NCJ Number
59574
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
FEMINIST THERAPY TECHNIQUES USEFUL FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS WORKING WITH WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS RESEARCH PAPER.
Abstract
GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS CONCERNING DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE HAS ENCOURAGED WOMEN VICTIMS OF SUCH VIOLENCE TO SEEK THE SERVICES OF PSYCHOTHERAPISTS TO HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING SPOUSE ABUSE. CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE USED BY THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST. OFTEN THE FIRST PERSON TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A VICTIM IS A NONCREDENTIAL WORKER. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CRISIS WORKER AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST INTERACT. WHEN THE VICTIM AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST MEET, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMIZED WOMAN, TOLERATE THE CLIENT'S ANGER AND HORROR STORIES, AND ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DETAILS OF THE FIRST VIOLENT INCIDENT, OF THE MOST RECENT, AND OF THE MOST TYPICAL. THE GOAL OF WORKING WITH WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IS FOR ACCEPTANCE AND INTEGRATION OF THE VIOLENCE INTO THE CLIENT'S LIFE. IN FEMINIST THERAPY CLIENT AND THERAPIST MUTUALLY NEGOTIATE GOALS. SEPARATING PERSONAL MATTERS FROM POLITICS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT FEMINIST THERAPY PRINCIPLE. THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST ALSO HELPS THE VICTIM ESTABLISH PERSONAL CONTROL OVER HER BODY AND HER LIFE. GOALS SHOULD BE SET FOR THE CLIENT, AND THERAPISTS SHOULD EXPLICITLY STATE THEIR OWN VALUES. THE CLIENT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO STRENGTHEN HER INDEPENDENCE AND HER SELF-RELIANCE WHILE BUILDING HER SELF-ESTEEM. EDUCATION, CAREER PLANNING, CHILDREN, AND NEW FRIENDS WOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THIS FUTURE PLANNING. TIME-LIMITED GROUP THERAPY CAN ALSO BE BENEFICIAL FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND SHOULD BE DONE IN TWO STAGES: THE FIRST STAGE, LASTING 12 WEEKS, SHOULD BE CRISIS ORIENTED; THE SECOND STAGE SHOULD HELP WOMEN WHO HAVE LEFT THE HOME AND ARE TRYING TO COPE WITH LIVING ALONE. COUPLES' THERAPY IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE, BUT IS LESS SUCCESSFUL. (MJW)