“It takes about seven tries for a girl to successfully leave her abuser for good. That statistic tells us how difficult it is often to pull away from these relationships,” said Dr. Candice Norcott, renowned clinical psychologist, and Peer Health Exchange Chicago Board Member.
In case you missed it, Dr. Norcott was a featured expert in this year’s Surviving R. Kelly—a six-part Lifetime documentary detailing sexual abuse allegations against singer Robert “R.” Kelly (which he has denied).
Dr. Norcott had an opportunity to talk about her work and about the documentary recently as a guest on the web series Red Table Talk, hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
During the discussion, Dr. Norcott revealed how abusers manipulate their victims and convince them to stay in the relationship. This dialogue reiterates what we at Peer Health Exchange discuss with young people in the classroom and is a great reminder that you cannot consent under coercion, manipulation, or pressure.
To see the full episode, click here.
Dr. Candice Norcott received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut, completing her dissertation on childhood sexual abuse and the risk for revictimization in adulthood. Dr. Norcott completed her pre‐doctoral and post‐doctoral training at Yale University; and is a proud alumna of Brown University. Currently, Dr. Norcott is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago where her research focuses on improving girls’ relational health to positively impact sexual decision making and reproductive health. She is also a Certified Training Associate for Dr. Stephanie Covington and The Center for Gender and Justice. Dr. Norcott’s career has been guided by a commitment to the empowerment of girls and women, minority advancement in psychology, and the promotion of trauma-informed and gender-responsive services.