[Melting]

My friend and her husband had an arguement a few days ago. What I didn't know until today is that he had become physically violent with her. It is an 'isolated' incident, and he is truly sorry. (Please--no 'just leave' comments.) If they both went to her therapist to discuss it and help him sort out his anger management problems--would the therapist report it to the police as a domestic violence case? Thankyou!

[seeker1950]

I don't know if there ARE "isolated" incedents of domestic violence. I tend to think if someone resorts to that kind of behavior one time, they will do it again.
As for the counselor reporting it, I don't think that could happen unless someone's life was endangered, but I could be wrong.
Seeker

[Melting]

That's what I want to help her make sure of. That they can discuss the situation in a nuetral environment and be able to find solutions to the problem. It was a situation where he truly was sorry, but very very wrong. It's one of those things that I don't think should be swept under the rug and forgotten because there were 'I'm sorry's'. Thankyou for your reply! Does anyone else know the answer to my question? Will A Therapist report a domestic violence situation if both parties are there to try and work through the problem? Thankyou! (And please remember, please no 'just leave' comments. They WANT to work it out.)

i'm not sure, but i believe confession and therapy records are confidential. i believe it changes, if the police subpoeanas (sp?) the records. i know that if my daughter called my T and asked about me, he would not tell her anything. nor would a minister relate something someone told them.

[h0kie]

I agree with Pat. As long as no one is filing a police report, I would think you would be ok. Even though I am pretty sure therapists are mandated reporters for child abuse, if you are an adult, I don't think that applies. You'd probably have to check your individual state laws. Heck, I would call NAMI or the therapist's office and see what they say. Just to be safe.

Hubby's quack pdoc told him once that if he ever got in trouble with the law, she couldn't protect him. I take that to mean if he got arrested and they got a court order for the records she would have to provide them.

[Shaymus]

On the first visit they could ask the therapist. Just put it in generalities. Like say "If you had a couple in for therapy and say they wanted to talk about an incident that got physically violent, would you have to report that to the police?". Something like that would give the answer and they could proceed from there on how they would handle it depending on the answer. Personally i doubt they would have to report it but always best to clarify.

[SittinSpin]

I agree with Shaymus, asking the question in a generalized way would give them the answer they need, I also doubt that they would have to report it, but I don't know for sure.

[jmo531]

I am thinking that they will only report it if the T believes that the she is in danger of more violence. I also belive that if they are seeking couselling, being honest and open is the only way to truely get the the root of his anger issues. If there is not honesty then therapy is pointless.

[Melting]

Thankyou for the advice and insight guys! Please keep them coming. Especially if you have had any experience with type of situation. I am sending the replies to her so she and her husband can figure out the best way to handle this.

[eskielover]

I was in a similar situation & my pdoc wouldn't let me go home from the psych hospital until we went to a psychologist to deal with the issues. Nothing was reported but they talked to me about what I was to do if it happened again. That is how it was handled here in California. I don't know about other states. I would be the one pressing charges if I needed to. Then there is the possibility of restraining orders too which can only be applied to physical abuse not mental......there can be a lot involved in domestic violence situations. Nothing came of my situation even though there were other incidenses throughout the years..... except that we are finally starting the divorce for the standard California reason.....irreconsilable differences. This kinda summarizes it but if you would like to PM me about anything more, it is ok with me.

Debbie

[Melting]

Thankyou. My friend lives in Michigan, so I don't know if they would have different laws out there. Her husband has gone with her and sat in on a few of her sessions. I know they love each other very much, and divorce for them isn't an option they want. Just to work out this domestic violence inccident and figure out what is behind his anger. Then hopefully there won't be anymore situations like this.

if there are children involved and the therapist feels the children are in eminent and immediate danger yes by law she has to report it. if it is just the man and woman it is your friends choice to report it or not. Neighbors and so on can also report during the situation. Even domestic violence agencies cannot report it if the person being abused is an adult and mentally capable of making the choice not to report.