Interpersonal Violence

Interpersonal ViolenceElisa ChambersPSY 496 Applied ProjectDr. A. GilstonSeptember, 2015

Interpersonal/Domestic violenceDomestic violence does not discriminate among socio-economic classes. According to the 2014 report from the National Institution of Justice and the Center for Disease control one in four women are victims of violence from a domestic partner(NIJ.CDC, 2014). Children and even men are victims of domestic violence. Assistance from mental health professionals is essential in providing services and rescue assistance to the victims as well as working with the perpetrators to interrupt the violent behavior in as many cases as possible. There are many available techniques for working with victims of domestic violence, two experts in the field will provide support for specific techniques.

Experts in the FieldDomestic Violence CounselorEducation: Bachelors Degree in Psychology, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Certified Domestic Violence Counselor Credential from The National Association of Forensic Counselors. Professional experience: 4 years as YMCA DV counselor. Domestic Violence Counselor at ATTIC Correctional Services. Currently working at Community Counseling and Evaluation Services/ Domestic Violence Facilitator.

Social WorkerEducation: Bachelors degree in Psychology, Masters Degree in Social work.Professional Experience: 3 years assistant to social worker at Battered Womens Shelter. 2 years employed as Hospital E.R. Social Worker. Currently working as Social Worker at Family Community Center.

Domestic Violence Counselor: Research: Evaluating counselling approaches through research on client opinion and feedback.

This qualitative study is limited by its small sample size but it provides support for practice-based evidence of counselling approaches when working with victims of domestic violence. It identifies common obstacles that occur in the counseling process of these victims such as: the longer the abuse went on the harder it is for the victim to confide with their counselor. In addition this study suggests that counselors of domestic violence should be knowledgeable of many therapeutic techniques shown to be effective, but should always be flexible and evaluate the use of the technique as well as the duration of the therapeutic process based on individual needs.

Roddy, J. K. (2013). Client perspectives: The therapeutic challenge of domestic violence counselling a pilot study. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 13(1), 53-60. doi:10.1080/14733145.2012.711340

Social Worker Research: The developmental effects of domestic violence on children. In her role as a Social Worker, she has worked with victims and perpetrators of Domestic Violence within the courts, emergency rooms and shelters. Her role at the shelter includes screening and protection planning for battered women and children victims of domestic violence as well as individual and group counselling. Currently she is conducting my first group therapy with children, inspired by research supporting the effectiveness of working with children victims of domestic violence in a group setting.Group therapy is one approach to help these victims acquire trust, self-esteem, interpersonal skills and a sense of personal safety. Yet research into the process of group therapy for children exposed to domestic violence is still limited. The following research study supports the effectiveness of group therapy for children who have been exposed to DV: Evaluation through a qualitative case study of 4 young victim witnesses of domestic violence on the effectiveness of group and play therapy on alleviating the long-term ramifications of domestic violence on developmental stages of children. The observational data collected aimed to answer two research questions:1. Did group development occur during the sessions?2. Were there two way or group dynamics that occurred among the children that aided the overall group development?The results of this study showed that although manifested in different ways, children in group therapy experience similarities to the 4 typical stages of adult group therapy. In each stage they were able to make improvements and acquire some of the developmental objectives set out for the group. Thompson, E. H. (2011). The Evolution of a Children's Domestic Violence Counseling Group: Stage and Processes. Journal for Specialists In Group Work, 36(3), 178-201. doi:10.1080/01933922.2011.578118

Professional Resource Link.Evaluating effectiveness of therapy from a victims perspective.Website:http://ct.counseling.org/2014/03/working-through-the-hurt/The developmental effects of domestic violence on children.Website reccomended by expert:UNICEF (2006). Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Youth. Retrieved from: URL https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/domviolence/impact/children-youth/

ReferencesNIJ.CDC (2014). Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence against Women: Findings from the National Violence against Women Survey. Retrieved from: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183781.pdfRoddy, J. K. (2013). Client perspectives: The therapeutic challenge of domestic violence counselling a pilot study. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 13(1), 53-60. doi:10.1080/14733145.2012.711340Thompson, E. H. (2011). The Evolution of a Children's Domestic Violence Counseling Group: Stagesand Processes. Journal for Specialists In Group Work, 36(3), 178-201. doi:10.1080/01933922.2011.578118