Citation

Evans K, Barton R, Hendrickson R, LaPlante LM. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2022.2099774

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher among Veterans than civilians. The Veteran Health Administration's IPV Assistance Program has been key in rolling out a universal screening tool within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help identify Veterans who experience IPV; however, treatment options beyond safety planning, resources, and referrals are limited, and those that exist are primarily individual interventions, which may not be preferred or feasible in all settings. This paper describes the development and initial implementation of a new virtual group intervention, the "Windows" program, for women Veterans who have experienced or are experiencing IPV. Windows is based around an eight-week trauma-informed, recovery-oriented therapeutic group curriculum. The group's structure and implementation prioritize group members' safety and the ability to flexibly respond to members' needs. Initial observations and feedback from the first three participants are included, with the goal of informing future directions for the development of services for this population.

Language: en

Keywords

domestic violence; group; intervention; Intimate partner violence; virtual; women; women veterans