I work with adults and children, perpetrators and victims in the area of domestic violence as a matter of occupation - I provide therapy and counsel. I found the following article to be enlightening, reassuring and most importantly, it reaffirmed that this type of work is worthwhile - vital actually.
It's a common hazard amongst private-practice psychologists' to work in isolation and to forget.
The following comes from recent article published by Marie Claire Australia (April 2009)
"Today, one in four Australians aged 12 to 20 witnesses domestic violence, a figure highlighted in a report by the White Ribbon Foundation last November. That's half a million children and teenagers who know their mother or stepmother is being abused by her partner. In September, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described family violence as 'the great silent crime of our age'...
...Yet the effect on kids of witnessing violence is profound - it can be as damaging to children as physically experiencing the violence themselves...says Dr Michael Flood, co-author of the White Ribbon report... 'It's deeply traumatic for children' ...
...Last May, it (Aust. Federal Government) funded the first-ever review of domestic violence by forming the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children, and its forthcoming report is expected to concentrate on children."
- Article by Anna Saunders.
The effects on children who witness domestic violence can often last a traumatic lifetime.
Yes, I certainly have found this to be so (the impact on children who witness).
I am shocked by the 25% statistic. Very saddened.
Posted by: coffeeyogurt | March 23, 2009 at 03:00 PM
It seems to be a shockingly common part of our life now. It's just horrible.
Posted by: alison | March 23, 2009 at 08:14 PM