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| Domestic Violence Glossary |
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The following is a list of terms used on this site, as well as terms you may have heard elsewhere which pertain to domestic violence, abuse therapy and reporting of abuse. Abreaction - the verbal expression of unconscious thoughts or feelings, usually in the presence of a therapist. Affiliation - the ability and willingness to feel a part of or connected to other people or groups of people. Alcohol Abuse- Compulsive use of alcohol that is not of a temporary nature. Applies to infants addicted at birth, or who are victims of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or who may suffer other disabilities due to the use of alcohol during pregnancy as well as adults and adolescents suffering from alcoholism. Alleged Perpetrator Report Source -An individual who reports an alleged incident of domestic violence in which he/she caused or knowingly allowed the maltreatment of a partner or family member. Alleged Victim Report Source - A person who alleges to have been a victim of domestic violence and who makes a report of the allegation. Anonymous Or Unknown Report Source -An individual who reports a suspected incident of domestic violence without identifying himself or herself; or the type of reporter is unknown Anxiety - the persistent feeling that danger or harm is imminent. Assessment - the beginning stage of therapy in which information is gathered that helps the professional understand the possible origins of the symptoms and decide the best methods in which to address and modify those symptoms. Attributions - beliefs or perceptions about the self, others, and the world that are derived from training, learning, or experience. Behavioral Theory - initially established by John B. Watson, the theory that overt behavior is the sole basis for scientific psychology. Founded on operant conditioning principles, behavioral theory attempts to explain the cause effect relationship between the class of stimulus variables and response variables, with reinforcement stimuli increasing behaviors and punishment stimuli decreasing behaviors. Case Management Services - Activities for the arrangement, coordination, and monitoring of services to meet the needs of victims and their families. Case Plan - the professional document that outlines the outcomes, goals, and strategies to be used to change the conditions resulting in domestic violence. Clinical Supervision - allows the therapist to seek information and share his/her clinical experience with another professional who can offer guidance, knowledge, and support. Generally, the clinical supervisor is more experienced and can share insight gained from working with the client population. Supervision helps professionals become more realistic in their expectations for themselves and their clients. It also allows therapists to share the burden of hearing and responding to numerous disclosures of domestic violence and know that some other professional is aware of the work being done. Cognitive Functioning - awareness of objects, thoughts, or perceptions. Cognitive Theory - as a development of behavioral theory, cognitive or cognitivebehavioral approaches aim to change behavior by changing an individual's cognition. Conjoint Therapy - therapeutic approach whereby the therapist works with a pair of clients, generally parent/caregiver-victim, sibling-victim, perpetrator-victim (when appropriate), to facilitate communication and appropriate interaction and improve the relationship of the two individuals. Content and Process - two forms of information that are useful in gauging a client's participation in therapy. Content includes the specific topics or information that are discussed in the session whereas process includes information about the client's behavior and interaction. Countertransference - the conscious and unconscious emotional reactions of the professional to the client. Developmental Psychopathology - the perspective of understanding problems and abnormal interpersonal processes within an individual within the context of that individual's developmental abilities and skills. Documentation - information related to provision of therapeutic services. Generally, this information includes date of service, persons present during the session, brief description of topics covered, the client's responses to the subject matter, and the date of the next scheduled appointment. Suicide or homicide ideation, threat, or intent must be documented with appropriate responses, including all attempts to protect the client as well as intended victims. Any child abuse and domestic violence disclosures must be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities. Domestic Violence -A complex system of power and control behaviors that an intimate partner or family member uses to control another person's individual freedom that includes emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, threats, intimidation, and isolation. Ego Defenses - unconscious attempts such as denial, projection, rationalization, regression, intellectualization, and sublimation which are used to manage overwhelming emotions or experiences. Family Systems Theory - a view of how family members interact with one another in relationship patterns that promote and/or accommodate the functioning of the family as a unit (or system). Family Therapy - the therapist and cotherapist, when possible, work