There is an immense role occupational therapists can provided for survivors of domestic violence to improve their overall quality of life. Victims of domestic violence often have lifelong challenges and are at greater risk for many disorders and occupational deprivation. Plat-Jones (2006) explains the need for health professionals to have more education and knowledge on the topic of domestic violence. It is important for health care professionals to be aware of the risks as well as the possible indicators of domestic violence. Some possible signs of domestic violence to look for are as follows: frequent appointments for vague complaints or symptoms, missed appointments, or injuries that appear inconsistent with the explanations of accidental …show more content…
When indications or concerns arise it is our ethical duty to ask questions and provide appropriate help. The following are examples of questions to ask in a suspected domestic violence situation; have you ever been in a relationship where you have been hit or hurt in some way, does your partner often lose his or her temper with you? If he or she does, what happens, Has your partner ever destroyed or broken things that you care about; threatened you or hurt your children, forced sex on you, or forced you to have sex in such a way you did not want? Is everything all right at home, are you being looked after properly?, Is your partner or care provider taking care of you?, Could you tell me how you got those injuries, Can you tell me who hurt …show more content…
Scaletti, (2005) completed a case study on a 6 year old girl who went through non-directive play therapy for treatment to cope with the effects caused by the exposer to domestic violence. The child made some great improvements through the use of play therapy. Her bed wetting discontinued and she no longer took responsibility for keeping others safe. She also had improved self-esteem and self-concept. Over all this article provides evidence that given an environment where the child feels safe, symbolic play allows the child to confront challenges, fears, emotions in positive way and allows for improvement in self-esteem and
Domestic Violence is a widely recognized issue here in the United States. Though many people are familiar with domestic violence, there are still many facts that people do not understand. Abuse is not just physical, it is mental, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial. Many victims of physical abuse are also fall victim to these abuse tactics as well. An abusive partner often uses verbal, mental, emotional, and financial abuse to break their partner so to speak. It is through this type of abuse the victim often feels as though they are not adequately meeting their partner’s needs.
Warshaw (n.d.) stated that the first stage of intervention is identifying that there is domestic abuse. Asking about the abuse will help the battered woman open up and learn that there are services available when she feels ready to use them. A very important skill to use when dealing with battered women is validation because it will help the woman see that she is not alone and there is help. Women in this predicament usually blame themselves for the abuse and are told to make the best of it. Secondly, discussing information about domestic violence is important. The use of the “Power and Control” wheel is helpful in describing the controlling behavior of the abusive partner, with the message that the abusive behavior will likely continue to increase over time. Thirdly, it is important to develop a safety plan that addresses decisions regarding leaving and where to go, educates on safety-related issues such as returning back to the abusive partner, plans for handling the situation, and refers to domestic violence programs in the community.
Mary Margaret Farren was the wife of a successful husband. Among other things, at one point J. Michael Farren served as Deputy White House Counsel under President George W. Bush. Mary’s husband didn’t only exude power in his public life, although that is certainly one thing he was known for prior to January 2010. At home, the Farren household was troubled with fear and intimidation. Mary never thought Michael would go as far as it took to physically assault her. He lived a life about ethics. At first, the abuse was verbal and emotional. “I was careful never to not to trigger it,” Mary said when discussing the “rage” that Michael had (ABC News 2015). On January 6th, 2010, the physical assault peaked. Michael attacked Mary in their bedroom,
Domestic Violence cases are very hard to handle. Whether you are a police officer,EMT, or first responders, lawyers, judges, and etc. These types of situations can be dangerous for the victim and the law enforcement agent working the case. With the long hours, and endless pain and stress that goes into working these cases, the dedicated officials carry the weight with them daily. As a law enforcement agent, their job is to protect and serve. Through research and interviews, with professionals in this field. How comfortable would you be coming into a home where someone’s life is being threatened, and you have no idea what the abuser has in the home? Are you willing to risk your life or family’s life to defend the a stranger’s life?
Domestic abuse is a significant and threatening issue in the United States. Sadly, the rates of this shameful violence are increasing. This violence is not limited to the privacy of relationships and homes, it occurs everywhere and in all relationships. Football player, Ray Rice portrayed an act of domestic violence when he punched his wife and knocked her unconscious on February 15 of 2014. Women are heavily affected by this abuse and it’s the leading cause of injuries on women. According to crime reports (qtd. in “Domestic Violence”), one woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States. Also, according to a report (qtd. in “Domestic Violence”), domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Domestic abuse is not simple, it has a historical context to it, it creates abusive cycles in relationships, and it links to economic statuses.
