THERAPISTS' PROTOTYPICAL ASSESSMENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Apr 2007 by Blasko, Kelly A, Winek, Jon L, Bieschke, Kathleen J

The clinical implications of this work strongly suggest that as we are faced with clients with domestic violence issues we need to question any assumptions we bring into the assessment process. Surprisingly, the results from this study suggest that assumptions regarding assessment and the role sexual orientation plays in assessment both need to be revisited for both heterosexual and same-sex couples. Also, as clinicians we need to be concerned with issues of style of control within a couple conflict. Being able to perceive differences in control allows us to tailor treatment to clients' needs. Recognizing that prototypes may influence our clinical judgments may help us make more accurate clinical decisions as well as more appropriate treatment recommendations.

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