Invisible Bruises

How a Better Understanding of the Patterns of Domestic Violence can Help Survivors Navigate the Legal System

Kaytlyn Gillis’s debut, Invisible Bruises, is gripping account of the ways in which the legal system
actually perpetuates the cycle of domestic violence. Gillis describes in a chilling, raw manner the way
that victims continuously fall through the cracks in our criminal justice system while the courtroom
becomes yet another tool that perpetrators use to further the abuse. Gillis navigates the courtroom
battle with readers while giving tips for minimizing the risk of re-traumatization.

Using elements from real-life events and drawing conclusions from her work as a
Psychotherapist and advocate with experience helping victims navigate the court system, Gillis sheds
light on how little we know about the cycle of domestic and intimate partner violence and reminds us
that the law can only do so much to protect survivors.