Showing results by author "Kaytlyn Gillis" in All Categories

Most of us are only starting to become aware of how our foundational years contribute to who we are today. Our childhood environment shapes the foundation for our sense of self, how we feel about the world, and how we relate to others. If we experienced trauma or dysfunction along the way, it likely disrupted the pathways to these fundamental structures. Understanding our trauma is not about blame, but about understanding, learning, and growing. In most cases, our caregivers did the best they could with the tools they had, often while dealing with external or internal stressors as well.

The family court system is meant to protect domestic violence victims, yet too often, it becomes an endless labyrinth that traps them inside. Abusers weaponize our judicial system to instill their revenge, from long, drawn-out divorces and custody battles to forcing their victims to spend thousands of dollars and endless time in court. In her new book, Kaytee Gillis tells the story of those victims trying to defend themselves against the revenge of post-separation abuse while navigating that legal labyrinth. When our judicial system fails to protect victims from this abuse, they give ...

Kaytlyn Gillis’s debut, Invisible Bruises, is gripping account of the ways in which the legal system actually perpetuates the cycle of domestic violence. Gillis describes in a chilling, raw manner the way that victims continuously fall through the cracks in our criminal justice system while the courtroom becomes yet another tool that perpetrators use to further the abuse. Gillis navigates the courtroom battle with readers while giving tips for minimizing the risk of re-traumatization. Using elements from real-life events and drawing conclusions from her work as a Psychotherapist and ...