Get support for yourself, if it's safe to do so, through your local program for battered women. He may pressure you to stay with him while he's in counseling, as this is a tactic of abuse and control designed to keep you from making up your own mind. If he's serious about changing, he'll respect your wishes about the relationship. Shelter Services for Battered Women Shelters offer a range of vital services and benefits to help battered women sort out their options and begin to take control of their lives. See the Community Resources section in this book for local shelters.
Safety is the starting point, the first and necessary condition for victims' healing and recovery.
To ensure the safety of the women and children in residence, most shelters do not give their addresses either to the general public or to service providers. In place of the isolation which battered women commonly experience, shelters offer understanding and support. In a shelter, a battered woman will receive empathy and support. The underlying goal of shelter programs and services is to empower a battered woman so she can gain control of her own life instead of being controlled by her partner. Practical Services Shelters offer battered women a wide range of services they may need to make positive changes in their lives.