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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/11528
Record ID: 6668959d-fba0-483b-ad86-e2b378a6dda0
Type: Non-Fiction
Title: Supporting women after domestic violence : loss, trauma and recovery
Authors: Abrahams, Hilary
Keywords: Advocacy;Housing;Psychological abuse;Leaving/Staying
Categories: Recovery
Year: 2007
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Notes:  General overview: Women often arrive at refuges in a state of shock and confusion but the support and respect offered by workers and other residents facilitates the rebuilding of self-esteem, confidence and independence.

Objective: The aims of Abrahams’ research were to find out what sort of support was available to women leaving an abusive relationship and coming to a refuge; to examine the approach to service delivery that was adopted, and to evaluate whether the needs of service users are being met.

Methods:The author examined policy documents and interviewed seventeen refuge residents and twenty-three workers, using an approach based on participative action research.

Discussion: Abrahams uses Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs to frame her exploration of women’s recovery from domestic violence. Women experiencing domestic violence lose their aspirations for the higher needs of belongingness, esteem and self actualisation, and focus on the basic physiological needs for food, water, clothing, shelter and safety. Upon leaving home, many experience post traumatic stress disorder, loss, trauma and grief. Many arrive at a refuge in a state of fear, confusion and distress. Recovery requires physical and mental safety, and consistent support to rebuild confidence, self-esteem and trust. The support of workers at the refuges and the mutual support offered by resident women to each other, was very important for recovery. Some women found individual counselling useful, others preferred group counselling, and still others indicated that counselling was not useful for them at present. Organised activities such as art, craft, discussion groups and excursions were useful in building up self-esteem and confidence.

Women reported that living in a refuge had its difficulties, including lack of privacy, disagreements over cleaning and irritating house rules but the benefits of mutual support often outweighed the disadvantages. Residents rarely took up opportunities to resolve conflicts in meetings and did not take an active involvement in the running of the refuge. When asked what they would change about the refuges, they nominated better quality accommodation, better maintenance and security, more privacy for mothers and older children, quiet rooms for interview or counselling, easy access to workers and small family sized refuges. They were in favour of shared kitchens and shared communal areas to encourage interaction among residents.

Rehousing of refuge residents is a considerable problem, with most dependent on public housing. Many women were offered housing that was poor quality, unsuitable for their families’ needs or distant from schools and public transport. Some women returned to their violent partners when they gave up hope of alternative accommodation. Long delays also meant the women became institutionalised and dependent on refuge living, while other women were unable to access the refuge as it was full.

Refuge workers focus on empowering women by encouraging women to take action to meet their own needs. They encourage women not to become dependent on refuge workers but to build their own support networks. Women reported that the support, respect and care offered by refuge workers was very important to their recovery
URI: https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/11528
ISBN: 9781843104315
Physical description: 156 p. ; 24 cm.
Appears in Collections:Books

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