Assessing Woman Battering in Mental Health Services [Paperback]

This guide to the conceptual and practical issues associated with identifying and assessing battered women in mental health services challenges traditional mental health approaches to domestic violence. The author offers alternative strategies and procedures to improve the response to battered women, drawing on research from mental health assessment, his own surveys of battered women's services and the expertise of battered women advocates.

Topics covered include: how to establish a supportive environment that enhances disclosure of woman battering; procedures to avoid misdiagnosis; assessing women of different racial background; and assessing men who batter.This guide to the conceptual and practical issues associated with identifying and assessing battered women in mental health services challenges traditional mental health approaches to domestic violence. The author offers alternative strategies and procedures to improve the response to battered women, drawing on research from mental health assessment, his own surveys of battered women's services and the expertise of battered women advocates.

Topics covered include: how to establish a supportive environment that enhances disclosure of woman battering; procedures to avoid misdiagnosis; assessing women of different racial background; and assessing men who batter.PART ONE: UNDERLYING ISSUES FACING ASSESSMENT
Addressing Differences and Barriers
Moving toward Collaboration
PART TWO: TOOLS FOR IMPROVED ASSESSMENT
Case Studies of Mental Health Evaluations
Procedures for Assessing Woman Battering
Recognizing the Strengths of Battered Women - with Angela Browne
PART THREE: OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN ASSESSMENT
Appreciating Diversity among Battered Women
Identifying and Assessing Men Who Batter
Appendix - with Susan Schechter
A Survlãz