Effective coaching and leadership create a space of safety, trust, and empowerment—not pressure, dismissal, or forced healing. Certain phrases, even when well-intended, can come across as invalidating, triggering, or disempowering. This guide breaks down what NOT to say in coaching or leadership—and what to say instead to foster genuine growth, support, and confidence.

The impact of domestic abuse is profound, reverberating across many lives. It affects survivors' presence and ability to advocate for themselves. At work, it undermines their relationships, performance, and career outlook. Survivors often feel haunted by their abusers, who creep into all aspects of their lives, like unrelenting zombies. Read this—it could change lives, perhaps even your own.