Family Violence: A Clinical and Legal Guide

Abstract

"Family Violence: A Clinical and Legal Guide" is intended to provide professionals in the mental health, other medical, and legal fields with assistance in practice with patients or clients who have been the victims of child physical and/or sexual abuse, child neglect, domestic violence (also known as spouse or partner abuse), or elder abuse and neglect, and with families of these victims. Each of the 1st 6 chapters reviews the mental health literature, advises how to do a physical and mental health assessment, and discusses treatment methods as well as prevention and legal advocacy needs. Chapters 1–7 also contain discussions of various laws, plus commentary on the legal responsibilities of mental health and other medical professionals. There are also 8 resource appendixes, which include among other topics, the following: references for clinical protocols for case recognition and clinical management; advocacy, referral, and educational resources; examples of clinical guidelines and position statements about family violence put out by professional organizations [and] suggestions for improving the legal and judicial process with regard to the work of health and mental health care professionals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(preface)