| Over the last 40 years' domestic violence has been a growing concern in the United States as well as other countries. This area of concern and research has focused primarily on the effects of domestic violence on females as victims and has given less attention to the men who are also victims of domestic violence. The lack of research on male victims of domestic violence has hindered professional mental health providers to be properly trained and educated in the effects of domestic violence on men.;The purpose of this study was to examine mental health providers' general knowledge, experience, and training in the area of male victims and female perpetrators of domestic violence. The clinics that were chosen to participate were county non-profit mental health clinics that provided mental health services (individual, family and group counseling) along with case management services, psychiatric services and crises services to the underserved population of Fresno and Kings Counties in California. A questionnaire was administered in order to assess mental health provider's knowledge, training, and experience working with male victims and female perpetrators of domestic violence. The majority of providers reported they feel they have not been properly trained, educated or are unprepared to work with or even recognize the symptoms of male victims of intimate partner violence along with recognizing female perpetrators of domestic violence. Research in outcome measures that compares and evaluates different treatment models with female violent offenders, should be considered. In addition, the utilization of therapeutic theories that address the needs of male victims require further exploration. |
