Counseling, a Domestic Violence Scenario - Coursework Example

Counseling, a Domestic Violence Scenario Name Institutional Affiliation Counseling, a Domestic Violence Scenario Family Genogram Jacinta Anderson is thirty two years old and has been married for five years to Rajid Kumar who is thirty-six years old. Jacinta is eight months pregnant and when she announced her pregnancy to her partner, Rajid accused her of sleeping around. Rajid has developed a habit of drinking, he argues a lot especially with Jacinta and sometimes hits her. Rajid’s father Virat has a history of being a violent father and very abusive especially to Rajid and her mother. When Rajid was young, his father could come home drunk, quarrels and argues with Rajid’s mother and at the end hits both Rajid and the mother. Rajid has no contact with his father due to his abusive nature, he also has no contact with his mother whom he describes as being dismissive. Male Female Violence Pregnancy Introduction Domestic violence has got a broad definition, but in summary, it includes all activities that are related to violence and abuse among members of a family and those who are involved in an intimate relationship or have been in any relationship (Hamel, 2006). Rajid Kumar’s father has a family reputation for being violent and abusive to Rajid and his mother by always hitting them. Rajid insists that he does not want to be like his father and that is why he has no contact with his father but thirty-two-year-old Jacinta Anderson who is eight months pregnant is worried about his thirty-six-year-old partner Rajid. Jacinta complains that Rajid’s recent actions are intriguing, these actions involve too much drinking, constant arguing and hitting her which he has never done in the past. In this assessment, the discussion is based on examining a domestic violence scenario of a young woman who is eight months pregnant with a partner who has started showing violent and abusive actions. Domestic Violence and Abuse have a Substantial cost In 2001 and 2002 in the UK, domestic violence had a single year cost totaling to¬ 22.9 billion pounds (Humphreys, 2006). There were services funded by the government that accumulated 13.5% of these costs, and this was close to 3.1 billion pounds. Some of these services included the criminal justice system, social services, civil legal services, housing and healthcare services. Losses involving economic output were also experienced, and this was calculated at 2.7 billion pounds, and this was 11.8% of the costs involving domestic violence. Human and emotional costs were also involved, and they totaled up to 17.1 billion pounds, and this even had a higher percentage of 76.7% of all costs of domestic violence (Humphreys, 2006). In the period of between 2001/2002 and 2008/2009, there was a decrease in the total cost of domestic violence as estimated by Walby (2009) and this was as a result of the fall in the rate of prevalence in that period. At the same time in the period of 2001/2002 and 2008/2009, police reports increased proportionally resulting in an increase of 24% service use. According to the research done by Walby (2009), the criminal justice system and the police were apparently spending the same time and resources in 2008/2009 on domestic violence. Between the period of 2001/2002 and 2008/2009, the overall loss to economic output declined from 2.7 billion pounds to 1.9 billion pounds, human and emotional domestic violence costs dropped from 17.1 billion pounds to 10.0 billion pounds in the same period (Humphreys, 2006). In many circumstances, most victims are always reluctant to report cases especially in the intimate partner violence scenario because they feel that they are the ones to be blamed, they also feel humiliated and isolated. Most of these victims believe that reporting such cases may lead to an increase in violence and therefore not reporting acts as a self-protective measure. In Western Australia, the unreported rate of partner violence is three times that of reported violence, and this is in agreement with data from health services. Most victims who have tried to obtain help have encountered poor responses from some of the services and therefore have believed that there are no options other than to withstand the abusive partner. Research on violence against women showed that the age of impact was at its peak between the ages of 30 to 44 and health consequences that accompanied it included life-threatening sexually transmitted diseases, fractures and bruising, death by homicide or suicide, and complications in childbirth among others. Research done by VicHealth in 2002 shows that domestic violence affects the ability of a victim in parenting children by reducing the mental and physical health thereby diminishing the parent-child bond. Intervention Programs on Domestic Violence Research has shown that programs developed with the aim of educating and supporting positive attitudes among victims can be useful. The NICE review of 2013 came up with evidence that intervention programs may improve attitudinal, knowledge and interpersonal outcomes of the victims, and promote reductions in violent actions. Some of these intervention programs are in the discussion outlined below. Government Policies Programs Voluntary groups developed most of the government policy services but their research yield responses from a variety of state governments. Inquiries were held concerning domestic violence in the 1990s by most of the state governments and subsequently funded special services for the victims (Russell and Jory, 1997). Under the supported program of Accommodation Assistant, the Commonwealth Government began with funding of accommodation services as a sign of taking responsibility. The Commonwealth Government joined partnerships against domestic violence and the Office of the Status of Women, and they developed programs that were also funded by the Territory Governments and the State. The programs aimed at treatment service provision as well as the preventive measures. The National Council of Australia proposed a plan to reduce violence against women. The plan is known as, ‘Time for Action,' involved increasing research into services that related to perpetrators. The research leads to services expanding and it is great knowledge to note that the issue of domestic violence is put in a sociological framework within the human rights. The plan aims at a greater combination of all services involved in domestic violence as well as its initiatives. These programs should be provide support, options and information about resources in order to increase the safety of all victims involved in domestic violence hence enabling them to protect themselves and their children. The goal of these programs in relation to the scenario is not to get victims to leave their abusers or to fix the situation but to enable victims have the knowledge in confidentiality through reporting requirements in domestic violence, and to provide information and support. Perpetrator Treatment and Services Treatment of perpetrators should be administered one to one although in many cases it is usually done in a group. The attendance of this treatment may be voluntary, but treatment involving court-mandated is common. As perpetrators are mostly men, the treatment is aimed at altering their beliefs on gender roles, control and power concerning rational behavioral approaches that may teach communication skills and ways of dealing with a particular conflict (Russell and Jory, 1997). In Australia, there is no large-scale sponsored and funded criminal justice system for perpetrators. There has been a slow emergence of services for perpetrators due to lack of interest from State Legal Services and Commonwealth Organization in funding. The absence