Domestic Violence

As relationship specialists, family counselors and therapists should understand and be prepared to address domestic violence. Domestic violence includes patterns of physical or verbal behavior that threaten or hurt an intimate partner. It is common, damaging, and often hidden. Despite the frequency of violence in relationships and the serious costs it has for individuals and families, many professionals struggle to effectively treat violence. This entry describes the nature of domestic violence, outlines the risk factors for it, the prevalence and costs of violence, and discusses the critical issues for family therapists to understand when encountering it.