Social worker reaches out to overseas abuse victims

TRAVERSE CITY — Domestic abuse knows no borders.

Traverse City therapist Ruth Spalding has partnered with American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center to provide remote counseling to abused Americans and their children in foreign countries.

The Oregon-based organization offers free counseling by telephone or Internet. Spalding signed on to handle up to 10 clients through the service.

"I'm a talk therapist," Spalding said.

She helps clients talk through their emotions. By developing a client/therapist relationship based on trust, she strives to help people come to grips with their feelings. The technique is suited to long-distance communication.

But the remote work is just a part of Spalding's practice, most of which is local. She moved to the area two months ago and established an office at 1010 S. Garfield Ave, Suite 203.

The single room is sparsely furnished with a sofa for the client, a chair for Spalding and a tiny folding desk in the corner. The lack of any physical barrier between Spaulding and her clients is intentional. It allows here to observe their body language, to see if they're a "stealth toe tapper," for example. Such minor clues can lead to major breakthroughs in therapy.

Spalding is an Ann Arbor native. She earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan. She worked as a therapist for five years for state and county governments.

She made the leap to private practice after she became frustrated with constraints placed on therapy by governmental bureaucracy.

"I wanted to help folks on my own terms," she said. "I help people recover from trauma."

That trauma can be recent, such as from a car accident, or distant, such as from abuse during childhood.

"There is no limit on suffering," said Spalding.

She hopes to help clients both in Traverse City and overseas. Others who want to help abuse victims can also help, she said.

"Folks can really educate themselves about domestic abuse," said Spalding.

Then they can use that knowledge to help educate friends and the community about the effects of abuse.

Spalding does business as Live Well Counseling LLC, www.livewellcounselingnwmi.org. More information about AODVC is available at www.866uswomen.org.

http://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/social-worker-reaches-out-to-overseas-abuse-victims/article_9d19d1df-741b-5d73-bd31-36ccada735d8.html