title: Developing a manualized couples treatment for domestic violence: overcoming challenges.
abstract: This paper describes challenges faced in a four-year project to develop a manualized couples treatment program for domestic violence. The couples treatment program is an add-on to a male batterer program where the male partner has perpetrated mild-to-moderate violence, yet both partners want to remain together. The project involved the cooperation of a variety of community agencies and referrals from key domestic violence programs. While some anticipated challenges did not materialize over the course of the project, unanticipated challenges did. Qualitative data collected from therapists and clients throughout the project was used to refine the treatment approach.
authors.affiliation: Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Northern Virginia Center, 7054 Haycock Rd., Falls Church, Va. 22043, USA. sstith@vt.edu
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stith
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: McCollum
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D016730:Program Development; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012308:Risk Management; D014768:Virginia