Psychotherapy and Counseling Providers' Subjective Experiences Serving Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): A Scoping Review of Qualitative Research

Abstract

Although many survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) seek psychotherapy or counseling, providers often lack consistent training in serving this population, leading to variable-and at times harmful-experiences for survivor-clients. A review of existing research is necessary to better understand the perspectives of psychotherapy and counseling professionals working with this population. This scoping review examines qualitative studies focused on the experiences of providers working with adult IPV survivors in individual therapy. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews, 21 studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria for this review (i.e., qualitative studies with samples of psychotherapy or counseling providers who serve adult IPV survivors). These studies reveal significant personal challenges for providers, alongside limited training, education, and supervision. Providers demonstrated varying conceptualizations of IPV, employed diverse interventions, and described the influence of cultural, identity-related, and structural factors on their work. Many providers felt that systemic and societal barriers impacted their ability to effectively serve survivors. Findings indicate the need for comprehensive training, supervision, and resources to support providers in their work with IPV survivors. Yet, as IPV is rooted in structural inequities, individual-level interventions, while important, are not sufficient to address this social problem.

Keywords: counseling; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; mental healthcare; psychotherapy.