When Violence Begins at Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse [Paperback]

K. J. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997

The author reflects her 17 years on the front lines working against domestic violence after surviving an abusive relationship herself. Karen Wilson provides a comprehensive manual for counselors, legal professionals, and victims of abuse, addressing behavioral patterns, the role of alcohol and drugs, how to leave abusive relationships, legislation on domestic violence, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This comprehensive reference will be a valuable resource to both battered women and their caregivers. Wilson, who went underground for a few years to escape a dangerous relationship, draws on her experience as director of the Austin Center for Battered Women to provide immediate aid to victims and guidelines for helpers. She discusses the indicators of an abusive relationship; its effects on children and teens; substance abuse; how the workplace, medical, and religious communities can help; treatment programs for batterers; antiburnout tips for helpers; and advice on living underground. A final chapter presents a history of misogyny. Wilson is sensitive to cultural differences and their impact on women from various backgrounds. An appendix offers myriad resources in the form of support groups and print materials. Full of practical advice from someone with extensive experience in the field of domestic violence, this is strongly recommended for all collections.?Valerie Diamond, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Law, Baltimore
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This comprehensive reference will be a valuable resource to both battered women and their caregivers. Wilson, who went underground for a few years to escape a dangerous relationship, draws on her experience as director of the Austin Center for Battered Women to provide immediate aid to victims and guidelines for helpers. She discusses the indicators of an abusive relationship; its effects on children and teens; substance abuse; how the workplace, medical, and religious communities can help; treatment programs for batterers; anti-burnout tips for helpers; and advice on living underground. A final chapter presents a history of misogyny. Wilson is sensitive to cultural differences and their impact on women from various backgrounds. An appendix offers myriad resources in the form of support groups and print materials. Full of practical advice from someone with extensive experience in the field of domestic violence, this is strongly recommended for all collections. — Valerie Diamond, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Law, Baltimore, Library Journal

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House Publishers; First Edition edition (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897932277
• ISBN-13: 978-0897932271
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women are safer at night in the park than in their own homes., April 4, 2006

By 

Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: When Violence Begins at Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse (Paperback)

If you get only one book about domestic violence, this should be the one. It is comprehensive, and well-written. As a training specialist, it was one of my main sources for writing a domestic violence prevention training program. Some of the material is a little dated because in most states including mine, women are now allowed to introduce their history of domestic abuse in court where it was not allowed in the past. That may be a partial explanation why women who have killed their domestic partners have spent an average of 15 years in jail. Men who killed their domestic partners have spent an average of 2 to 3 years.

What I find most useful from this book is the information about the myths surrounding domestic violence. Before I worked with a rape victim who helped me develop my training program, I held some of these myths which revealed my ignorance. The next thing that I found helpful were the traits of the abuser. These traits should be clear signals for all women who are currently dating. The traits of the victim are perhaps the saddest of all. Generally, she denies that it is even happening to her, and blames herself for it. She feels that if she does what he wants, that will bring back the real nice, affectionate, romantic man she once knew. What she fails to realize is that he was that way all along. He just didn't show it until he had complete control over his victim. Children from abusive environments also show a number of traits or behaviors and the author catologues them too. Children from these homes are six times more likely to commit suicide, and 1000x more likely to become abusers themselves.

I do hope the one reviewer here gets the help he needs. While men can certainly be in abusive relationships from their female partners, 95% of the cases are men abusing women. Domestic violence accounts for one out of four visits to the emergency room, and costs this country 1.8 billion dollars a year in medical costs. And yes, 834,000 men per year are abused by their domestic partners. This book does list a number of sources for protection for men and women. It also recognizes women as abusers too. That would have been apparent by reading the book.

If you need help, confide in only a couple of faithful and loyal friends. Contact the police, not family. Get a court order of protection (or peace). Avoid marriage counseling; it makes matters worse, not better. The batterer must get the counseling alone. Relocate if necessary.

Remember, in the batterer's eyes you are only property.



Also recommended:

Michael Hertica & Wendy Deaton, "A Therapist's Guide to Growing Free: A Manual for Survivors of Domestic Violence."

5.0 out of 5 stars When Violence Begins At Home, January 2, 2012

By 

Dori - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Violence Begins at Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse (Paperback)

This is a very well written and comprehensive book about domestic violence. This is one of the best books I have seen on the subject and I highly recommend it for anyone involved in a DV relationship, or who works with people who are.

5.0 out of 5 stars good product / supplier, July 17, 2011

By 

Dexter4447 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Violence Begins at Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse (Hardcover)

There was a problem with this order but the supplier went above and beyond to correct it. Great Job, Thanks