ABSTRACT
This chapter offer an alternative approach to research and practice with women who mother in domestic violence by drawing on an analysis of their real-life experiences to inform new multi-disciplinary approaches to helping women, children and people who have been raised in domestic violence. It explores 'how' of feminist research that uses innovative and creative methods to access women's thoughts and feelings. The chapter explores that wider perspective and illustrates varying aspects of domestic violence that directly affect women as mothers, babies and the relationships between them. It presents the design for the research to access the thoughts, feelings and voices of women, and reflected upon their personal and relational experiences of forming relationships with their babies during domestic violence. Relational empowerment offers a set of research principles that support women to tell their stories in a communicative space based in caring.
