Counselling Survivors and Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (CO2010Z)

Content

Domestic Violence (DV) is a 'hot topic' in both the media and in professional practice. However, its aetiology and presentation are complex and varied. This unit will first explore the emerging evidence-based literature surrounding DV alongside community responses to DV. In this way students will be orientated to the expectations of professional practice. However, the focus of the unit is about working with clients. These may be victim-survivors or perpetrators. The unit will discuss how to work effectively with victim-survivors to promote their safety, and also consider unexpected types of victim-survivors too (e.g., men, members of the LGBT+ community, and people with a disability). When working with perpetrators a 'Gottman lens' will be taken. Again, knowing how to work safely and effectively is key, but now we must also consider treatment resistance and our scope of practice.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 2 (term 4).
Prerequisites: CO1005Z Introduction to Counselling; CO1007Z Introduction to Psychology. Prohibited combinations: CO2009Z Strengths-Based Counselling For Marginalised People.

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning In practice: This is a collaborative way of learning that takes note of the learner’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). By repeatedly extending the learner’s ZPD they develop a comprehensive and integrated system of knowledge/skills. Scaffolded learning is achieved through the provision of online modules which clearly guide a student’s learning; through activities of increased complexity during intensives; by face-to-face seminars which are tailored to induce academic/professional growth in an ordered and coherent way; and by assessments which not only seek to identify that key knowledge/skills have been learnt, but that the student is developing an integrated understanding of counselling.

Indicative Bibliography

1. Allen, M. (2011). Narrative Therapy for women experiencing domestic violence: Supporting women’s transition from abuse to safety. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
2. Devaney, J. & Lazenbatt, A. (2017). Domestic violence perpetrators: Evidence-informed responses. Routledge.
3. Harvey, W. (2019). Family Violence: Legal, medical, and social perspectives. Routledge.
4. Lopez-Levers, L. (2022). Trauma counselling (2nd edition). Springer Publishing.
5. Meyer, S., & Frost, A. (2019). Domestic and Family Violence: A critical introduction to knowledge and practice. Routledge.
6. Raine, A. (2014). The anatomy of violence. Vintage Books.
7. Roddy, J. (2015). Counselling and psychotherapy after domestic violence. Springer.

Assessment