VA Bedford Healthcare System

Safing Center

The Safing Center is an outpatient clinic providing a recovery-oriented, Veteran-centered approach toward establishing and maintaining safety within intimate relationships.  We are here to meet with you privately, listen without judgment, assist you in finding a safe place to stay, or connect you with other needed services. 

The military term "Safing" means transitioning from combat readiness to a safe condition and signifies our commitment to helping Veterans establish and maintain safety in their relationships.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also commonly referred to as domestic violence, is defined as actual or threatened physical, sexual, or psychological abuse or stalking behaviors by a current or former intimate partner.  It can happen once or be a pattern of events that gets worse over time, and it varies widely in severity.  Intimate partner violence may occur with a current or former boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse of any sex or gender, and doesn't not require cohabitation or sexual involvement. 

The 2010 National Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Survey by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention found that 1:3 women and 1:5 men experience IPV at some point during their lifetime.

What the Safing Center offers:

• Individual, couple and/or family therapy related to current or past IPV

• Consultation with providers/clinicians, concerned friends/family members, partners, or Veterans themselves about concerns they have about IPV

• Connection to the right resources for you and your partner/family, including peer supports

• Psychoeducation on managing stress and anger in order to communicate in more positive and effective ways

Some Useful Links

            Jane Doe Inc., Mass Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence

            Women's Health Intimate Partner Violence

            National Domestic Violence Hotline

            New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence