Counsellors’ experiences of working with male victims of female‐perpetrated domestic abuse

Abstract

Aim: To provide an understanding of counsellors' experiences of working with male victims of female-perpetrated domestic abuse. This topic has been virtually unexplored within counselling literature. Method: A qualitative design was adopted to address the objective of this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six counsellors. Snowball sampling was used to identify suitable participants. Three were males and three females, and all had experience of working with male victims of female-perpetrated domestic abuse. Results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings: Ten over-arching themes emerged from the transcripts, including a distinct lack of recognition of male victimisation, which was seen as hampering counsellors' work with clients. Participants, particularly female counsellors, also drew on the significance of their gender. Furthermore, counsellors described changes in their perceptions of women within modern society. A central feature of participants' accounts was a sense of privilege in sharing clients' experiences. However, participants described the work as challenging, and employed both personal and professional strategies to help them cope with work-related difficulties. Discussion: Findings offer an initial understanding as to the experiences of counsellors that have worked with male victims. This may be helpful in leading to the development of more effective strategies employed by counsellors and counselling agencies in successfully working with male victims, whilst increasing awareness of male victimisation.

Male victims of domestic abuse: implications for health visiting practice

“…Bidirectional violence is found in this review, but the absence of contextual information makes it difficult to assess relational dynamics. However, it appears that some men are victims of intimate terrorism, experiencing control and coercion, and feeling unsafe within their relationships (Hines and Douglas, 2010;Nayback-Beebe and Yoder, 2012) This is supported through police assessment (Storey & Strand, 2012), and through the reporting of 'fear' observed by counsellors working with male IPV victims (Hogan et al, 2012).…”

“…(Hogan et al, 2012, p. 47-49). Difficulties accessing support for male victims due to limited availability of services was also reported (Hogan et al, 2012 Leaving the relationship: realised only 2 options: to accept situation and remain in relationship or to leave. Children motivator for leaving.…”

“…Underreporting by men appears a common thread. Male IPV victims articulated feelings of embarrassment, denial, minimization and self-blame (Hogan et al, 2012;Storey & Strand, 2012). Deterring men from contacting the police were perceptions of shame, "not being taken seriously" and believing "the police cannot do anything" (Drijber, 2013, p.175).…”

“…Hogan et al (2012) (2009) sampled court records exploring male requests for legal protection from domestic abuse and subsequent judicial responses. The remaining eight studies included male and female participants investigating mental health symptomology (Afifi et al, 2009;Prospero, 2007;Prospero and Kim, 2009) and gender differences relating to domestic abuse (Gass et al, 2011;Cho and Wilke, 2010;Houry et al, 2008).…”

A thematic analysis of practitioners' understanding of domestic abuse in terms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex‐PTSD (C‐PTSD)

“…Using a qualitative approach, it is indicated that working with survivors of DA might have a detrimental influence on counsellors (Hogan, Hegarty, Ward, & Dodd, 2012;Roddy, 2016;Sanderson, 2013). Iliffe and Steed (2000) designed a study in which the impact of working with the perpetrators and survivors of DA on counsellors was examined.…”