Therapist Awareness of Appropriate Intervention in Treatment of Domestic Violence: A Review (From Violence and Sexual Abuse at Home: Current Issues in Spousal Battering and Child Maltreatment, P 27-40, 1997, Robert Geffner, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-168285)

• NCJ Number: 168287
• Author(s): M Harway; M Hansen; N N Cervantes
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Given the widespread nature of relationship violence, psychotherapists must recognize the probability that at some point they will treat a violent couple or someone involved in a violent relationship, even if they do not specialize in the treatment of family violence.

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to investigate how therapists conceptualized cases involving family violence and types of interventions they indicated they would make. The first study surveyed 362 members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Respondents were asked to conceptualize and provide interventions for one of two actual cases involving family violence. The second study surveyed 402 members of the American Psychological Association. Respondents were asked to give a diagnosis based on a case presentation. After being informed the case resulted in a homicide, respondents were asked what interventions they would have made prior to the outcome, had they been given the opportunity to provide counseling. Results from both studies showed many respondents were unable to properly assess the danger inherent in domestic violence cases and many would not have intervened in a timely and appropriate manner. The authors conclude psychotherapists need to increase their awareness of and training in family violence. 14 references and 3 tables