In this episode of Therapists’ Take, we welcome back published author and practicing family law attorney Brian Putnam to continue our conversation on Escaping Domestic Abuse, the title of his book and the framework for this important series. This time, our focus is on one of the most critical and practical aspects of leaving an abusive relationship - safety planning.

Together, we walk through how to thoughtfully develop a safety plan, what essential items and documents should be gathered in advance, how to safely execute the plan, and what survivors can expect in the immediate aftermath of leaving. Brian brings both his legal expertise and his deep understanding of the lived realities survivors face, helping translate complex decisions into clear, actionable steps.

We also discuss a comprehensive safety planning checklist that Brian has created and generously shared with our listeners (see like below). This resource is designed to help individuals think through each phase of the process with greater clarity, preparation, and support.

This episode is an empowering, practical continuation of our exploration of how to move from surviving abuse to taking concrete steps toward safety and stability.

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00:00 - Hi, Carrie (introduction)

01:37 - Introducing Our Guest, Brian Putnam

03:00 - The Book

06:28 - Empowered through Leaving

11:15 - The Checklist

13:10 - Preparing to Leave

21:05 - Items to Take

26:55 - Executing the Plan

34:32 - You Left, but It's Not Over

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The Checklist - https://shorturl.at/pzAj3

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About Our Guest:

Brian Putnam is an experienced attorney, advocate, and author of Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free. Through his legal work and writing, Brian provides survivors with clear, compassionate guidance for navigating the legal system and safely leaving abusive situations.

For more information about Brian and/or the legal services his team provides, please visit https://www.PutnamLawOffice.com.

To purchase the book, Escaping Domestic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Breaking Free, you can do so by clicking the following link - https://amzn.to/47zeFeS

As Amazon Affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Domestic Abuse Resources:

Escaping Domestic Abuse (book) by Brian Putnam – see link above

National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 799-SAFE(7233)YWCA - ⁠https://www.ywca.org/⁠

Oklahoma Specific Domestic Abuse Resources:OK Domestic Violence Hotline – 1 (800) 522-SAFE (7233)

YWCA OKC– ⁠https://www.ywcaokc.org/⁠

Palomar - ⁠https://palomarokc.org/

⁠Cardinal Point - ⁠https://cardinalpointok.org/

⁠Latino Community Development - ⁠https://www.lcdaok.com/

⁠Sanctuary Women’s Development - ⁠https://www.lcdaok.com/

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For more great content or to learn more about our mental health services, please check out our linktree - https://linktr.ee/familysolutionsok