NCJ Number
165074
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 25-38
Date Published
1997
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Recognizing the widespread nature of relationship violence and the need for psychotherapists to acknowledge the probability they will treat a violent couple at some point even if they do not specialize in the treatment of family violence, two analogue studies were conducted to investigate how therapists conceptualized cases involving domestic violence and types of interventions they recommended.
Abstract
The first study surveyed 362 members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Respondents were asked to conceptualize and provide interventions for one of two actual cases involving family violence. The second study surveyed 402 members of the American Psychological Association. Respondents were asked to give a diagnosis based on a case presentation. After being informed the case resulted in a homicide, respondents were asked what interventions they would have made prior to the outcome had they been given the opportunity to provide counseling. The first study showed that 91 percent of psychotherapists failed to recognize the seriousness of violence in altercations between couples and that 40 percent failed to address the issue of violence at all. The second study indicated that a substantial proportion of psychotherapists from various theoretical orientations were not able to formulate appropriate intervention plans even when explicitly told the case was a violent one. Many of these therapists were not prepared to assess for dangerousness in violent families and indicated they would not be able to protect their clients from harm. Results from both studies demonstrate that therapists need to increase their awareness of violence within families and to intervene appropriately. 14 references and 3 tables