with family members, including parents, siblings, and extended family members (e.g., grandparents) in a group setting to address the changes necessary to ensure the safety and protection of the family, especially the identified victim(s). Any problems or confusion generated by the abuse are also dealt with. Genogram - a diagram of family members and their relationship to each other. This chart is useful to help the client understand the intergenerational aspects of child abuse and neglect and helps the client acknowledge helpful or problematic familial relationships. Group Therapy - treatment approach in which the therapist and cotherapist work with a group of clients similar in age and experiences (e.g., sexual abuse, physical abuse, parents of victims) to help them share their thoughts and feelings related to their situation. This approach is particularly useful with clients who feel alienated or different from their peers or who have isolated their feelings as well as clients who would benefit from learning more positive and productive ways for interacting with others. Ideation - the formation of images and objects in the mind. Indicated Or Reason To Suspect -An investigation disposition that concludes that maltreatment cannot be substantiated under State law or policy, but there is reason to suspect that the alleged victim may have been maltreated or was at risk of maltreatment. This is applicable only to States that distinguish between substantiated and indicated dispositions. Individual Therapy - treatment approach in which the therapist and client work together in a one-to-one relationship to address thoughts, feelings, and behavior generated by the experience of abuse. Interpretation - a hypothesis about seemingly random symptoms or behavior that is connected to meaningful experience. During interpretation, the client connects his/her symptoms with a reasonable explanation that helps him/her make sense of the experience. Intimacy - the need and/or ability to feel close to other persons, especially an age-appropriate responsive and willing partner. The ability to feel intimate usually involves sharing one's most personal thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors. Learning Theory - in clinical work and therapy, learning theory is typically referred to as social learning theory, which assesses the synergistic effects of behavior, personal factors, and the environment. This may involve observational learning, modeling, and/or cognitions. Legal, Law Enforcement, Or Criminal Justice Personnel -A person employed by a local, State, tribal, or Federal justice agency including law enforcement, courts, district attorney's office, probation or other community corrections agency, and correctional facilities. Maltreatment -An act or failure to act by a partner or family member as defined under State law which results in physical abuse, neglect, medical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm to the victim. Maltreatment Death -Death of a victim as a result of abuse or neglect, because either: (a) an injury resulting from the abuse or neglect was the cause of death; or (b) abuse and/or neglect were contributing factors to the cause of death. Maltreatment Disposition Level - The disposition of an alleged maltreatment. The disposition level may be substantiated, indicated (reason to suspect), unsubstantiated, closed (no finding), other, or unknown. Maltreatment Type -A particular form of maltreatment determined by investigation to be substantiated or indicated under State law. Types include physical abuse, neglect or deprivation of necessities, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional maltreatment, and other forms included in State law. Mandated to Report - each State has listed professionals who must report abuse and neglect to the proper authorities, usually law enforcement or social services. There are penalties for failing to report suspected abuse and neglect. Most professionals are protected from liability if they make a report that is unfounded after investigation as long as the report was made in the best interest of the alleged victim. Medical Neglect -A type of maltreatment caused by intentionally preventing a person from receiving necessary or appropriate health care although financially able to do so, or offered financial or other means to do so. Medical Personnel -A person employed by a medical facility or practice, including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, emergency medical technicians, dentists, dental assistants and technicians, chiropractors and coroners. Mental Health Personnel -A person employed by a mental health facility or practice, including psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, etc. Metaphor - a phrase or story that represents themes and offers the client insight into his/her feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Modalities - approaches to psychotherapy that include individual, group, or family therapy. Multidisciplinary Team -established among agencies and professionals to mutually discuss cases of abuse and neglect and aid decisions at various stages of the legal and recovery processes. Neglect Or Deprivation Of Necessities -A type of maltreatment that refers to intentionally denying the victim access to necessities such as food, clothing, etc although financially able to do so, or offered financial or other means to do so. Not Substantiated- Investigation disposition that determines that there is not