By: Jay Dee, MPH Supporting a friend who is in a relationship involving violence or emotional abuse can be challenging—and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. A key guideline is to never bash the abusive partner . This can be tough because, as friends and family, it’s painful to watch someone you care about be mistreated. It’s natural not to like their partner, but speaking negatively about them can backfire. When you put down their partner, your loved one might shut down,