When Caring Becomes Control
Recognizing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence
Dating and romantic relationships can be a healthy, exciting part of adolescent development, but they can also become spaces where power, control, and harm take root. This workshop provides youth-serving professionals with a comprehensive understanding of intimate partner violence as it shows up in teen relationships, often in ways that look different from adult dynamics. Through current research and real-world examples, you'll explore how physical, sexual, emotional, and digital abuse manifest in adolescent relationships, and how dating violence uniquely impacts LGBTQ+ youth who face additional barriers to disclosure and support. But understanding the problem is just the beginning: you'll also gain practical tools and conversation approaches for supporting young people who've experienced dating violence, including how to talk about healthy relationships, consent, and the critical differences between love and jealousy. Whether you're responding to disclosures, noticing warning signs, or proactively educating youth, you'll walk away with the knowledge and confidence to make a meaningful difference in young people's relationship experiences.
Learning Objectives
As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Describe current research on intimate partner violence among adolescents and young adults, including prevalence and risk factors
Identify how physical, sexual, emotional, and digital abuse manifest in teen relationships, including warning signs and patterns of control
Explain how dating violence uniquely impacts LGBTQ+ youth and the additional barriers they face to seeking support
Apply at least three concrete tools and approaches for supporting young people who have experienced dating violence
Use conversation strategies to discuss healthy relationships, consent, and the distinctions between love and jealousy with adolescents
