Conjoint Therapy for the Treatment of Domestic Violence (From Battered Women and Their Families, P 33-48, 1984, Albert R Roberts, ed. - See NCJ-92747)

• NCJ Number: 92749
• Author(s): J A Geller; J Wasserstrom
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Springer Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Conjoint therapy for both partners involved in a battering relationship is a time-consuming but effective process for reversing the cycle of violence in a couple who wants to remain married.

Abstract

From 1976 through 1980, over 250 couples have been successfully treated in conjoint therapy in one specialized program for victims of spouse abuse. Although a small percentage of couples chose to dissolve the marriage, the physical abuse stopped for every couple who remained for the entire 2-year course of treatment. Working with the dyad as opposed to the entire family is preferred initially because it permits a focus on the abusive behavior rather than on all the issues in the family. The treatment model rests on the theory that changing the patterns between the spouses results in a change in the homeostasis of the family, producing benefits to the entire family. The model thus reflects the awareness that all the family members are affected by the violence that occurs between the partners. The principles of conjoint treatment include followup by the worker to get both partners to come to therapy sessions, the realization that treatment begins long before the client enters the office, the use of the first session mainly for ventilation as well as for establishing a therapeutic environment and rapport, the awareness that behaviors will initially improve and then regress, and the use of change-oriented treatment plans. Although the treatment model is effective, the use of family therapy, a combination of couple and family therapy, or couple and children's groups also deserve exploration. A detailed case example and 35 references are provided.