Responding to Risk in Intimate Partner Violence

In this course, Carmel O’Brien OAM, Psychologist, begins by giving a common understanding of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), followed by helping you to understand critical aspects of client disclosure and the warning signs that IPV may be occurring. O’Brien poses a common hypothetical scenario to help you understand the elements of risk assessment, and details evidence-based factors to do with the victim, the perpetrator, and other factors. A safety plan is essential, and it needs to be personalised to the woman who may need to implement it; aspects of this are outlined. All helpers need to be aware of community safety principles, which are listed, so that they can help uphold them. O’Brien points out the good news that counsellors do not need to do thorough risk assessments themselves; they can refer clients to services that specialise in managing family violence.