Domestic violence affects every income level, race and religion. It might be shocking for many to realize that controlling abusive behavior is pervasive even behind the gates of those perfect palatial estates of the rich and famous. Behind the beautiful smiles, perfect bodies and designer clothes, there are still very unhappy and even dangerous relationships. Domestic abuse is often finally publicized when there is a physical altercation, but the term also includes partners who exert financial, social and mental control over the other individual in the intimate relationship.

Just this past Thanksgiving weekend, Halle Berry’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her child, Gabriel Aubry, was hospitalized and arrested after he got into a physical altercation with Halle’s new fiancé. Aubry was taken to the hospital with fractured ribs and a bruised face and was charged with misdemeanor battery. There is no doubt that he both Aubry and the fiancé could use at least a 26 hour domestic violence class to learn to stop the irrational behavior.

In 2010 how can we forget the images of Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of Mel Gibson’s now 3-year-old daughter, with her teeth missing and face battered. The public got a bird’s eye-view into Mel’s anger issues when audio recordings of the actor screaming profanities and insults at Oksana were released. In March 2011, Gibson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and avoided jail time by agreeing to 36 months of informal probation, community service work and a year of domestic violence counseling.

And finally, Chris Brown and Rihanna’s very public split really brought the issue of intimate partner domestic abuse to the forefront when the night before the Grammy Awards, Brown battered and bruised the singer. “He had no – no soul in his eyes. Just blank. So, at that point, I just didn’t know what could happen…” said Rihanna in an interview on 20/20. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to community service, 5 years of probation and a one-year domestic violence-counseling program.

Many high profile individuals who have mandated by the court system to take domestic violence classes have been choosing to do so online. Online classes are becoming increasingly popular because they allow individuals to learn the same education that they would in a public classroom, but in the privacy of

Domestic violence is a critical issue in every race, religion, culture, and class-level of our society. One in every four women in the U.S. is physically abused by her partner at some point in her life. However, men, children and the elderly also experience domestic abuse. The main issue regarding domestic violence is power and control. The perpetrator threatens his spouse, children, or parents with hitting, slapping or shoving. Or, he tries to exert control by isolating them from friends and family, making embarrassing and insulting remarks, or not allowing financial access. Abusers can often act loving and attentive while in public, but the violence takes places behind the scenes.

If you are in an intimate relationship and your partner has physically or emotionally threatened you, there’s a good chance he’s trying to control you and it will only get worse if you don’t do something about it. Over the last decade, the government has really tried to make a commitment to stopping abuse with increased awareness and legal action. However, it is up the abused to reach out for police assistance. Call 911 and tell them who you are and that you are in danger. Chances are that if you let it go and stay in the relationship, the abuse will return. If you feel you are in danger, you can request an emergency protective order, which is generally enforced for the first 5 days after the assault. If the situation is more severe, a judge can be convinced to issue a restraining order for up to 3 years.

The perpetrator on the other hand can expect to be taken into custody. An arraignment in front of a judge will follow in the next couple of days. Sentencing can include jail time, probation, fines, restitution to the victim and a mandatory treatment program. A domestic violence class is mandated so the abuser does not only face legal consequences but has the ability to learn how to change his abusive patterns to improve future relationships.

If you have been mandated by the court to take a domestic violence treatment class, ask your judge for approval to take the course online. Online classes are becoming very popular because they enable the client to take them at their own convenience so they don’t have to miss work or school. Be sure to choose a high quality course that is designed by a psychotherapist and specialist in the field for your court’s approval. Classes can be taken from any web-based computer at any time of the day or night. Participants learn where the abuse is stemming from, exactly what is considered abusive behavior and how to stop the cycle. The perpetrator is taught empathy and emotional sensitivity towards others, how to better manage his stress and how to effectively communicate with partners without trying to control them. The goal is that individuals enrolled in the class will learn how stop the behavior and create a happier, safer life for their family and themselves.

Online classes are also helpful because they can often be finished more quickly than a traditional in-person class that meets once a week over 12 weeks. The client can sit down and take a 12-hour domestic violence class over one weekend if they so choose. At the end of the course, a final exam is issued. With a 70% score or better, the client receives a certificate of completion that officially proves the course was successfully taken. Online domestic violence classes are an interesting, convenient and educational way to learn in the privacy of your own home.

Are you or someone you know involved in an abusive relationship? If you are asking yourself this question, consider the most important sign – fear. If you feel like you have to tread lightly around your partner to avoid a physical or mental assault, then chances are that the relationship is an unhealthy one. If you or your sister, friend, mother, are experiencing any of the following signs, than it’s time to get out.

1) Do you feel afraid of your partner?

2) Avoid certain topics in fear of angering your partner?

3) Feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?

4) Feel like you deserve the abuse?

Does your partner:

1) Humiliate or embarrass you?

2) Constantly criticize you?

3) Isolate you from others?

4) See you as a piece of property, rather than who you are?

5) Have an unpredictable temper?

6) Physically hurt or threaten to kill you?

7) Limit your ability to spend money?

8) Constantly monitor you via phone, computer or in person?

9) Act jealously or irrationally about your behavior around other men?

10) Take away your belongings as punishment?

Any and all of this add up to domestic abuse and should not be tolerated. Most women in the U.S. are too afraid to seek out help or leave their partners because of future retaliation. However, if you are experiencing this lifestyle or know someone who is, it’s imperative to get out before it’s too late. Remember that domestic abuse does not have to be purely physical, emotional abuse is just as destructive. Don’t wait for your friend to come to you, get to the point and ask if something is wrong. Tell them that you are concerned and would like to help.

