Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his or her thumb. An abuser may also threaten his victim, hurt him or her, or hurt those around them.
Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate. It happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are more commonly victimized, men are also abused—especially verbally and emotionally, although sometimes even physically as well.
To be an effective crisis intervention worker, there are several fundamental counseling skills that are key to intervention. Listening, knowing how to build report, being reflective, and having skills in problem solving are just a few of the essentials necessary. Communication is then most important aspect of crisis intervention, and the easiest to loose the quickest. Raising the awareness of a particular issue or concern is something often overlooked. Being the support needed is an important part of this crisis intervention is so helpful, and often times disregarded as important. When things have been done a cetain way for so long, the point that is made by the final outcome is hard to see and accept but is to meet the original goal as well as any new ones relevant.
As long as there are positive steps forward being made, a worker can not take then outcome personal. Some progress is usually much better than no progress and little effort made.