Domestic Violence: Assessment and Treatment

Domestic violence is endemic in our society, with an incident occurring every 18 seconds. Abuse of women is the single greatest cause of injury, more frequent than auto accidents, mugging and rape combined. A major issue facing mental health professionals is how to understand and deal with domestic violence in a society populated by a multiplicity of ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups. When and how to intervene is in part determined by an understanding of the victims' cultural surroundings. This book provides a framework for assessing and treating domestic violence, one that takes into account the multilayered interactions between individuals and their families, their ethnic groups and the larger society to which we all belong.