Crisis and Recovery Services for Family Violence Survivors (From Helping Crime Victims: Research, Policy, and Practice, P 206-232, 1990, Albert R Roberts - NCJ-125461)

• NCJ Number: 125470
• Author(s): A B Andrews
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter reviews a variety of crisis and recovery interventions that promote victims' recovery from family violence and reduce the risk of long-term psychosocial damage.

Abstract

First, the chapter presents a conceptual framework for understanding family violence, based on general stress theory and the specialized variant of stress theory known as crisis theory. This is followed by an overview of the nature and consequences of family violence. In describing crisis and recovery interventions, the chapter identifies three levels of assistance. The first level is crisis intervention, which involves psychological first aid that anyone can perform with minimal interpersonal skills. This may be performed by a friend, a police officer, teacher, or crisis telephone worker. The second level is survivor needs assessment and empathic support, which all human service agencies should provide. The third level, recovery intervention, requires a professional trained and skilled in psychoeducation and psychotherapy. In addition to describing these levels of intervention, the chapter discusses the reduction of risk factors and the maximization of social supports, coping skills, and self-esteem. 49 references.