of perpetrators from professional intervention actions and plans have been written for many decades with various theories outlining that it is the case due to the fear of confrontation and being a victim of the perpetrator’s control. Today, there are few services organized for perpetrators and are scattered all over the nation provided by community service organizations. Perpetrator treatment and services explains that it is the responsibility of the abuser or perpetrator to stop domestic violence but not the responsibility of the victim. Anger Management and Batterer Group Programs The difference between anger management groups and Batterer groups is the interpretation involving the perpetrator’s violence. Most anger management groups assume that anger is the cause of domestic violence and point out that it is the primary objective to be addressed. This idea shifts blame to the victim as the person who triggered the anger to the perpetrator resulting into domestic violence. Rajid does not allow his partner to go out to the groceries, and he comes home from work one day, and on realizing that rice is not available to be cooked, he blames the partner and start hitting her, and when confronted why he says it is stress from work. Rajid’s behavior can be looked at as an example of anger which later on resulted in domestic violence. Australian groups are not within the criminal justice system hence batterer groups is not common in Australia. Anger management groups in Australia are very common and are mostly voluntary whether they incorporate or do not incorporate with batterer group principles. In various cases, courts mandate the perpetrators attend the panels on their initiative, but it is essential that they find the groups themselves (Russell and Jory, 1997). The groups’ sessions run from one to one and a-half hours a week and their length of time usually varies from around eight to twenty-six weeks. Couples Therapy and Counselling Programs Interventions that are aimed at couples’ especially young partners start with assessing and determining who the perpetrator is and who has been subjected to violence. This therapy can be provided individually, group treatment or as a couple. Couples therapy is mostly active when the domestic violence is at an early stage that can be prevented and stopped. Research on domestic violence has shown that couple counseling is the best alternative to group programs that involve perpetrators. Some writers argue that it is a counseling service for couples who experience domestic violence based on the theory of social systems that is applied to families hence the violence is a problem that is within the family. Therefore, solutions that are designed should be focused on the family and not only on the perpetrator. Some researchers also illustrate that couple counseling is a service that is coincidental which occurs when couples expose domestic violence during the counseling of other family problems. No matter the type of couple counseling that is available and its effectiveness, little research has been done to prove that it is a means of overcoming domestic violence. These programs should be able to provide information about domestic violence to the partners. Couples should be informed that most domestic violence continues and becomes severe thereby impacting the victim’s health. Couples therapy and counselling programs shows a victim of domestic violence a brochure concerning safety planning and elaborates it further to the victim. The program also reviews ideas with the victim on how to keep information safe and private from the perpetrator and some couples are advised to seek the help of an advocate when the issue of domestic violence intensifies. Counselling programs encourages victims that they are not alone in the domestic violence situation and that they should not feel neglected. Identification of Harm and Risk of harm experienced In the scenario, Jacinta is eight months pregnant but her partner Rashid does not care because he does not acknowledge the baby. Rashid hits Jacinta and quarrels with her especially when he is drunk. Expectant mothers are linked with symptoms of emotions and behavioral trauma in their children when violence is inflicted on them. Some of the risks that Jacinta could be subjected to especially in future when domestic violence in the family increases may include easily startled, avoidance of physical contact, bright light, and loud noises becomes a bother, and also may experience nightmares. When there is an increase in paternal substance abuse especially from the perpetrator, an increase in violence in the family occurs putting the victim at a high risk of physical abuse (National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, 2009). Indicators of Harm and Risks in the Scenario In the scenario, Jacinta feels that she is at risk with her unborn baby because of the recent behavioral changes of Rashid, her partner. Rashid drinks a lot, quarrels with her most of the time and goes to the extent of hitting her, a behavior that never used to take place in the family. Some indicators are listed below. Firstly, the use of alcohol. According to the scenario, Rashid drinks a lot and goes home in the late hours of the night. Drinking may not be the cause of domestic violence but it may lead to future physical harm to Jacinta and the baby. Secondly, control of the victim or a jealousy behavior. The scenario illustrates a behavior where Rashid exercises full control over Jacinta. He does not allow her to go out and get the groceries and would not allow her to take a phone call even from her mother. He has gone to the extent of activating a GPS locator device on her phone to know where she is at all time. Rashid’s jealousy drives him to take Jacinta’s bank key card saying that he will now be doing all the banking. Finally, pregnancy. Domestic violence starts or may get worse during pregnancy (Hamel, 2006). Jacinta who is eight months pregnant is a victim of domestic violence. She is at risk because her partner even refused to acknowledge the baby and instead increases his drinking habits and violence behavior saying that it is stress from his job. Conclusion In general, an increase in household income decreases the rate of domestic violence during pregnancy. Women whose total income is less than that of the partner are most likely to experience less physical and sexual abuse during pregnancy than women who has a higher total revenue than that of their spouse. Chances of unintended pregnancies are increased as a result of partner violence. According to research that was done on reporting rates involving domestic violence, it concluded that the risks that women experience on sexual and physical abuse during pregnancy are underestimated as well as under-reported. The plan that was developed by the national council suggests that proper and more research should be carried out on the perpetrators because little is known about their impact. References Hamel, J. (2006). Gender-inclusive Family Interventions in Domestic Violence: An Overview, in Hamel, J., and Nicholls, T., (eds) Family Approaches to Domestic Violence: A Guide to Gender Inclusive Research and Treatment, Springer Publishing, USA Humphreys, C. (2006). Relevant Evidence For Practice, in Domestic Violence and Child Protection, ed. Cathy Humphreys and Nicky Stanley, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, p.19–25. National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children. (2009). The Cost of Violence Against Women and Their Children, National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, ACT Russell, R., Jory, M. (1997). An evaluation of Group Intervention Programs for Violence And Abusive Men, ANZ Family Therapy, Vol. 18(3): 125–36 Read More

