Problem
The police have been called to the Olson household on three occasions for domestic violence. The couple has been ordered by the court to attend couples therapy. During a session with you as the therapist, one partner reported that there is concern the violence will get worse and negatively impact their children.
In your post, address the following:
Part 1
Based on the readings, describe three strategies or techniques you would utilize to work with this couple.
Discuss your understanding of a therapist's legal and ethical obligations to this couple regarding mandated reporting and confidentiality, according to your state's requirements, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy AAMFT) code of ethics:
Part B
Imagine the couple in the following contexts:
a) The couple is heterosexual; the perpetrator of the violence is male.
b) This is a lesbian couple.
c) The couple is heterosexual; the perpetrator of the violence is female.
Finally, imagine each scenario, but there are no children living in the home.
Reflect on and write about the assumptions you may have made about this couple in terms of contextual and cultural factors, such as gender and sexual orientation, when you initially read the scenario. How do the changes in the various scenarios impact your thoughts, feelings, and overall reaction to this case?