Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Battering and couples therapy: universal screening and selection of treatment modality
Other Titles:	Journal of marital and family therapy
Authors:	Mederos, Fernando Bograd, Michele
Keywords:	Counselling;Screening
Year:	1999
Publisher:	American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Citation:	25 (3), July 1999
Notes:	Provides an overview of the arguments for and against the use of this form of intervention with domestic violence. Outlines what the authors term a 'beginning framework' to help clinicians identify the presence of battering (universal screening) and to assist their decisions about whether couple therapy can be safely considered. This includes a definition of battering, which differentiates this from physical aggression alone (unless it serves to enhance the man's control); three preconditions for the conduct of an assessment possibly leading to couple therapy (voluntary participation by the man; special agreements regarding confidentiality; and an 'optimal therapeutic stance'); the sequence of assessment; assessment of violence and lethality (where the presence of a single risk factor rules out conjoint therapy); and six criteria for assessing the feasibility of couples work. While the foregoing are based on a screening to identify domestic violence, the authors also outline their approach to two other scenarios: when violence is disclosed prior to the couples session and when disclosure of violence occurs spontaneously in a couples session. Concludes with a range of cautions about the use of couples therapy with domestic violence. Argues that assessment of all couples presenting for couple therapy should be part of every intake interview.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13600
ISSN:	0194-472X
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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