Working systemically with family violence: risk, responsibility and collaboration

In this article we describe a project which aims to ensure prevention and c ontinued protection from violence for family members. We outline our theore tical approach to assessment and working with violence in family relationsh ips and the associated ethical problems. We identify three recurrent themes : risk, collaboration, and responsibility. We focus on our work with couple s, where the man is violent towards the woman. Within this discussion we id entify other important clinical issues.