(photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marcus Suorez) Members of several domestic violence advocate groups provide informational brochures to staff, patients and others interested outside the Laurel Clark Memorial Auditorium Oct. 22. The groups were at the hospital as part of Fleet and Family Support Center’s domestic violence symposium.

Chyna Brantly, a member of Fleet and Family support Center Naval District Washington, said the purpose of coming together was to recognize the strength of domestic violence survivors, inform individuals and to put an end to the stereotypes about domestic violence.

‘‘Many people who are being abused often don’t even see themselves as victims,” Brantly said. ‘‘People often think of domestic violence as physical violence. However, domestic violence can take other forms, such as psychological, emotional or sexual abuse.”

Domestic Violence Intervention Program Court Service and Offender Supervision Agency presented a short play to demonstrate the different forms domestic violence can take.

After the skit, the dance group Public Urban Ritual Experiment (PURE) performed to celebrate the strength of domestic violence survivors.

Guest speaker Naomi Collins, a member of the Bethany House of Northern Virginia and a domestic violence survivor, told her story to give strength and bring light to the ongoing issue of domestic violence.

Collins, who suffered domestic violence as a child and then again in her marriage, said people can not turn away from the problem, but face it and help those in need to overcome the problem.

‘‘Everybody that is part of our team has two families,” said NNMC Commander Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan who attended and spoke at the event. ‘‘They have their immediate family ... and they have their Navy family, their military family.”

Nathan said it is everyone’s job who is part of this family to look after one another, to care for one another and to be actively involved with each other’s lives. Domestic violence is a serious issue that all members of this family must face.

‘‘One-hundred percent of the time, we try to be able to say we saw that coming and we cut trouble off ahead of time,” Nathan said. ‘‘We never want to say, with sadness and tears, I wish we saw that coming.”

Professional services of licensed counselors are available free of charge at Fleet and Family Support Centers. Services are available to active duty Sailors, married or unmarried, who would like couple’s counseling with their partners.

A variety of courses that teach healthy relationship skills are also available, to include anger management and conflict resolution. These are also free and available to active duty military and spouses. Health care providers can also offer helpful resources.

Anyone who believes they might be a victim of domestic violence, or knows someone who might be, can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or visit a local Fleet and Family Support Center.