Working with battered women

The task for a clinician working with battered women is to address the configuration of the client's needs derived from the battering experience in the context of other life issues or problems that she may also face. Based on a conceptualization of problems experienced by battered women that is based on an integration of social learning theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and feminist theory, a number of clinical issues are relevant. These include context as mediating factors, the role of a feminist perspective, clinical diagnosis, safety issues, self-determination, advocacy, and evaluating outcome. It is not appropriate to measure treatment efficacy by the recurrence of violence, as the batterer's use of violent behavior is an action for which the battered woman cannot be held responsible. However, establishing appropriate goals can be established based on a thorough understanding of the history of violence and abuse, the battered woman's strategic response to violence, the traumatic impact of violence on her, and the social and psychological context of her life. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.