Ruth Darlene, M.A.

Ruth Darlene, M.A., is the Founder and Executive Director of WomenSV: Survivor Voices, a nonprofit educational center recognized internationally for its focus on coercive control, especially as it impacts women who are trapped in a relationship with a powerful, sophisticated abuser. She is a state-certified Domestic Violence Advocate, member of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, and serves on the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Death Review Team.

Since founding WomenSV in 2011, Ruth has personally served over 1,500 survivors and trained thousands of professionals across healthcare, cybersecurity, the justice system, service clubs and academia. She now focuses on education for service providers, survivors and the general public to address the lethality risks of coercive control. Her online program Understanding and Documenting Coercive Control equips survivors and providers to identify and report domestic abuse, including covert tactics that leave no forensic evidence. Through public presentations, professional trainings and awareness campaigns, Ruth works to help survivors, professionals and communities recognize and break the cycle of coercive control.