Counselor Treatment of Coexisting Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse: A Qualitative Study

• NCJ Number: 191140
• Journal: Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 2-11
• Author(s): Nicole D. Chartas; John R. Culbreth
• Date Published: October 2001
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This qualitative pilot study explored the philosophical issues hindering the linkage of dug abuse and domestic violence treatment.

Abstract

The research focused on the beliefs and practices of counselors who treat drug-dependent perpetrators or victims of domestic assault. The analysis sought to determine counselors’ rankings of individuals’ problems and their selection of corresponding interventions. The participants were four counselors from central Pennsylvania’s outpatient treatment centers. They completed unstructured interviews that lasted about 1 hour each and that were audiotaped and transcribed to aid data analysis. The analysis focused on each counselor’s ranking of issues and the focus of therapeutic issues, as well a unifying patterns and themes. After themes were established, the structure of the treatment models to access co-occurring drug abuse and domestic assault were identified. Results revealed that the counselors consistently treated batterers with one particular model and victims with another model. They integrated alcohol abuse into these models, but alcohol abuse did not shift or substantially change the focus of treatment. They required batterers to adopt accountability for both disorders. In contrast, victims received empathy and options of dealing with the two problems. Results suggested that counselors tended to use treatment models that could not concurrently assign responsibility and address either present or past victimization. Findings suggested the need for counselor education that emphasized tolerance for contradiction and an increased awareness of the complexities of coexisting disorders. Findings also indicated that philosophical disparities deterred the linkage of treatment services and suggested the need for alternative models for the understanding and treatment of comorbid drug abuse and domestic violence. 30 references (Author abstract modified)