Case Study # 10 - Family Violence
Case Study #10 - Sue
Summery
Sue comes to us today reporting an incidence of abuse in her current same-sex relationship with a woman named Marsha. Sue is an out of state college freshman currently enrolled at a local university. The client reports, she chose to attend this particular college in order to keep her parents in the dark about her sexual orientation fearing they would cut her off financially based on their strict religious values against homosexuality. Sue claims, she was previously in a healthy relationship with an older woman, but it ended abruptly leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. Now, Sue is in a new relationship with a woman named Marsha. They have been dating for a little over a month. Sue stated, Marsha has started to act “irritated” and “irrational” towards her, periodically calling her names and shoving her for no reason then apologizing and giving presenting her with gifts. Most recently, Sue reports Marsha accused her of flirting with another woman and then immediately slapped her several times. Sue claim’s this event was unprovoked. Lastly, Sue reports, she has become scared of Marsha and wants to end the relationship but doesn’t know how to without risking retaliation.
Current and Potential Abuse Issues
In reviewing Sue’s case it is clear there are several presenting abuse issues. Sue’s intake suggests her current relationship dynamic with Marsha is unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Marsha’s unpredictable behavior and sometimes-violent outbursts are characteristics of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). IPV that occurs within same-sex couples is referred to as Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence or SSIPV. SSIPV can be defined as “a means to control others through power, including physical and psychological threats (verbal and nonverbal) or injury (to the victim or others), isolation, economic deprivation, heterosexist control, sexual assault, vandalism, or any combination of methods” (T.W. Burke, 1998 p. 164: National
Summery
Sue comes to us today reporting an incidence of abuse in her current same-sex relationship with a woman named Marsha. Sue is an out of state college freshman currently enrolled at a local university. The client reports, she chose to attend this particular college in order to keep her parents in the dark about her sexual orientation fearing they would cut her off financially based on their strict religious values against homosexuality. Sue claims, she was previously in a healthy relationship with an older woman, but it ended abruptly leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. Now, Sue is in a new relationship with a woman named Marsha. They have been dating for a little over a month. Sue stated, Marsha has started to act “irritated” and “irrational” towards her, periodically calling her names and shoving her for no reason then apologizing and giving presenting her with gifts. Most recently, Sue reports Marsha accused her of flirting with another woman and then immediately slapped her several times. Sue claim’s this event was unprovoked. Lastly, Sue reports, she has become scared of Marsha and wants to end the relationship but doesn’t know how to without risking retaliation.
Current and Potential Abuse Issues
In reviewing Sue’s case it is clear there are several presenting abuse issues. Sue’s intake suggests her current relationship dynamic with Marsha is unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Marsha’s unpredictable behavior and sometimes-violent outbursts are characteristics of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). IPV that occurs within same-sex couples is referred to as Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence or SSIPV. SSIPV can be defined as “a means to control others through power, including physical and psychological threats (verbal and nonverbal) or injury (to the victim or others), isolation, economic deprivation, heterosexist control, sexual assault, vandalism, or any combination of methods” (T.W. Burke, 1998 p. 164: National
References: Murray, C.E., & Mobley, A.K. (2009). Empirical research about same-sex intimate partner violence: A methodological review. Journal of Homosexuality, 56(3), 361-386. doi: 10.1080/00918360902728848. Stith, S.M., Rosen, K.H., McCollum, E.E., & Thompson, C.J. (2004). Treating intimate partner violence within intact couple relationships: Outcomes of multi-couple Heyman, R.E., & Schlee, K. (2003). Stopping wife abuse via Physical Aggression Couples Treatment Stevens, B., & Arnstein, M. (2011). Happy Ever After?: A Practical Guide to Relationship Counselling for Clinical Psychologists. Australian Academic Press.