“Looking Back, the Programs Kept Me Alive”: Women’s Impressions of Counseling for Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

The copious research on formal help-seeking of women abused by intimate partners, rarely narrows to counseling services. This mixed-methods secondary analysis examined 660 Canadian women and their use and impressions of counseling. The women’s racial backgrounds were 50.8% Indigenous, 43.1% White, and 6.1% visible minority. Women who did not seek counseling reported less serious IPV and fewer PTSD symptoms. Most rated counseling as quite a bit/very helpful (77–87%), with the exception of marital counseling (8.3%). The women commented about IPV-specific counseling, general counseling, faith-base, addictions, couples counseling, and Indigenous traditions. Comments revealed strengths and concerns, including counselors lacking IPV knowledge and difficulties accessing resources. Implications are provided for clinicians and researchers.

Keywords:

• Counseling
• domestic abuse
• help-seeking
• intimate partner violence
• violence against women

Acknowledgments

The Research team (excluding the author): Dr. E. Jane Ursel and Marlene Bertrand (Manitoba Department of Family Services and Housing, MB) are the Co-Principal Investigators; Dr. Kendra L. Nixon; Dr. Christine Ateah; Dr. Janice Ristock; Dr. Lori Wilkinson; Colin Bonnycastle; Dr. Jocelyn Proulx (University of Manitoba); Dr. Johanna Leseho; Dr. Roberta Graham (Brandon University); Dr. Linda DeRiviere; Dr. Michelle Owen (University of Winnipeg); Anna Pazdzierski (Nova House, Selkirk, MB); Karen Peto (YWCA Brandon); Margaret Marin & Darlene Sutherland (Osborne House, Winnipeg); Dr. Mary Ruklos Hampton; Dr. Bonnie Jeffery; Dr. Darlene Juschka; Dr. Wendee Kubik (University of Regina); Dr. Stephanie Martin (University of Saskatchewan); Carol Soles (Prince Albert Emergency Shelter for Women); Debra George (Family Services Regina); Dr. Karen Wood (Tamara’s House, Saskatoon); Maria Hendrika (Provincial Association of Transition Houses Saskatchewan); Angela Wells (Family Support Centre, Saskatchewan); Dr. H. L., Radtke; Dr. W. Thurston; Dr. Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot (University of Calgary); Dr. Caroline McDonald-Harker (University of Alberta); Dr. Ruth Grant Kalischuk (University of Lethbridge); Jan Reiner & Carolyn Goard (Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters); Brenda Brochu (Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter); Kristine Cassie (YWCA Lethbridge); Pat Garrett (WINGS of Providence, Edmonton).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Community University Research Alliance (CURA); Alberta Center for Child, Family, & Community Research; Alberta Heritage Fund for Medical Research; the Prairieaction Foundation; and TransCanada Pipelines.