A 32-year-old woman comes to the clinic reporting increasing feelings of anxiety and despair. During the assessment, the nurse observes that the patient has multiple bruises in various stages of healing on her arms and legs. She hesitates before responding to questions about her home life but ultimately reveals that her partner frequently belittles her and has pushed her during arguments. The nurse must recognize the signs of abuse to provide appropriate interventions. Which nursing action is the most appropriate to implement in this situation?