Safe and Sound by Valerie Flanigan
JULIE’S NOTE:
When I meet someone who says they are writing a book, I love to learn more. I can discern quickly if they truly mean business, if they are hoping I do it for them, or if it’s a dream most likely to stay there.
I’ve known Valerie for a few years, and she has greatly encouraged me and my writing. When she said she was writing a book, I knew she had it in her. She carries a lot of experience from her career and a lot of wisdom. Of all the women I’ve connected with and kept an eye on, she’s the first to be able to say she’s published.
I’m excited for her, and I’m excited for the reader. Sadly, the statistics show we most likely know someone going through domestic violence, DV. It might even be you who is reading this. Please know you are a treasure, you have purpose, and Valerie’s words can give you the courage to break free.
Abusive partners use deliberate tactics to instill fear, confusion, dependence. They may lie threatened, belittle, isolate, or sabotage in ways that are subtle. And when confronted they typically shift blame, deny wrongdoing, or escalate their behavior.”
“Physical abuse can be so infrequently and inconsistently peppered throughout the relationship that she might not even consider herself abused or afraid of her abuser.”
Instead of wondering why she stays we should be asking why does he do this?
The process she must go through to fully break free starts with recognizing there is a problem and that she is not the cause of it nor in control of it.
Grooming is the bait, isolation is the hook and dependence is the anchor that traps a victim in the abuser’s snare.
Dependency makes him appear to be the anchor in the storm until she realizes he is the weight that is drowning her.
Valerie Flanigan has devoted her career to advocating for safety, healing, and justice for survivors of domestic violence. Her work spans crisis response, program development, court advocacy, and community education. She has trained churches, counseling agencies, and law enforcement and developed innovative support programs for incarcerated women and vulnerable families.
A certified Christian life coach, Valerie brings a unique blend of professional expertise, spiritual sensitivity, and lived compassion to her work. She is the creator of Redeeming Your Resiliency, a support group curriculum for women of faith healing from childhood adversity, and the founder of LIFT Life Coaching, where she continues to help women reclaim peace, power, and purpose.
Her book, Safe and Sound, is the culmination of years spent listening deeply to the voices of survivors. With clarity and empathy, she offers practical tools, emotional insight, and a safe space for anyone seeking to understand, escape, or heal from abuse.
Learn more about Safe and Sound here.
