Mental Health and Domestic Violence: 'I Call it Symptoms of Abuse'

Counselors' Attributions of Blame Toward Female Survivors of Battering

“…However, mental health professionals often have a difficult time disengaging from traditional counseling roles and focusing on the immediate needs of women who have experienced battering, leaving survivors feeling disbelieved and blamed for the violence (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003). Some other barriers include feeling invalidated by counselors when the abuse is disclosed, feeling revictimized by their counselors' lack of support and validation, and being misdiagnosed due to lack of assessing for violence (Gordon, 1996;McLeod et al, 2010).…”

Beyond symptoms: Defining primary care mental health clinical assessment priorities, content and process

“…Awareness of each person's life experience has not been a standard part of assessment. The trauma and abuse literature asserts that the impact of trauma on individuals is marginalised by mainstream services (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003) and is not included in mental health training (Courtois & Ford, 2009). Despite loss being a universal experience (Murray, 2001), a significant issue in primary care (Clark et al, 2005), a contributor to depression (Hedelin & Strandmark, 2001) and later life function (Holmes, 1993), understanding the losses faced by each person and their impact is not part of current standard primary care assessment (Enns & Cox, 2005).…”

The importance of trauma-informed practice and how it links to social work practice in the field of mental health

“…Humphreys and Thiara (2003) note a direct link between women's experiences of domestic violence and heightened rates of depression, trauma symptoms, and self-harm. Humphreys and Thiara (2013) found a number of practices within the medical model of mental health that were not helpful including: lack of recognition of trauma and delivery of services, focus only on the women's mental health, blaming the victim and offering medication rather than counselling services.…”

“…Alternatively, women found volunteer methods helpful such as naming domestic violence, talking about the abuse, safety planning, response to their special needs, and working with other women to recover from the abuse (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003). Finally, suggestions include assigning further services in the voluntary sector, and addressing insufficient responses within the medical model (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003).…”

“…Finally, suggestions include assigning further services in the voluntary sector, and addressing insufficient responses within the medical model (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003).…”