Domestic violence and intimacy: What the relationship therapist needs to know

Abstract

This paper looks at victims of violence perpetrated by their intimate partners, offering a contemporary, multifactorial understanding of why it occurs. The focus is on these issues for women as victims, men as perpetrators, and on the environments that maintain them. Reference is made to certain papers from the available literature on violence in same-sex relationships, which informs an understanding of the broad issues in domestic violence. Contextual analysis is advocated as the contemporary approach to domestic violence, to assist therapists in keeping their observations of such violence within the wider context. Therapists working with couples are encouraged to acknowledge the existence of domestic violence and to become more mindful of it in relation to other presenting problems in their clinical practice.

Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Sexual Health: Implications for Couples Therapists

“…The emotional ties or bonds between partners, within their marital and sexual relationship, may make it difficult for the female partner to leave the relationship or to disclose the situation to others. The relationships that develop between partners mimic in some ways those of hostage and captor, with the victim losing her sense of autonomy as the perpetrator asserts increasing degrees of physical, psychological, and sexual control (D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001). According to Herman (1992, cited in D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001, the victim becomes increasingly isolated and more dependent on the perpetrator and relies on him for survival and satisfaction of all bodily and emotional needs.…”

“…The sexual outcomes for women who experience IPV are complicated. For example, nonconsensual sex, often accompanied by humiliation, threat, and control, are considered to be abuse and part of a dysfunctional relationship rather than a sexual dysfunction (D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001). However, the resulting trauma from IPV may directly influence a woman's sexual health and lead to the development of dysfunction.…”

“…Women between 20 and 24 years of age are most at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). International in scope, IPV in the UK is reported to occur in one in four households and, in Canada, one half of the women over 16 years report at least one incidence of IPV (D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001). A multinational study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that women from industrialized and nonindustrialized nations around the world are at greater risk of violence from an intimate partner than any other type (Garcia-Moreno, Jansen, Ellsberg, Heise, & Watts, 2006).…”

Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence (Statement)

“…They may have difficulty with cognitive functioning, including decision making, judgment, problem solving, and following directions. They may experience problems with money management, task initiation, self-confidence, coping skills, stress management, and interpersonal relationships (Carlson, 1997;D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001;Levendosky & Graham-Bermann, 2001;Monahan & O'Leary, 1999).…”

Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence

“…They may experience problems with money management, task initiation, self-confidence, coping skills, stress management, and interpersonal relationships (Carlson, 1997;D'Ardenne & Balakrishna, 2001;Helfrich, Aviles, Badiani, Walens, & Sabol, 2006;Levendosky & Graham-Bermann, 2001;Monahan & O'Leary, 1999). They may have difficulty with higher level mental functions, including decision making, judgment, problem solving, and direction following.…”