19

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand how intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors, from the Atlanta area, use spirituality to heal from the abuse. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s (1954) Hierarchy of Needs as it shows how spirituality helped these women meet the needs on the hierarchy after having many of the needs ripped from them by the perpetrator(s). Intimate partner violence is a fundamental problem in the United States, especially during these times of COVID-19 and the stay-at home orders. Intimate partner violence takes a toll on the family unit, the community, and the nation, which is why it is so important to do this study. The literature review shows that intimate partner violence has a serious impact on the victim’s physical health and mental health. I seek to understand this by conducting interviews with survivors. This study aims to pull out themes from the interviews in hopes to have insight into what helps in the healing process for these survivors. These women were selected from a transitional housing program in Canton, Ga. The interviews were conducted either over the phone or in the homes of the survivors. Upon the collection of the interviews, I poured through them looking for themes. This information gives a better understanding at how women heal from intimate partner violence using their own spiritual beliefs and practices. Further research, using a larger sample and looking at other religions and even non-religious spiritual practices, is needed.

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