Support for abusive situation involving in-laws

NSFWTW What Worked For You?

Hi all, we’ve recently had a very scary and difficult situation come up with my wife’s family, and are in need of some guidance or recommendations for resources/organizations that can help us out. Just to be clear upfront - this is not currently an emergency situation, and the police are already involved with the situation below. We have also already contacted the NDV hotline for advice.

Recently my FIL (wife’s stepdad) physically assaulted and threatened to kill my MIL’s brother. This is the latest, and most certainly worst, incident in a long history of “incidents” involving him. He has a history of violent altercations and erratic behavior including infidelity, and is also an alcoholic.

The issue in coming here looking for help with is actually with regard to my MIL. She is very strongly trauma bonded to him (she was the one to bail him out of jail after the assault). We got her to leave to stay with my SIL, but already a day later she told my wife/SIL she is going back to stay with him. My wife is trying to be calm with her but my SIL got very upset at my MIL and started yelling at her, so she got very defensive.

My MIL’s reasons are the usual ones you’d expect from a trauma bonded person: being with him is the only thing that makes me happy, I love him, no one else understands, etc.

It’s getting really bad this time though. Members of my MIL’s family are saying they won’t talk to her anymore (we’re trying to explain trauma bonding to them, and that it isnt just her “choosing” him over them).

It really comes down to this: we need to get her out of that situation somehow. But she is an adult, we can’t make her do anything - can’t make her leave, can’t make her see a therapist, etc. My wife and I are looking for professional help - someone to coach us through this process as we feel like we’re out of our depth in handling this alone. We’re willing to pay if necessary.

Any advice you can provide or resources you can point us to would be greatly appreciated!

Posted Jul 9, 2025, 4:12 AM UTC

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