BACKGROUND: PSYCHOEUCATIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE APPROACHES TO CHILDREN WITNESSING FAMILY VIOLENCE
Introduction
Exposure to domestic violence, which can lead to significant health and developmental problems, is a common occurrence for many children. There is an ongoing need to develop and evaluate effective interventions for children exposed to domestic violence and disseminate information about best practices to domestic violence advocacy programs and other service providers
Part A. Psycho educational or supportive approaches
Safety first
The first and the most key intervention for children is to address the issues of safety for the family. This usually involves working with the victim of violence to discuss the options he/she might consider to increase safety. Legal advocacy and domestic violence service agencies are good resources for addressing the challenges of safety. The first step toward helping the child is seeing that the abused parent is safe; another essential step is in assisting older children and adolescents in planning for their safety. Helping children and teens to develop specific strategies for keeping safe gives them a sense of control so that they feel less vulnerable.
Counseling services
There are a wide variety of counseling and mental health interventions available to families affected by domestic violence. Usually, families need more than therapy; they need case management and advocacy to assist the victim of violence in navigating the legal system, and in obtaining the resources and support the adult victim needs to maintain safety and security for herself/himself and the children. It is important that mental health treatment be provided in a context of comprehensive support for the children and their non offending parent. For children, interventions include groups, individual therapy, and dyadic treatment with their non offending