Between the period of 2001/2002 and 2008/2009, the overall loss to economic output declined from 2.7 billion pounds to 1.9 billion pounds, human and emotional domestic violence costs dropped from 17.1 billion pounds to 10.0 billion pounds in the same period (Humphreys, 2006). In many circumstances, most victims are always reluctant to report cases especially in the intimate partner violence scenario because they feel that they are the ones to be blamed, they also feel humiliated and isolated. Most of these victims believe that reporting such cases may lead to an increase in violence and therefore not reporting acts as a self-protective measure.

In Western Australia, the unreported rate of partner violence is three times that of reported violence, and this is in agreement with data from health services. Most victims who have tried to obtain help have encountered poor responses from some of the services and therefore have believed that there are no options other than to withstand the abusive partner. Research on violence against women showed that the age of impact was at its peak between the ages of 30 to 44 and health consequences that accompanied it included life-threatening sexually transmitted diseases, fractures and bruising, death by homicide or suicide, and complications in childbirth among others.

Research done by VicHealth in 2002 shows that domestic violence affects the ability of a victim in parenting children by reducing the mental and physical health thereby diminishing the parent-child bond. Intervention Programs on Domestic Violence Research has shown that programs developed with the aim of educating and supporting positive attitudes among victims can be useful. The NICE review of 2013 came up with evidence that intervention programs may improve attitudinal, knowledge and interpersonal outcomes of the victims, and promote reductions in violent actions.

Some of these intervention programs are in the discussion outlined below. Government Policies Programs Voluntary groups developed most of the government policy services but their research yield responses from a variety of state governments. Inquiries were held concerning domestic violence in the 1990s by most of the state governments and subsequently funded special services for the victims (Russell and Jory, 1997). Under the supported program of Accommodation Assistant, the Commonwealth Government began with funding of accommodation services as a sign of taking responsibility.

The Commonwealth Government joined partnerships against domestic violence and the Office of the Status of Women, and they developed programs that were also funded by the Territory Governments and the State. The programs aimed at treatment service provision as well as the preventive measures. The National Council of Australia proposed a plan to reduce violence against women. The plan is known as, ‘Time for Action,' involved increasing research into services that related to perpetrators. The research leads to services expanding and it is great knowledge to note that the issue of domestic violence is put in a sociological framework within the human rights.

The plan aims at a greater combination of all services involved in domestic violence as well as its initiatives. These programs should be provide support, options and information about resources in order to increase the safety of all victims involved in domestic violence hence enabling them to protect themselves and their children. The goal of these programs in relation to the scenario is not to get victims to leave their abusers or to fix the situation but to enable victims have the knowledge in confidentiality through reporting requirements in domestic violence, and to provide information and support.

Perpetrator Treatment and Services Treatment of perpetrators should be administered one to one although in many cases it is usually done in a group. The attendance of this treatment may be voluntary, but treatment involving court-mandated is common.

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