My interest in the environment has led me to study the effects of space on people, both natural and man-made. This project explores how architects and designers can design spaces conducive to the healing process. The emphasis of this thesis is on my design methodology, with the hope that this project will help other designers in their struggle to create spaces that heal the body, soul and spirit. To develop this project, I chose a shelter for battered women as the building type. This shelter is theoretically located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Its main goal is to create an environment in which battered women can recuperate physically, emotionally and spiritually. In order to accomplish this, I first studied my personal responses to a variety of built, as well as, natural spaces. I used two types of case studies, one looking at spaces and the other looking at the building type. Besides utilizing traditional building analysis, I also used literature to study space, since it allows me to study human’s reaction to space.These helped to shed light on why or why not certain spaces fulfill the building’s purpose. Later, through a series of art workshops with women at a local shelter, I was able to better understand the user. These workshops culminated in a collaborative art installation in which their reality and mine were combined. In addition, I researched other fields that are also trying to understand why we respond to space the way we do. Some of these fields are environmental psychology, sociology, behavioral studies, and art. Their findings led me to design flexible spaces that allow each woman to shape their own space, and spaces that appeal to all six senses. Following this exploration, I developed a program to meet the user’s requirements. This program described a prototypical facility that embodies ideal conditions. I then explored this program and its spatial requirements through physical models. A series of models interacting with the site gave birth to three design concepts. From these various schemes, a final design was selected and brought to the design development phase.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of intensive play therapy as a method of intervention for child witnesses of domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of intensive play therapy in: (a) improving the self-concept of child witnesses of domestic violence; (b) reducing internalizing behavior problems, such as withdrawal, somatic complaints, anxiety, and depression, of child witnesses of domestic violence; (c) reducing externalizing behavior problems, such as aggression and delinquency, of child witnesses of domestic violence; (d) reducing overall behavior problems, including internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and social problems, thought problems, and attention problems, of child witnesses of domestic violence; and (e) improving play behaviors in the areas of affection, contact, physical proximity, self-direction, aggression, mood, play themes, and food nurturing themes.

Criminal aspects of domestic violence Abstract Domestic violence is a highly undesirable phenomenon that has been historically present in our society and, given the intimate sphere of life and the environment it affects, it needs to be treated with caution. The aim of this thesis, which is systematically divided into five chapters, is to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of this dangerous and complex phenomenon with an emphasis on the existing legislation in the Czech Republic. The introductory chapter is devoted to the conceptual definition of domestic violence, the issue of necessity of a unitary definition of this socio-pathological phenomenon, this chapter further introduces the basic definition characteristics of domestic violence, its forms and types, particular phases within the cycle of domestic violence and theory of causes of domestic violence. The second chapter of this thesis deals with criminological and psychological issues respectively in relation to the perpetrator and the victim, introduces the typology of the perpetrators, defines their common characteristics, classify victims according to selected aspects, interprets key victimological terms and points out the serious consequences of repeated attacks. The following chapter presents an overview of the current Czech...

This study explores frontline support workers’ perspectives on how mothers’ needs and children’s rights are balanced in harm reduction programs in an urban centre in Alberta, Canada. Interviews were conducted with five (5) workers employed at harm reduction programs supporting mothers and/or children facing circumstances related to substance use, domestic violence, mental health, poverty, homelessness, and criminal justice system involvement. The interviews, along with content from publicly available (web-based) program descriptions, were analyzed through a theoretical framework that mobilizes theories of intersectional stigma (both on symbolic/interactional and structural levels). Participants revealed that intersectional stigma emerges from an abstinence-based child welfare system (namely, Children’s Services (CS) in Alberta), which constitutes a major barrier to ensuring the best interests of both mothers and children. Such stigma manifests based on the intersecting identities that women hold as mothers, as substance users, as partners who face violence, as criminalized persons, and more. Experiences of these barriers disproportionately impact mothers who do not meet idealized standards of mothering—standards which seem to be upheld and reproduced by the medicalization of motherhood. These families are more vulnerable to interventions including child apprehensions, which have severe impacts for both mothers and their children. The perspectives of the frontline support workers point to the importance of a harm reduction approach as an alternative to the current harm elimination one, but identified tensions between harm reduction and harm elimination remain a barrier to balancing the best interests of both mothers and children. Despite these tensions, the participants discuss their own practices of self-awareness and reflection and point to relationship building, non-judgment, and client-centering as essential to the role of the frontline worker who adopts a harm reduction approach.

