This article examines the barriers facing victims of domestic violence and offers therapists an integrated model of intervention combining both case management and psychotherapy strategies. Visually represented, The Barriers Model places the battered woman in the center of four concentric circles. Each circle represents a layer of barriers in the battered woman's experience that potentially impedes her safety. These layers include: barriers in the environment; barriers due to family, socialization, and role expectations; barriers from the psychological consequences of violence; and finally, barriers from childhood abuse/neglect issues. Therapists are provided with an explanation of each layer of barriers, questions to help identify the extent to which these barriers are preventing the woman from becoming safe, and strategies to address these barriers with the battered woman.
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