| Domestic violence is a common occurrence in our | | | | recognize the signs and symptoms of family |
| society, every day, every minute. The Domestic | | | | dysfunction that may be the precursor to, or the |
| Violence Resource Center provides the following | | | | result of, domestic violence? Would you know what |
| shocking and sobering data. | | | | to say, what to do and how to handle the situation if |
| * "On average, more than three women and one | | | | you knew a friend or family member was involved in |
| man are murdered by their intimate partners in this | | | | an abusive and possibly dangerous relationship? |
| country every day." | | | | Sometimes an untrained therapist or well meaning |
| * "The health-related costs of intimate partner | | | | friend or family member may actually place the victim |
| violence exceed $5.8 billion each year. Of that | | | | in harm's way. How is this possible? First, the victim |
| amount, nearly $4.1 billion are for direct medical and | | | | may attempt to downplay the situation out of fear, |
| mental health care services, and nearly $1.8 billion are | | | | denial or caution. Second, the perpetrator's cognitive |
| for the indirect costs of lost productivity or wages." | | | | distortions and manipulative behaviors may fool |
| * "Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans | | | | people into taking his or her side. |
| personally know someone who is or has been a | | | | Do you know the 8 most important question |
| victim of domestic violence." | | | | therapists should ask during every intake or initial |
| * "Between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims | | | | history session? Do you know the most important |
| of domestic violence each year, and between | | | | questions friends and family members should ask |
| 100,000 and 6 million men, depending on the type of | | | | their loved ones to find out if abuse is, in fact, |
| survey used to obtain the data." | | | | occurring? Do you know what a dysfunctional and |
| * "One in four women (25%) has experienced | | | | potentially violent family does that may be different |
| domestic violence in her lifetime." | | | | from a non-violent, more highly functional family? |
| Victims and perpetrators present different | | | | These are important questions to ask and find the |
| intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics that may be | | | | answers to. The life you save may actually be your |
| obvious to a trained clinician but are often overlooked | | | | own or someone you really care about. |
| by uninformed practitioners. Would YOU easily | | | | |