Signs/Assessment
True or False:
Victims never self-blame, feel shame, or fear consequences of disclosure of intimate partner violence to counselors.
False
Victims often self-blame, feel shame, or fear consequences of disclosure of intimate partner violence to counselors.
Name one effect of intimate partner violence on the victims mental health
depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and PTSD
True of False:
Some theories propose that exposure to violence in childhood teaches that physical aggression can successfully coerce others, reinforcing violence-excusing attitudes.
True- A history of abuse reinforces the normative nature of violence and leads to developing violence-condoning attitudes.
True or False:
For women experiencing IPV, increased self-esteem, self-compassion, and self-worth provides the strength and courage needed to end unhealthy relationships.
True
True or False:
For couples experiencing power and control-related violence, where one partner systematically uses abusive tactics to dominate the other, traditional couples’ interventions can be used.
False!
Using joint counseling can place the victim in greater danger and discourage them from seeking further help.
Perpetrators in counseling often need help managing this strong emotion, which can quickly lead to aggression during conflict.
Anger
What is the number one co-occurring disorder that is an indicator of the potential for violence in relationships?
Substance use disorders.
SUDs increase vulnerability and predisposition to partner violence. IPV also contributes to or exacerbates these conditions, forming a "loop" of abuse, depression, and victimization.
What is the primary goal for a counselor, once they determine a couple is experiencing intimate partner violence?
Assess for safety
What are these statements an example of: “it wasn’t that bad” or “they provoked me”.
Denial or minimization
True or False:
A child witnessing intimate partner violence is at a greater risk of future intimate partner violence in their adult relationships.
True.
A history of abuse reinforces the normative nature of violence and leads to developing violence-condoning attitudes. The larger the number of ACEs, the higher the odds of poor physical and mental health outcomes. Exposure to parental domestic violence increases a child’s risk of becoming a victim or a perpetrator of IPV later.
This status is associated with difficulty accessing resources and greater acceptance toward violence.
Low socio-economic status (SES) or lower education background.
This status is associated with difficulty accessing resources and greater acceptance toward violence. Low income and lower education were noted vulnerabilities for mothers who struggled to complete IPV interventions.
This intervention is beneficial as it highlights shared experiences, allows participants to learn from each other, and provides a safe environment for rebuilding support systems often lost due to isolation.
Group therapy
A critical prerequisite for a couple to safely and effectively address IPV is that counselors must be knowledgeable about the differences between situational IPV and power and control-related IPV. Explain the difference.
Situational: gender-mutual, less severe, does not escalate over time
Power and control: involves an imbalance in the relationship, where one partner uses abuse tactics to establish power and control
Name one reason why a victim may not be able to leave an abusive relationship
Shared children, social norms, economic issues, lack of social support, uncertain legal status, and many more.
The CDC indicates that 1 in 4 women experience physical violence by an intimate partner. What does the CDC estimate the numbers are for men?
1 in 7 men
True or False:
Successful counseling depends on the victimized partner’s willingness to take responsibility and engage in behavior change.
False! Successful counseling depends on the abusive partner’s willingness to take responsibility and engage in behavior change.
Men are more likely to cause serious injury in relationships with reciprocal violence. What type of relationship abuse are women are more likely to inflict?
Emotional/psychological or financial abuse
This group of individuals, along with victims presenting with severe mental health disorders or substance abuse, is largely excluded from current IPV intervention research despite facing additional minority stress and experiencing IPV at similar rates.
LGBTQ+ individuals
LGBTQ+ individuals are largely excluded from current IPV intervention research despite facing additional minority stress and experiencing IPV at similar rates as heterosexual individuals.
Developmentally based social learning pathway has been identified as the most consistent mechanism through which childhood experience leads to adult IPV perpetration in men. Name one risk factor that could be a predictor of IPV?
Interparental IPV Exposure (witnessing violence between parents) and Childhood Victimization (physical and emotional abuse/neglect)
For survivors, the intervention pathway to healing involves recognizing and ending unhealthy relationships, setting boundaries and limits, and identifying "red flags". Name a red flag in a new relationship.
Anger issues, substance use issues, power imbalances, past history of violence in relationships/in childhood, among many others.