Therapists' perceptions of severity in cases of family violence

The incidence of relationship violence is a topic of increased concern (Koss, 1990). Family therapy theorists have been criticized for emphasizing shared responsibility and obscuring the seriousness of the violence (Bograd, 1989; Pressman, 1989). The current study surveyed 362 members of a national family therapy organization. Respondents were asked to conceptualize and provide interventions for one of two actual cases that involved family violence. Results indicate the therapists surveyed did not attend to the seriousness of the violence if they attended to the violence at all. Interventions frequently failed to address the crisis and the need for protection of the wife.