WomenSV
(Women of Silicon Valley)
is a nonprofit dedicated to
empowering survivors, providers and the community with education about covert abuse and coercive control.

Our vision:

a world in which every adult and child can exercise their fundamental human right to live in peace, safety and freedom in their own home.

CONNECT WITH US ON YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK & LINKEDIN

OUR SERVICES

Please note WomenSV is an educational center, not a crisis center!
WomenSV does not provide shelter services or legal assistance.
If you are urgently in need of immediate assistance, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or contact your local DV agency for support.

Ruth Darlene of WomenSV education for providers

We provide training for therapists, attorneys, physicians and other professionals to help them become more trauma-informed and aware of subtle forms of domestic abuse.

Provider trainings

WomenSV offers customized trainings for a variety of providers, including:

Law enforcement

WomenSV coercive control law enforcement training

Domestic Violence Advocates

WomenSV domestic violence advocate training clip

Therapists

WomenSV Ruth Patrick therapist training clip

Physicians

WomenSV coercive control and covert abuse physician training

Faith Leaders

WomenSV coercive control faith leader training

Click the button below to view examples of professional trainings or schedule a training session.

WomenSV Ruth Patrick domestic violence education for corporate partnerships

Through presentations for service clubs, schools and other social groups, we work to raise public awareness about coercive control and other forms of domestic abuse in and beyond the Bay Area.

Click the button below to view or schedule a presentation.

Public presentations

Ruth Darlene Patrick of WomenSV community outreach for domestic violence awareness

Media outreach

We offer education on covert abuse and coercive control for the public through media interviews.

WomenSV services for survivor advocacy

Survivor education

WomenSV empowers survivors through education and safety planning around covert abuse and coercive control. We help survivors identify subtle forms of abuse they may have experienced in addition to physical and sexual violence. We also help them recognize the impact this type of abuse may have on them and their children, and share information about available resources.

Click here to browse our searchable directory of resources online.

LATEST NEWS

Featured
This GivingTuesday, help break the cycle of abuse 💝
This GivingTuesday, help break the cycle of abuse 💝

Today is GivingTuesday! Help support domestic violence prevention and education by making a donation to WomenSV. Together we can make a difference in the lives of survivors of covert abuse and coercive control, ensuring they find the knowledge, resources, and support to break free. With your help, WomenSV can continue to provide critical education, resources, and training that empowers survivors and their communities to recognize and address these subtle yet harmful forms of abuse.

Impact of coercive control and domestic abuse on mothers and children
Impact of coercive control and domestic abuse on mothers and children

Mothers and their children are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence, including more subtle forms of abuse such as coercive control. In this video Ruth Darlene, Founder and Executive Director of WomenSV, discusses the dangers and early warning signs of controlling relationships.

WomenSV Founder Ruth Patrick Darlene's Technology Abuse Resource Guide
WomenSV Founder Ruth Patrick Darlene's Technology Abuse Resource Guide

WomenSV founder Ruth Patrick Darlene shares resources to help survivors of technology abuse, a tactic used by tech-savvy abusers to monitor, stalk, control, and harass their partners.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!

VIDEOS

K-LOVE Interview with Ruth Darlene of WomenSV about Covert Abuse and Coercive Control
From Trauma to Triumph: Executive Summary Workshop Presentation at the Domestic Violence Conference
Ruth Darlene & WomenSV: UNMASKING Dr Jekyll, THE COVERT NARCISSISTIC PSYCHOPATHIC ABUSER
Teen Dating Violence: Covert Abuse and Coercive Control

Online harassment is never ok.
Learn about WomenSV's experience with harassment and get the facts here.

TESTIMONIALS

We invite you to partner with us to break the cycle of violence. Click here to donate or send a check made out to WomenSV to:

WomenSV, P.O. Box 3982, Los Altos, CA 94024

Help WomenSV continue its vital services for survivors of powerful, sophisticated abusers!

For more information about our programs and services, contact us. All our services are always free.

We never charge for our services so we count on your donations to help us. Click here to donate to WomenSV today.

Many thanks to our volunteer artist Dave Hendrickson for representing WomenSV’s mission so beautifully in the painting below.