When survival is on trial
How expert witnesses help courts understand the psychology of abuse and self-defense
In criminal courtrooms across the country, survivors of domestic violence often find themselves in the defendant’s chair and charged with crimes that stem directly from the abuse they’ve endured. These are cases where survival itself becomes criminalized, and where the lens through which we view a defendant’s actions determines whether justice or misunderstanding prevails.
This is where Domestic Violence Expert Witnesses play a crucial role. Experts help the court understand the psychological, social, and behavioral impact of prolonged abuse—explaining why survivors might stay, recant, minimize, or act in ways that seem counterintuitive to outsiders.
When Self-Defense is Misunderstood
For many women, acts that appear “unreasonable” or “excessive” in isolation make complete sense when viewed within the broader context of ongoing trauma and coercive control. A survivor who fights back, flees with her children, fails to take certain action, or violates an order of protection to secure safety is often doing what she has learned is necessary to survive. Without that context, her actions can seem impulsive, vindictive, neglectful, or even violent.
The Power of Context
An expert witness doesn’t excuse behavior; they explain it. Their testimony educates judges and juries about the patterns of power and control that define abusive relationships and how those patterns shape a survivor’s perception of threat, fear, and available options.
Without this education, the legal system often defaults to outdated assumptions, seeing a survivor’s actions as irrational or unreasonable rather than adaptive, or interpreting trauma responses like flat affect, avoidance, or anger as evidence of guilt, complicity, or a lack of remorse. Domestic violence is not a “moment” but a pattern, and justice for survivors requires this understanding.
Beyond the Courtroom
At Arena Therapy & Justice Center, we believe that understanding the psychological dimensions of abuse is critical to achieving justice. Founder Tatiana Duchak serves as an expert witness on criminal and re-sentencing cases involving domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual violence, failure to protect, and instances of coercion and duress. She often receives requests from survivors, their loved ones, and other advocates requesting pro-bono services, a sad acknowledgement of the need for an expert to help explain these nuanced dynamics of the case in a landscape that is grossly underfunded.
Additionally, Arena’s clinicians are trained to understand the intersection of mental health, trauma, and the law. Whereas some behaviors may otherwise be judged or misunderstood, clients with system involvement can come to Arena with assurance that their therapist has deep awareness of the harsh realities of system inequities.
Help Make Justice Accessible
Too often, survivors cannot afford the cost of hiring an expert or paying the legal fees necessary to tell their full story. Your support can change that. By contributing to Arena’s Justice Fund, you help ensure that survivors facing criminal charges or pursuing other avenues for justice have access to trauma-informed experts, legal support, and the chance to be truly heard.
Donate today to help bridge the gap between survival and justice. Every contribution - large or small - helps fund expert testimony, evaluations, and legal advocacy for survivors who deserve to be seen in the full context of their experience.