A keen awareness of the dynamics of violent behaviour is required for psychologists who work with victims and perpetrators of violence. Working with perpetrators has unique challenges of doing no harm as well as respecting the agency of the client.
Clinical Case: James
James was charged with common assault against his wife when a motorist saw James hit Julie and then push her out of the car at the side of the road. He “doesn’t know why he has to take counselling” (see Todd, Appendix A). At his intake, he seems to alternate between being “remorseful and defiant.”
Ethical Considerations
Coercion It is not known whether the client is being coerced into attending counselling. James stated that his lawyer referred him and that could mean that …show more content…
I am interested in the level of violence in the relationship as it is possible that the wife is violent to James as much as James is to her. I view violence as insidious and suspect that violence or control would be exerted on the children as well. The presenting incident of his in-laws interfering might give a clue to generational violence. As part of the treatment, I would probe into the nature of violence by first asking James if he experiences any violence from his wife using a risk assessment tool such as the DASH questionnaire (SaveLives.org, 2014). The purpose of presenting the test is threefold, 1) it could build trust between us in that it shows that I am concerned for his welfare, 2) it will help him identify that he may be a victim of violence and help him articulate it, 3) it will point out to him the behaviours that are considered abuse that he may have done against his wife, children, or others. I see the psychoeducational aspect of defining abuse as very important so that if he has not recognized that he has crossed a line on acceptable behaviour in our society, that he recognizes it right from the outset. This tool may change the direction of discussion onto his victimhood rather than his agency so will be used with
Clinical Case: James
James was charged with common assault against his wife when a motorist saw James hit Julie and then push her out of the car at the side of the road. He “doesn’t know why he has to take counselling” (see Todd, Appendix A). At his intake, he seems to alternate between being “remorseful and defiant.”
Ethical Considerations
Coercion It is not known whether the client is being coerced into attending counselling. James stated that his lawyer referred him and that could mean that …show more content…
I am interested in the level of violence in the relationship as it is possible that the wife is violent to James as much as James is to her. I view violence as insidious and suspect that violence or control would be exerted on the children as well. The presenting incident of his in-laws interfering might give a clue to generational violence. As part of the treatment, I would probe into the nature of violence by first asking James if he experiences any violence from his wife using a risk assessment tool such as the DASH questionnaire (SaveLives.org, 2014). The purpose of presenting the test is threefold, 1) it could build trust between us in that it shows that I am concerned for his welfare, 2) it will help him identify that he may be a victim of violence and help him articulate it, 3) it will point out to him the behaviours that are considered abuse that he may have done against his wife, children, or others. I see the psychoeducational aspect of defining abuse as very important so that if he has not recognized that he has crossed a line on acceptable behaviour in our society, that he recognizes it right from the outset. This tool may change the direction of discussion onto his victimhood rather than his agency so will be used with