Domestic Violence

Question 1

Therapy and Domestic Violence

Answer 1

• DV is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors resulting in power
  and control over an intimate partner.
• Providing couples therapy when DV is occurring is contraindicated, b/c events in session could lead to abusive explosions afterward.
• If we are working w/ a couple and DV presents, we must refer each member of
  the couple to their own individual thp and should not resume couples
  therapy until DV is no longer present.
• Providing psychoeducation to DV victim can help him/her understand dynamics of abuse and not feel isolated.
• Developing a safety plan w/ client is a primary step in tx
• Confrontational interventions from professionals (urging victim to leave abuser) can re-traumatize victim and increase feelings of shame, which may prevent progress, we must honor clt’s self-determination and decision.

Question 2

Cycle of Violence

Answer 2

*Each phase may be followed w/ periods of calmness and last different amounts of time
*Cycle repeats itself
- Tension Building - minor incidents of physical/emo abuse, victim feels growing tension and tries to control situation to avoid violence, “walking on eggshells,” longest phase
- Explosion/Crisis Phase - actual abuse, e.g. physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, etc.
- Honeymoon Phase - abuser is sorry, apologetic, and regretful, abused makes promises and says it won’t happen again, phase disappears w/ time

Question 3

Exam Considerations

Answer 3

• If there’s an answer to acknowledge ambivalence (and they’ve expressed ambivalence) and it asks what to do FIRST or NEXT, you can always start there b/c it honors clt’s self-determination
• If exam asks what’s BEST, MOST important, or what we MUST do, the MOST important thing may be safety related, e.g. develop safety plan, refer to DV shelter
• If clt’s in a DV situation, but says they don’t want to talk or denies it, then safety planning or psychoeducation are not options, as they directly go against clt’s self-determination. A DV shelter referral is a good option to address safety w/o encroaching on self-determination.
• Safety planning’s appropriate when clt acknowledges violence, but isn’t ready to leave. If exam asks what to do FIRST or NEXT, we may respond to what clt shared, acknowledge ambivalence, etc. before developing safety plan. But if it asks what’s BEST, MOST important, or what we MUST do (and they acknowledge DV), safety planning is a good option.
• Psychoeducation’s appropriate if clt acknowledges there’s an issue, but
  seems to not understand DV dynamics
• If they acknowledge DV, but go on to state how sweet and apologetic person is after abuse, then we could provide
  psychoeducation on stages of violence
• If a pregnant clt shares they plan to return to abuser, psychoeducation’s important b/c DV can increase during
  pregnancy
• If clt explains their children aren’t impacted by DV b/c they don’t witness DV and/or aren’t physically hurt, psychoeducation’s important b/c DV impacts children even if parents think they don’t see it