ABSTRACT
Family therapists often need to diagnose and treat intimate partner violence. Therefore our chapter is designed to provide you with some of the tools you need to do so effectively. We begin with information about the frequency of intimate partner violence and the devastating impact it can have on all family members. Next, we discuss the types of partner violence. While physical violence, especially severe life-threatening violence, is often what comes to mind when referring to “intimate partner violence,” we believe that to be effective in addressing this issue, you need to understand that each form of partner violence can have catastrophic effects on the physical and/or mental health of family members. We also want you to understand why therapists often do not realize that violence is occurring between partners so that you will be prepared to uncover it if it is occurring. We present clear guidelines to assist you in screening for violence in intimate relationships and assessing for severe violence in relationships where violence is occurring.