sufficient evidence under State law or policy to conclude that the alleged victim has been maltreated or is at risk of being maltreated. Notifications -Mandated or courtesy contacting of other agencies with overlapping or potentially overlapping jurisdiction concerning a report of domestic violence. Out-Of-Court Contact -Contact, which is not part of the actual judicial hearing, between the court-appointed representative and the victim. Such contacts enable the court-appointed representative to obtain a first-hand understanding of the situation and needs of the victim, and to make recommendations to the court concerning the best interests of the victim. Perpetrator -The person who has been determined to have caused or knowingly allowed the maltreatment of a partner or family member. Personality Disorders - the implication of inflexible and maladaptive patterns of behavior, of sufficient severity to cause either significant impairment in adaptive functioning or subjective distress. PFA (Protection from Abuse Order) -A PFA is a binding civil order that prohibits abusers from harming their victims again. These orders can be a critical component of the victim's safety. Physical Abuse -Type of maltreatment that refers to physical acts that caused or could have caused physical injury to the victim. Prognosis - anticipated outcome for the client participating in therapy. Outcome is often affected by factors such as the client's developmental and cognitive capacity and ability, parent/primary caretakers' availability and response to therapy, and client's willingness to participate in and utilize the therapeutic relationship. Psychoeducational Group - experience that both educates members of the group and allows them to explore their thoughts and feelings related to the information. Psychological Or Emotional Maltreatment -Type of maltreatment that refers to acts or omissions, other than physical abuse or sexual abuse, that caused, or could have caused, conduct, cognitive, affective, or other mental disorders. Includes emotional neglect, psychological abuse, mental injury, etc. Frequently occurs as verbal abuse or excessive demands on performance and may cause the victim to have a negative self-image and disturbed behavior. Psychopathology - the branch of medicine that deals with the causes and nature of mental disease. Psychotherapy - a method of treatment designed to produce a response by mental rather than physical stimuli; it includes the use of suggestion, persuasion, reeducation, reassurance, and support as well as hypnosis and psychoanalysis. Regression - behavioral state in which the client reverts to an earlier or younger developmental stage. Risk Assessment - an assessment and measurement of the likelihood that a victim or alleged victim will be maltreated in the future, usually through the checklists, matrices, scales, and/or other methods of measurement. Role Play - therapeutic approach which presents the opportunity to "try out" various roles or positions that are unfamiliar or confusing to the client. Role play is also an opportunity for the client to practice skills. Sexual Abuse -A type of maltreatment that refers to the involvement of the victim in sexual activities to which he or she has not consented, or that are illegal or inappropriate to the victim's age. Social Desirability - the tendency for an individual to alter his/her response to a question in a manner that is consistent with his/her perception of the interviewer. Social Skills Group - therapeutic experience that focuses on teaching types of social interaction that facilitate appropriate relationships with peers. Communication skills such as listening, asking questions, sharing information, learning assertiveness, resolving conflict, and learning behaviors that appropriately express nurturing and affection are often practiced within this type of group. Stigma - negative meaning associated with experience or behaviors. Support Systems - individuals or groups of people who are helpful and responsive to the client. These individuals or groups may include family, friends, and professionals such as therapist, social worker/caseworker, or group member. Symptoms - emotional or behavioral reactions to the experience of abuse and/or neglect. Therapeutic Alliance/Therapeutic Relationship - the understanding that the client gains that the purpose of the interaction between therapist and client is intended to benefit the client and is organized to help the client explore and learn from painful and/or overwhelming experiences. The client's willingness to accept and acknowledge the value of the therapeutic relationship is based on the therapist's ability to be trustworthy, responsible, and useful to the client. Transference - the unconscious transfer of feelings of hostility or affection from the client to the professional. Treatment Plan - prepared by the clinician to outline the goals and objectives of therapy. Goals are broad treatment issues, whereas objectives are more specific activities or tasks that will help the client achieve his/her goals. Validation - acknowledgment that the client's thoughts and feelings are worthy of attention. Victim Blaming -An erroneous judgment made against victims of domestic violence that holds that women are partly responsible for being abused because they can control the violence, or else provoke the violence, and can therefore avoid these assaults by changing their behaviors. |
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