Mental Health & Gender Specific Practice - Domestic Violence

Question 1

What abused clients need to feel safe

Answer 1

• safe
• secure
• in control of his or her body
• maintain personal space
• assess anxiety level
• ask before touching the client

Question 2

Characteristics of violence in families

Answer 2

• social isolation
  
  • keep to themselves
  • don’t invite other people over
  • avoid contact with others
  • threaten harm on other people / animals if secret is revealed
• abuse of power & control
  
  • holds a position of power or control through age, finances, gender, social controls
  • belittles and blames victim, using threats and emotional abuse
  • believes partner is “property”, increases violence if any signs of independence are shown
• substance abuse
  
  • abusive people more likely to use alcohol, inhibits actions, becomes more abusive
• intergenerational transmission process
  
  • children learn through role modelling, transition violence into their own lives & relationships
  • learn violence is a way to solve conflicts
  • women can learn to expect or accept violence in their own lives external to the family unit
• cultural considerations
  
  • may have limited connections within the new country, limited language, limited ability to leave the situation
  • can provide partner with control over them, cultural considerations surrounding divorce, may not be culturally acceptable to leave the situation
• can be emotional or psychological, physical or sexual

Question 3

Cycle of abuse

Answer 3

• initial period of abuse / battering occurs, followed by period of abuser expressing regret, remorse, apologising, promising it will never happen again
• partner wants to believe that the violence was an isolated incidence, accepts honeymoon period apologies
• period of tension and anger increasing occurs, when tension raise too high, violence occurs again

Question 4

Do’s & Don’ts

Answer 4

• do
  
  • believe the victim
  • ensure confidenality
  • listen, affirm, express consern, remind victim they have the right to be safe & respected, that the violence is not their fault
  • recommend support group, individual counselling
  • offer to help find shelter, involve police, find community resources
  • accept and respect victims decisions
  • encourage safety plan development
• don’t
  
  • tell the victim what to do, express disgust, disbelief or anger
  • don’t imply doubt, or disclose information without consent
  • minimise the impact or imply the victim is responsible
  • suggest couples counselling or tell the victim to leave the relationship
  • take charge and do everything for the patient

Question 5

SAFE

Answer 5

• safety / stress - any stress within the relationship, do they feel safe
• afraid / abused - do they feel afraid, have they experienced any abuse
• family / friends - does anyone else know what is happening, able to offer support
• emergency plan - do they have a plan for leaving if they decide they want to, somewhere safe to go

Question 6

Signs of child abuse

Answer 6

• serious injuries with no history of trauma
• delay in seeking treatment for serious injuries
• child / parent giving history that isn’t consistent with severity of injury
• inconsistencies in the child’s history when questioned
• unusual injuries for the child’s age / development level
• high incidences of UTI’s
• evidence of old injuries not reported