Domestic violence is a frequently occurring social problem. Since the beginning of this century treatment protocols for domestic violence have been developed, usually with a separate course for perpetrator and victim. There are reasons to suppose that a joint approach of partners will have better results in some of the cases, depending for example on the kind of perpetrator. You should not choose for joint treatment of the couples when one of the partners has weapons or uses violence instrumentally, not only in the partnerrelationship, but also in other contexts. Antisocial or psychopathic patients may use violence as a means to get what they want, whatever the context. Borderline or dysforic patients may use violence of moderate severity when in emotional dysregulation. Other couples with less psychopathology may be treated jointly and with better results than separately, because the escalating conflicts between them have to be addressed and worked through with both partners together.

Read Stith, S.M., McCollum, E.E., Rosen, K.H. & Locke, L.D. (2002). Multicouple group therapy for domestic violence. In F.W. Kaslow (Ed.), Comprehensive Handbook of Psychotherapy Vol. 4 (pp.499-520). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

Stith, S.M., Rosen, K.H., McCollum, E.E. & Thomsen, C.J. (2004) Treating intimate partner violence within intact couple relationships: outcomes of multicouple versus individual couple therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30, 305-318.

This is a good question, but a controversial one. Many folks working in DV would say couples should never be seen together because it can endanger the victim. However, in the last decade or two scholars have done some good work in identifying types of violence, some of which are amenable to couples work.

In short, where there is a history of coercive control (traditional battering), couples should not be seen together. Most experts agree that for couples therapy to be possible the violence should have been infrequent, minor, and noncontrolling (e.g., free from other tactics common in battering such as monitoring, cutting off from friends, extreme jealousy, etc.). Also, both partners (especially the more powerful one) should be able to admit their role in the problem and take responsibility for abusive behavior. If there are any lethality risk factors (unresolved substance abuse, history of violent crimes, use of weapons, obsession with partner, etc.) couples Tx is contraindicated. However, as has been pointed out, Stith et al have been doing work with couples with non-controlling, more situational violence, and have had good results. When it is appropriate couples work can address several things that individual work cannot, so it is worth a careful assessment to see what will work best.

For more information about violence typologies (situational couple violence vs. intimate terrorism) see Michael Johnson's work [Johnson, M. (2008). A typology of domestic violence: Intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. Boston: Northeastern University Press.] For more on couples treatments see Stith et al latest [Stith, S. M., McCollum, E. E., Rosen, K.H. (2011). Couples therapy for domestic violence: Finding safe solutions. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.] I have attached another article that I use in a doctoral class for family therapists that addresses this issue in more depth.

Some work conducted within agencies in the UK has indicated that risk assessment is best done via a range of measures regarding recent escalation rather than a few regarding the level of violence already endured. Relational violence could be seen on a continuum, and as such can move upwards or downwards towards more or less abuse. It is important that we understand where the couple currently are on the continuum and how they are moving. It is also important to understand the motivation of both, and whether there is a real will to change things for both of them, or whether one or both is there under sufferance. Creating a change without the will to work with whatever that means is likely to lead to more rather than less conflict.

Some research in the USA has indicated that the abused partner may well be in a good position to assess the current risk, and their instincts, particularly when on alert, should be heeded.

(BELL, M., CATTANEO, L., GOODMAN, L. & DUTTON, M. 2008. Assessing the risk of future psychological abuse: predicting the accuracy of battered women's predictions. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 69-80)

In the broader context of domestic violence, to include psychological, emotional and economic abuse, the risk of physical harm is not as high, and it is possible that partners may not understand the dynamics of what is happening. In this case, where both partners seek change and improvement, couples therapy could prove extremely useful.