Adolescent Domestic Violence

Adolescent domestic violence is an area of concern. Older teenagers from the age of seventeen and up are certainly capable of committing domestic violence crimes against intimate partners. At times this occurs as a function of power and control. Other times it may occur as the result of the individual's family dynamics, stressors or psychopathology. For these reasons, adolescents should always be evaluated rather than screened in order for the practitioner to determine the most appropriate course of action. Teenagers are quite capable of meaningfully participating in and benefiting from an adult domestic violence program. In fact if they are in a class with adults who are themselves meaningfully participating, those adults and long standing group members are likely to serve as appropriate role models. Most domestically violent teens have been exposed to inappropriate modeling. Also, the teen's best interest is served well by their being held accountable for the misuse of power and control.

Some teen's issues are directly related to familial, developmental or pathological issues that are not related to thier belief and attitude system. For these individuals, individual or family psychotherapy may be the indicated course of action. A medication evaluation may also be warranted depending upon the findings of the evaluations. The primary issue here is that the teen warrants a full evaluation. At James J. Foster & Associates we offer domestic violence groups, individual treatment and/or a referral for medication if warranted.

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