I was very concerned about her when I saw the picture of her with a man she'd just met at a social event. Body language hinted at her extreme vulnerablity and need to be protected. If she leans on a man other than a therapist or family member during this time, she exposes herself to the strong possiblity of another abusive relationship. She might be terribly vulnerable to the appearance of protective strength that serves as a facade for anxious men who need to control. I expect that such men will be very much attracted to her until she develops a strong identity of her own.
Much individual therapy is necessary before she enters another romantic relationship, tempting as one might be right now. I hope that she will do the hard work necessary to heal from the trauma of this marriage. She and her children deserve it. They need one whole parent, and their dad is not going to be one. He is going to get a whole lot worse than he is right now before he will want to change, and even if that happens, it will be a long, long uphill struggle. She must be very careful.
