Counseling interventions for victims of intimate partner violence: A systematic review

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is a serious public health problem with significant implications for the mental health and well-being of victims. Therefore, we sought to critically review research on counseling interventions for victims to inform counselors’ work and identify areas of need for future research. We used the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocols to identify articles from 2000 to 2022 that investigated the impact of counseling interventions on the mental health and safety of victims. Four themes emerged: (1) participant demographics, (2) treatment modality, (3) interventions and study outcomes, and (4) study limitations. Study findings are synthesized to help counselors identify effective interventions for victims based on mental health concerns and violence type. Many of the studies were limited by high attrition rates and few researchers implemented randomized controlled trials. Further research is needed on interventions for LGBTQ victims and victims who present with comorbid mental health concerns.