What can a battered woman do?
Above all, a woman has to determine her own best course of action. Positive measures such ;as confiding in a relative, talking seriously with a friend, or consulting with a counselor are steps in the right direction. With the support of informal and formal help sources, including individual counseling for the husband as well as herself, a woman may be able to bring an end to the problem. Please note, however, that the problem and the responsibility for the problem rest with him. Couples counseling where there is violence involved is not an appropriate option; until the violence has ended, both parties cannot be viewed as equal participants in the process.
It has been observed that abused women need to develop better feelings about themselves - that is, change their self-image. in the book, Stopping Wife Abuse, by Jennifer Baker Fleming, the following attitudes are suggested as positive and useful:
If you are battered: