IS THERE A PLACE FOR CONJOINT TREATMENT OF COUPLE VIOLENCE

We present our approach to treating couple violence in a couples forma t through a treatment model that integrates sociopolitical, cognitive- behavioral, and social learning levels of analysis. Key areas of exami nation ave both tbe context and the consequences of violence, as well as tbe social (i.e., ''gendered'') context of the marriage. We also pr esent an overview of the empirical background that underlies our work with violent couples seeking couple therapy There is not one ''violent couple''; rather; several distinct subgroups emerge based on frequenc y, severity, psychological impact, and injury, The subgroups include b idirectional/low-level violence moderate/severe wife victimization, an d a very small subgroup of couples where husbands report higher levels of victimization than their wives do, the moderate/high husband victi mization subgroup. The treatment illustrated in this article applies p rimarily to the bidirectional/low violence subgroup. (C) 1996 John Wil ey & Sons, Inc.