1st Edition

Working with Client Experiences of Domestic Abuse A Handbook for Counsellors, Psychotherapists, and Other Mental Health Professionals

Edited By Jeannette Roddy Copyright 2023
238 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

238 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

238 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This edited volume shares relevant theory and practical strategies to support counsellors to work effectively with those who have experienced domestic abuse. The effect of relational and other abuses can impact an individual’s ability to engage with family, friends, counsellors or other professionals trying to support them due to reduced ability to trust and the impact of complex trauma.... Read more

1. Introduction

Jeannette Roddy

2. A Model of Therapeutic Practice

Jeannette Roddy

3. Understanding Domestic Abuse

Jeannette Roddy and Rod Dubrow-Marshall

4. Enhancing Therapeutic Skills

Jeannette Roddy, Leigh Gardner, and Linda Dubrow-Marshall

5. Understanding Attachment and Transference

Jeannette Roddy and Sarah Eccleston

6. Working with Protective Emotions

Linda Dubrow-Marshall and Laura Viliardos

7. Working with Protective Behaviours

Linda Dubrow-Marshall and Rod Dubrow-Marshall

8. Understanding Complex Trauma

Jeannette Roddy

9. Understanding the Developmental Impact of Domestic Violence and Adverse Experiences in Childhood across the Life-Course

Celeste Foster and Leigh Gardner

10. Compassionate Mind Training

Elaine Beaumont

11. Different Clients, Different Contexts

Jeannette Roddy, Rod Dubrow-Marshall, Laura Viliardos, Mark Widdowson, and Keelan Donohue

12. Understanding the Impact of Law and Ethics

Sarah Riding

13. Using Creative Arts Therapies to Work with Trauma Developed from Experiences of Domestic Abuse

Joanna Omylinksa-Thurston and Leigh Gardner

14. Preparing Ourselves for Starting and Continuing Client Work

Jeannette Roddy and Elaine Beaumont

15. Looking Ahead

Jeannette Roddy

Biography

Jeannette Roddy has been a practicing counsellor/psychotherapist and researcher in domestic abuse counselling for over 10 years. She became a university academic in 2014, teaching and supervising counselling students in practice and research, and developing a domestic abuse counselling service. In 2022, she set up Dactari, which specializes in delivering domestic abuse counselling, training and research.

‘This book is an invaluable resource to therapeutic practitioners wanting to understand more about working with domestic abuse. The book draws on an impressive wealth of practice experience and research evidence. Grounded in a trauma-informed, person-centred and relationship-focused lens, Jeannette and contributing authors engage deeply with the complexity of working with this client group, offering practical strategies, self-reflection exercises, and theoretical insights that will support therapists to develop their practice and understand more about domestic abuse.’

Tanya Beetham, PhD, is a lecturer in Psychology and Counselling at The Open University. She is a counsellor/psychotherapist with research expertise in domestic abuse.

‘This book is a well-researched and accessibly written guide to working with domestic abuse, which addresses a range of theoretical and professional perspectives. Readers are encouraged to discern whether they are suited to domestic abuse as a specialism and to this approach to the work. A valuable resource for any practitioner.’

Nikki Dhillon Keane is the author of the BACP guidance Working with Domestic Abuse in the Counselling Professions and Domestic Abuse in Church Communities (rpbooks.co.uk) and founder of Safe in Faith and cofounder of the Faith and VAWG Coalition.