EP16: Kenzie St George Social Worker, Overcoming Domestic Violence

How Domestic Violence Affects Children: Resilience, Cycles of Violence, and EmpowermentOn the Irene Podcast, licensed clinical social worker and certified Utah DV provider Kenzie Bradshaw Betancur discusses domestic violence as an ongoing “atmosphere” that affects families and children, drawing on her experience at a Children’s Justice Center and her current work with both survivors and people who have used violence in court-involved treatment. She shares statistics from the Office of Women’s Health (one in six children witness physical assault of a parent or important adult; boys who see their mother abused are 10 times more likely to abuse female partners) and references the ACE study linking higher scores to smoking, alcoholism, and drug use, while noting resilience improves when a child has at least one supportive adult. The conversation emphasizes education as empowerment, accountability without excusing harm, barriers to leaving (safety, finances, childcare, isolation), and using the Irene app to recognize abuse and reframe communication. The host shares her own abuse, divorce, forgiveness/acceptance, spirituality, and the role of support systems and self-worth in healing.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:27 Kenzie Background and CJC Work01:59 Adoption Story and Inspiration03:08 From Advocacy to Therapy Roles04:44 Working With Those Using Violence07:41 Empowerment and Tools Like Irene11:28 DV as an Atmosphere and Training12:56 Key Stats and ACE Resilience17:10 Why Leaving Is So Dangerous20:50 Men and Stigma in DV24:32 Irene for Awareness and Change27:46 Tactics vs Dynamics and Root Causes29:37 Victim Roles and Patterns30:07 Love Bombing and Breadcrumbs30:49 Breaking Point and Clean Exit33:15 Forgiveness as Freedom36:32 Acceptance and Taking Power39:45 Building Resilience with Support42:41 Resources and Self Empowerment48:46 Silencing Doubt with Truths53:49 Reclaiming Worth and Faith59:07 Healthy Conflict vs Abuse01:00:41 Next Life Chapter and ClosingKenzie Bradshaw BetancurCheck out Irene Cares on other platforms:- Irenegpt.ai- Instagram- TikTok- Youtube