The purpose of the study was to be able to illustrate men´s vulnerability to violence in close relationships, to see what support there is and the significance the professionals have for the vulnerable men. The methodological starting points that are central to the study are hermeneutic qualitative approaches, where semi-structured interviews have been conducted. In total, six people have been interviewed who have worked in some form with vulnerable men. The study is based on social constructionism and exit theory. The results of the study indicate that violence against men in close relationships is prevalent but that there is unrecorded. The result also shows the important role of the professionals in the treatment work and that the presence and commitment of the professionals is of great importance for an individual´s change process. It can be seen that there is a difference in which violence is most prevalent depending on what activities the professionals work on and that there is a difference in legislation depending which gender is exposed to violence in today's society. The Conclusion of the study indicates that it is an important subject to work against and lift and that the professional role of the professionals is important for the vulnerable men.

Women and children who turn to domestic violence shelters for help witness about the violence they and their companion animal have experienced. There are strong emotional bonds between humans and animals, which domestic violence perpetrators can use to hurt or control their partner. In fear that the domestic violence perpetrators will harm the animal if the victim tries to leave the relationship, thus she remains in the relationship to protect the animals. The aim of this study was to investigate how animal welfare officers work to discover the link between animal abuse and human violence. Moreover, how animal welfare officers help the victims in such relationships. The study was conducted using an inquiry and telephone interviews. The result of this study showed that the majority of animal welfare officers in Sweden work to discover the link during animal welfare inspection. With education, guidelines and cooperation with other authorities, they have the possibility to help abused animals and humans. In conclusion, animal welfare officers have an important role in dealing with abused animals and humans. They might be the first ones to discover violence and can thereby help the victims away from the domestic violence perpetrator.

This study is a two part study of the experiences of women participating in conjoint treatment for domestic violence. The participants in the first part of the study included 11 clients, from whom information was gathered in 25 interviews. The second part of the study focused on three women. Their opinions were garnered in five interviews. Five of the women were in multi-couple group therapy and nine participated in from four to twelve sessions of conjoint couple therapy with their partners. This study focused on how female partners of male batterers experienced strength-based focused couples therapy as part of a research and development project for couples treatment of domestic violence. The concepts of safety, responsibility for the violence, power and control, validation and empowerment guided the researcher. The women related that having two therapists and pre- and post-session check-ins contributed to their sense of safety. Although the women reported that their mate taking responsibility for the violence was important, they thought the therapy's focus on their strengths kept their mates committed to attending therapy sessions. Women, who reported that their mates were taking more responsibility for their actions, attributed the change to their therapists being persistent in discussing the various forms of abusive behavior and in stressing accountability for individual behavior. Most of the women indicated that talking about what they had experienced and that gaining support from therapists and group members increased their power and ability to focus on their own needs. Women in the study stressed the importance of having some form of follow-up support to be able to practicing new skills with their partners. Based on the recommendations of the women in this study, the treatment of domestic violence should provide women safe outlets for expressing their feelings, acknowledgment of their experience and tools for resolving the conflicts in their relationship. / Master of Science

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DPhil (Community Psychology) in the Faculty of Arts, in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011. / Domestic violence is a huge social, moral and spiritual problem in society today and many traditional methods of healing such as psychodynamic, solution-focused and cognitive behavioural therapies have left a vacuum when addressing the needs of the abused woman. This study aimed to determine whether there is a place for integrative therapies, particularly Philophonetics and Reiki which are both considered to be “body-based” therapies in the treatment of survivors of Domestic Violence. The sample was drawn from patients that sought treatment from the Community Care Centre and consisted of eight case studies of women who have been abused. A phenomenological approach was used in order to find the meaning the women attached to their experience of being abused. The findings of the study revealed a reduction in both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Depression and anxiety are common diagnosis for those who have suffered abuse and prior to the study all participants showed signs of depression and anxiety. The findings further showed that with Reiki therapy significant changes occurred physically as well as psychologically. With Philophonetics therapy changes occurred at a deeper layer as individuals were able to access the abuse in a nonverbal manner, without intellectualizing the problem. Both therapies proved to be effective due to the fact that individual’s had to “feel” rather than “think”. A further finding was that all participants felt comfortable enough to access their spirituality, thus showing that mind-body connection is vital in treating abuse. Finally it was revealed that no therapy can work in isolation, therefore the combination of traditional and CAM therapies had shown merit for the twenty first century therapist.