The first step to overcoming this abuse is to admit there is a problem. The controlling behavior is deliberate on the part of the abuser and can be stopped. To break this cycle of violence and mental abuse, start with a private and convenient online domestic violence class. These types of courses are available for individuals ready to address the problem and turn over a new leaf, as well as those who have already been convicted for domestic violence.

Taking an online domestic violence class enables the client to learn new skills to combat this behavior, in a completely anonymous environment. There is no need to drive across town during rush hour to take an in-person class with a bunch of strangers. Simply register for the class length appropriate for your court mandate or own interest and it is available to you immediately. Clients can than proceed to take the class at their own leisure, 24/7. At the end of the course, the client receives a Certificate of Completion to prove to the court system that the requirement was successfully accomplished.

Domestic Abuse is a serious issue and no one should have to live in these circumstances filled with fear and anxiety. Take an online class today to learn how to create a safer and happier home environment and keep yourself from ending up with jail time or even worse, permanently injuring a loved one.

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, you are the perpetrator of domestic violence if you are abusing your intimate partner either physically, sexually, emotionally or all three. The domestic abuse can be tied to beatings, throwing items, shoving and slapping. Or, you may not be laying a hand on your spouse, but instead are constantly humiliating, insulting and embarrassing them. You might be falsely accusing them of infidelity or overspending. As a result you result to watching their every move, stalking them, or isolating them from loved ones. This may not happen all the time, but when it does, it’s severe and the victim is left in constant fear and stress.

Unfortunately, domestic abuse is very common in our society. About one in four women are likely to be abused in her lifetime. Many times, the perpetrator of the violence comes from a family in which domestic violence was commonplace. Battering is a learned behavior and if someone grows up in a family in which his father beats his mother to resolve anger issues, than it is highly likely that child will carry this behavior into his own adulthood and future relationships. Most people in the U.S. don’t report domestic violence because of embarrassment or fear of reprisal from their batterers. However, there is hope not only for the victims of this behavior, but for the offenders as well. This behavior can be addressed and the cycle of violence can be broken.

In fact, in 1979, psychologist Lenore Walker found a common pattern or cycle that most abusive relationships followed. According to her research, the cycle has 3 parts. First the tension builds over common everyday issues like money or work. Then the verbal abuse begins so the victim tries to stop the situation by pleasing the abuser. If this doesn’t work, physical abuse begins. In the end comes the honeymoon phase when the abuser is ashamed for what he’s done and might even apologize. The abuser promises that he will never do it again and everyone goes on with his or her daily life.

The cycle repeats itself over and over until the batterer gets help, or the victim leaves the situation. If you are reading this and recognize yourself, it’s time to take action and get help now. Online domestic violence classes are easily accessible from any web-based computer. They are low in cost and totally private. No one needs to know that you have reached out for support and guidance, unless you have already been convicted for a domestic violence offense.

If you have been convicted, with court approval you can take a domestic violence class online to fulfill a legal requirement. Taking a class online from www.dvclass.com provides you the utmost convenience, as you don’t need to miss any work or school to attend the class. Once you register, the class is available to you online at any time of the day or night. If you are looking to get this requirement over quickly, you can sit down and take the course over one weekend, or spread it out over a couple of weeks. It’s completely self-paced with nothing to download or print out.

Online domestic violence classes will provide you with the education you need to break the cycle of abuse and begin a new happier and healthier life for your entire family. Take one today before the law requires you to!

There is no question that domestic violence affects everyone in the home. Whether or not the children have been directly physically abused, watching a loved one being abused is a traumatic and frightening experience. Children who come from homes in which domestic violence occurs exhibit a number of behaviors that can stay with them throughout their life. Abusers should be aware that they are not only causing stress and anxiety for the child, but long-term issues such as:

• Insomnia
• Stomach aches, head aches and ulcers
• Nightmares
• Impaired concentration
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Low self-esteem
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Aggression and violence
• Depression

And, a topic that has recently come to the forefront again, is suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents in the U.S. New findings in the Archives of Pediatrics; Adolescent Medicine show that children who are bullied by their peers, or are mistreated at home, are more likely to think about killing themselves. Specifically, kids that are exposed to fighting and domestic violence at home are at the greatest risk of having suicidal thoughts when compared to children who were not exposed to such behavior.

Getting help for these kids and for domestic violence offenders is crucial to saving lives. One way that jurisdictions across the country are attempting to address this pressing issue is by mandating that offenders take batterers intervention programs to learn how to stop the cycle of violence. The importance of changing this behavior is serious and is critical for everyone involved in the relationship.

If you are ready to confront this behavior head-on for self-improvement purposes or because of a court mandate, then starting with an 8-hour online domestic violence class is for you. Participants learn to understand what about their behavior is abusive and how to stop it. In many families, the abuse is not physical, but is witnessed in stalking, or other controlling behaviors like not allowing a spouse to see certain family members, internet and mail monitoring, or controlling all finances. With this in mind, participants are taught empathy skills and stress management. They also learn how to effectively communicate their feelings and needs without resorting to abuse. And, a section is devoted to how this behavior is affecting the children and others in the family. Most importantly, the participant will learn how to stop the cycle of violence and create a safe family environment for everyone.

Be sure to check with your legal system to confirm that they will accept online classes to fulfill court requirements. If so, the client simply chooses the course length he needs to take and upon registration, the class is immediately available. The client can drop-in and out of the course as often as necessary to fit his busy schedule and take the classes at all hours of the day or night. The class is divided up into chapters with short multiple-choice quizzes at the end to ensure the participant understands the material. At the end of the class, a multiple-choice final exam is issued. The test can be retaken as many times as necessary until successfully passed with a 70% score or better. At this point, a Certificate of Completion is issued. This document is then presented to your legal system to prove that the requirement was fulfilled. Taking an online domestic violence class is not only educational and life changing but is the fastest and most convenient way to get this legal requirement behind you.