Joan Benz – Domestic Violence: Treatment Strategies to Stop the Cycle and Heal the Pain

Outline

Foundations of Domestic Violence (DV)

• Typology of the perpetrator
• Power and manipulation
• Control tactics used by perpetrator
• Substance abuse and domestic violence
• Psychological, emotional, sexual and financial abuse

Assessment & Techniques to Help DV Victims Share their Story

• Red flags to assess whether violence is occurring or is likely to occur
• Victim perspective vs. what society assumes
• 9 things not to say to victims
• Key concepts to know when working with victims
  • Pressure by others feels like abuse
  • Rational solutions vs. irrational situations
  • Victim must give up the dream before they can leave
  • Victim’s survival instinct to keep abuser happy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Strength-based perspective
• Empowerment
• Rapport building techniques
• Strategies to help a victim leave a violent relationship
• Safety planning

Evidence-Based Treatment Interventions

• Assess for PTSD, anxiety, trauma and other mental health issues
• Trauma-focused CBT
• Narrative therapy
• Anxiety ladder
• Strategies to control unhealthy thoughts
• Guided Imagery
• Relaxation skills
• Mastery over thoughts
• Strategies for processing the guilt of leaving
• Poetry/song writing
• Transition from being a victim to a survivor

Treating Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

• Common effects: PTSD, anxiety, attachment, distrust, dissociative, behavior issues, anger, guilt
• Long-term effects from childhood that affect adult relationships
• Social learning theory and how it applies to DV
• Will girls become victims and boys perpetrators?
• Use TF-CBT with children to reduce PTSD
• Strategies to help process anger toward both the victim and abuser
• Case studies and real life examples from adults who witnessed DV as children

Prevention and Education

• Micro and macro approaches to stopping the violence
• Socialization theory
• Raising our children with less focus on gender roles
• Ask the right questions