A client informed view of domestic violence counselling

Domestic violence (DV) affects one in five people in the UK and may result in psychological harm requiring counselling or psychotherapy intervention. However, there is little research available on what this client group require from counselling. This qualitative study, using adapted grounded theory, interviewed fourteen women and six men from four different DV agencies in the UK and Eire (three female and one male) about their previous experiences of counselling. The participants, many of whom had left their relationships, shared positive and negative experiences of counselling, allowing separate models for men and women to be developed. The women went through a multi-staged counselling process, which could include trauma work and exploration of previous experiences. The men had fewer resources available to them and the short term nature of the work meant a focus on resolving current issues. Despite the differences in resources, there were features which were common to men and women. Finding someone who understood DV helped to build trust first in the agency, and then in the counsellor. Hopelessness appeared to be a factor in seeking help and developing hope in different ways throughout the process was important. The therapeutic relationship required caring and compassion from the therapist to be fully effective, although the way compassion was experienced appeared different for men (as receiving help) and women (as the counsellor’s commitment). Trust, hope and compassion were important aspects that were experienced by participants at different points in the process and ultimately within themselves. The outcomes reported by the participants suggested that the post-traumatic growth inventory may be an appropriate measure of the value of counselling for this client group. The models developed could be used as part of the training and development required for counsellors working with clients who have suffered current or historic domestic abuse