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, 2000. / Dissertation on "The need for pre-marital counselling in preventing domestic violence" is the outcome of the researcher's concern about domestic violence that is widespread in our society. On reviewing the literature, she found that social workers and their professional associates are trying hard to fight against this disease. However, very little is being achieved as this disease in increasing day by day. Revelation by literature that pre-marital counselling, as a primary intervention, is seldom applied by practitioner that are trying to stop domestic violence, motivated the researcher to undertake this study. In her introduction to this study, the researcher stated the problem, her motivation to undertake this study, its objectives, assumptions, value and limitations, and lastly, she - defined the terms. The researcher reviewed literature on explanation of domestic violence. Her focus was on its causes, forms, effects, prevalence, common features of human violence, individual features of men who batter, why women stay in abusive relationship and the "way they respond to this domestic violence. She further looked into the preventative intervention to domestic violence, focussing on three levels of preventions, namely, preparation for marriage, which is primary prevention, promotion of the quality of marriage and family life, which is secondary prevention, treatment of marital dysfunction, which is tertiary prevention as well as traditional ways of preparing for marriage. The design the researcher used was exploratory/descriptive in nature. Subjects of the study were selected by means of purposive sampling. The sampling units were the social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Population development, stationed at Madadeni and their clients (ten families) that presented domestic violence related problems. Madadeni community is situated at about 13 km, south of Newcastle in Kwazulu Natal. Interview schedules were pre-tested on three social workers and three families. Interviews and studying of the files of the individual prospective respondents were used to collect data. Frequency tables, columns and pie charts with percentages were used in presentation, analysis and interpretation of data. During the analysis of data, the researcher looked for similarities and dissimilarities. She presented data as a descriptive account, organised it into categories on the basis of themes and proposed hypotheses. Lastly, she gave a summary, drew conclusions regarding the need for premarital counselling in the area and made recommendations. The overall conclusion that was made by the researcher was that pre-marital counselling is needed in combating domestic violence. *

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Domestic violence (DV) in India is one of the most alarming issues that is experienced by over one-third (36.6%) of non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (non SC/ST) women and nearly half (48%) of Scheduled Caste (SC) women (ages 15-49). DV and women’s empowerment are historically interlinked. The patriarchy embedded within social-cultural norms along with economic capability deprivation takes away the freedom of SC women to enjoy bodily safety in public and private spaces. Despite Constitutional measures, SC women continue to face violence-induced capability deprivation due to discrimination at three levels: caste, class, and gender. DV against SC women is an understudied area; there are scarcely any studies on DV in this population using national data. This research used data from the National Family Health Survey-III 2005-2006 (N = 12,069-SC women and N = 45,390- non-SC/ST women). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine DV trends amongst SC and non-SC/ST women. Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, having better empowerment (household-autonomy, healthcare decision-making, sexual-autonomy) increased the likelihood of women experiencing DV. However, the hypothesis relating to economic empowerment and autonomy was supported showing a reduced likelihood of DV. SC women were empowered when they had the capability to earn wages; however, they had no instrumental freedom to spend their own earnings. Similarly, empowerment indicators were shown to impact the likelihood of justifying the violence shaping women’s gender norms and attitudes. When compared with non-SC/ST, SC women who have economic and healthcare autonomy had lower odds of justifying DV. Exposure to DV in childhood, early marriage, and husbands’ alcohol abuse significantly enhanced the likelihood of DV. Across most of the indicators, the intensity of DV amongst SC women was relatively higher than non-SC/ST women. The findings emphasize the need for social work practice and policy to focus not only on empowering women in terms on economic and material well-being through ownership, but also assessing if this ownership have instrumental value in practice without the threat of DV. Future research can enhance understanding of DV by examining social exclusion, socio-cultural patriarchy, and the intersectionality of caste, class, gender, and other individualist and community factors. / 2 years