However, it is too often overlook that domestic violence may not only occur in terms of a man meting out violence against a woman but could also render a man as the victim too. Many times people turn their backs on male victims of domestic violence (Murray, S. & Powell, A. (2007). Due to the focus on violence against women, men lack a proper or even popular framework to fight domestic violence when it occurs that they are victims (Cruz, 1996). There is also a stereotype that only women can be victims of domestic violence. This makes it hard for men to open up and report when they experience violence from a partner (Cruz, 1996).
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, May 21). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help: http://www.mayoclinic.org/domestic-violence/art-20048397?p=1
Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence, intimate partner abuse or domestic abuse, affects over one million people in the United States alone. It can be carried out in any number of ways including physically, emotionally, sexually, psychologically and/or financially. Its legal definition considers it to be “any assault, battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, or any criminal offense resulting in physically injury or death of one family member or household member by another who is residing in the same single dwelling unit” (Brown, 2008). In the United States it is considered a major health problem so much so that it was declared the number one health concern by the U.S. Surgeon General in 1992 (Peterman & Dixon, 2003). Not only is it a rapidly growing health problem but it is a growing societal concern as well. Extending beyond the effect felt by the victims and their families, it impacts our communities, government, law enforcement and public service agencies.
There are many different types of domestic violence. Physical abuse is the most obvious form, but this is not to say that outsiders always recognize it. Generally, physical violence causes bodily harm, using a variety of methods. Slapping, pushing, throwing, hitting, punching, and strangling are only a few methods. An object or weapon may or may not be used. There is not always physical evidence of physical abuse such as bruising, bleeding, scratches, bumps, etc., therefore, absence of physical marks does not necessarily mean physical abuse had not occurred. Physical abuse sometimes escalates to murder (Morris and Biehl 7, Haley 14-17).
Injury can result from many different incidents. One specifically important incident resulting in injury is domestic violence. It is approximated statistically that 1.8 million to 3-4 million domestic violence cases occur each year, unfortunately, the number of cases that occur cannot be more accurate due to domestic violence usually occurring in the relative privacy of one’s home. (Kelly, 2003) As disturbing as these numbers may be, we need to acknowledge that domestic violence is not a new problem arising in American homes but what is new is that we are now more aware of how serious the issue of domestic violence is in today’s society. Today, domestic violence, in its broadest definition is being defined as verbal, emotional, threatening, or physical abuse among current or former intimate partners and includes any persons related by blood. (Robert, 2002) They may be living currently within the same household or have been in the past for it to be considered domestic. Domestic violence has no barriers. It affects any race, religion, culture, or socioeconomic status. In today’s world every nurse knowingly or not is most likely to encounter a situation involving domestic violence. (Nucero & O’Connor, 2002) Therefore, it is important that within this discussion that the following issues is to be identified: the seriousness of domestic violence and what factors contribute to domestic violence, what role the legal system must take on when domestic violence occurs, and lastly what a nurse and the medical world can do in identifying and assessing domestic violence.
Historically, domestic violence was viewed as only involving physical abuse. However, the more contemporary view of domestic violence has come to include not only physical types of abuse; but as well as emotional, sexual, physiological, and economic violence that may be committed
Domestic violence can be hard to spot and it’s important to be knowledgeable of the signs, in order to help friends and family.
Kennedy, Bernice R. Domestic Violence: A.k.a. Intimate Partner Violence (ipv). New York: iUniverse, 2013. Print.
Campbell, Jacquelyn et al. “Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Heath Consequences.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162i10 Article 7 (2012): 1-13.
The guidelines outline that patients should be encouraged and supported about their health and use the information wisely to make decisions. Perhaps rather than encourage reporting with or without consent, a step to provide General Practitioners with additional tools to support domestic violence victims may have been a better option. The danger of implementing a reporting tool like this is that victims will withdraw completely and they will no longer feel completely safe to express themselves anywhere. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners provides clinical guidelines to assist General Practitioners when it comes to abuse and violence. General Practitioners are trained to handle and assist with domestic violence scenarios, imposing the question of non-consent reporting on delicate victims hinders General Practitioners rather than supporting