Lectures and presentations
Couples Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence
JYU experts related to activity:
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All experts: Holma, Juha; Vall Castelló, Berta; Laitila, Aarno; Päivinen, Helena
Activity details
Nature of event: Scientific conference
Name of event: XIII Nordic Family Therapy Congress
Presentation type: Other public presentation
Start date: 27/08/2024
End date: 30/08/2024
Year: 2024
Description
Despite controversy over the indications of couple therapy for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), current research has indicated some benefits. Conjoint treatment does not seem to increase the risk of physical violence when the treatment is designed specifically for IPV and the participants are carefully screened.
The aim of two studies on couples therapy was to find out how couples who experience domestic violence discuss their relationship, abuse, parenting, and gender in couples therapy sessions. The analysis was based on recorded therapy sessions.
The results highlight the importance of therapists' awareness of the presence of violence, dominance, and power during sessions, and how cultural issues can prevent the recognition of violence. Responsibility and couple agreement on the violent behavior seemed especially relevant at the beginning of the treatment. The perpetrators used to downplay violence, put themselves in the position as a victim and lack of choices to reduce their own responsibility. Images of women constructed by men were more negative, while representations of men constructed by women were more neutral. Depictions of men were largely built on traditional masculinity such as power, independence, and heterosexuality.
Potentially useful therapeutic strategies are directedness, use of reflective dialogue, and continuous assessment. Findings also highlight parenthood as an important theme in IPV couple therapy conversations.
The aim of two studies on couples therapy was to find out how couples who experience domestic violence discuss their relationship, abuse, parenting, and gender in couples therapy sessions. The analysis was based on recorded therapy sessions.
The results highlight the importance of therapists' awareness of the presence of violence, dominance, and power during sessions, and how cultural issues can prevent the recognition of violence. Responsibility and couple agreement on the violent behavior seemed especially relevant at the beginning of the treatment. The perpetrators used to downplay violence, put themselves in the position as a victim and lack of choices to reduce their own responsibility. Images of women constructed by men were more negative, while representations of men constructed by women were more neutral. Depictions of men were largely built on traditional masculinity such as power, independence, and heterosexuality.
Potentially useful therapeutic strategies are directedness, use of reflective dialogue, and continuous assessment. Findings also highlight parenthood as an important theme in IPV couple therapy conversations.
Follow-up groups: Psychology (Department of Psychology PSY) PSY; School of Wellbeing (University of Jyväskylä JYU) JYU.Well; Behaviour change, health, and well-being across the lifespan (University of Jyväskylä JYU) BC-Well
