According to Ronald Potter-Efron, Ph.D. “…an act of Domestic Violence refers to any behavior by either gender which is intended to intimidate, injure (physically or emotionally) or control one’s intimate partner, family member or person with whom one is living.”
This new and inclusive definition moves away from earlier ones in which the presence of control was the deciding factor to include more generally coercive, intimidating and abusive behavior. Consequently, the door is now open to interventions that take into account the pervasive and insidious nature of that behavior.
As a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist (CDVS-1), I am committed to working with both victims and survivors.
Whether self-referred or mandated, either individually or when appropriate in couples, I incorporate my experience as a Psychotherapist, Couples Therapist as well as my Certification as an Anger Management Specialist (CAMS-1) to help individuals change their behavior and in some instances save their lives.
My greatest strength in this field is my ability to attack the co-morbid (accompanying) conditions that are present in those that commit acts or are subject to acts of domestic violence. These frequently include depression, anxiety, addiction, unmourned losses, a history of sexual abuse and a history of family violence.
Below is a link to a 20-minute radio show I did recently with the Middletown Community Health Center: