Module 2
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN THE SHELTER
Shelters provide a safe environment for women and children seeking refuge from domestic abuse. Their
needs are many and varied and the demands on front-line workers are enormous. Some women are easy to
work with; they come into the shelter sure of what they want to do and respond promptly to suggestions and
guidance by the staff. Others are more difficult to work with. For example, there are some women who do
not follow through on agreed upon tasks and some appear unmotivated to help themselves. With most
shelter stays extending to only a maximum of 21 days, counsellors often feel the need to have clients begin
the process of looking for and securing housing almost immediately, but this may not fit with the woman’s
goals. Rather than viewing all women’s needs as similar, it is advisable to assess each woman individually, and
determine the stage she is at in terms of change, and what her goals are for being in the shelter.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- To become aware of the importance of establishing a safe, welcoming shelter environment.
- To become familiar with frameworks for looking at the needs / stages of change of women accessing the
services of shelters.
- To be able to link interventions to the needs of individual women.
THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT

The environment that shelters provide for women and children is an important part of the
therapeutic process.

A therapeutic milieu is a carefully arranged environment that is designed to reverse the effects of
exposure to interpersonal violence (Covington, 2003). Covington identifies five elements that are
essential for a therapeutic culture:
1. Attachment (a culture of belonging): Shelters can develop a culture of belonging by
ensuring that all women feel welcome and supported. Examples of strategies that foster a
sense of belonging include: having information in a variety of languages; hanging pictures
that portray women from a variety of cultures and ages; counsellors making a point to
interact with all women, even those that do not initiate contact.
2. Containment (a culture of safety): It is imperative that a shelter be a safe place for women
and children. Front-line workers need to be conscious of tensions arising between women
and facilitate problem resolution.
3. Communication (a culture of openness): Staff can help to create a culture of openness by
providing a safe, confidential place to meet with women. When possible, meet with women
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in a space away from the main office. It is impossible to give your full attention to an
individual when you are in a high traffic area of the shelter. Every woman deserves
uninterrupted, focused time.
4. Involvement (a culture of participation and citizenship): Groups are an excellent way of
creating a culture of participation. Groups can be structured or unstructured and give
women an opportunity to make connections with others. Recreational activities can also be
an opportunity to foster connection; for example, playing cards at the kitchen table or
making collages as a group.
5. Agency (a culture of empowerment): A culture of empowerment is achieved when
women are encouraged to get in touch with their strengths and are affirmed for doing so.
Women are encouraged to make informed choices about steps that they want to take to
improve their lives and are connected with resources in the community that will support
them in their plans.

The major benefits identified by women accessing shelter services include emotional support from
shelter staff, safety and support from other residents, child support programs, information,
and connections to community resources (Tutty & Rothery, 1999).

For most women, staying at a shelter will impact their lives in some way. Even if some choose to
return to their partners, they will leave the shelter with more information and ideally, a sense that
there is hope and support for them no matter what they choose to do.
INTERVENTIONS BASED ON WOMEN’S NEEDS AND STAGE OF CHANGE
Research indicates that work done with women who access shelters needs to be focused on where they are at
in their change process (Baker and Cunningham, 2008). The Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment
(DVSA) is a tool for counselling women in intimate partner violence relationships and it is useful in
determining the specific stage of change that women are in (Dienemann, Campbell, Landenburger, Curry,
2002). Some women enter the shelter knowing that they wish to end the relationship and live separately from
their abusive partner, while other women are confused and uncertain about what they want to do. Some
women come into the shelter to take a break from the tensions in their relationships and know that they will
return to their homes. Some women want the abuse to stop and wish to return home and work on their
relationships.
There are two parts to leaving an abusive relationship – the physical leaving
and the emotional leaving. Some women are forced to physically leave their
relationship when there has been a violent incident and the police intervene. They
might still be very much emotionally connected to their partners and may choose
to return to their partners after a brief stay in the shelter. Others may have
emotionally left the relationship long ago but continued physically living with their
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abusive partner for a period of time until they were ready to leave. These women tend to be the ones that are
the most motivated to work with front-line counsellors to make plans to live independently in the
community. It is important to gain some understanding of where each woman is at in her own process, as this
will determine your strategies for working with her.
A THREAD FOR YOUR TAPESTRY OF INTERVENTIONS
Baker and Cunningham (2008) identify the following reasons why women enter shelters and suggest possible
strategies for working with women in each situation:
1. Time-out from an abusive relationship: A woman may enter the shelter in order to have a break from
her abusive partner. Her goal is to return to the relationship. She may recognize that there are problems, but
she wants or needs to stay in the relationship. Her stay in the shelter may be brief and she may not be open to
receiving information regarding housing referrals, or any information that tends to question her decision.
Possible strategies:
- Ensure that she feels comfortable at the shelter, not judged for her choice. Let her know that she is always
welcome to return to the shelter if she wants or needs to.
- Let her know that it is okay to talk about her partner in a positive way if she chooses. She may not talk at all
if she feels that he is being criticized.
- Listen supportively, providing information about abuse as appropriate.
- Provide information about all the services that your agency offers, including outreach groups that she may
access once she returns home.
- Inform her that there are options for housing, income assistance and legal information, should she decide to
leave the relationship later.
- Have a discussion with her about self-care and coping strategies.
- Assist her with developing a safety plan for returning home.
- If she has children, assess whether there is a need to involve Children Services (see Reporting Requirements
in Children and Domestic Violence).
2. Leveraging power in an unequal relationship: Some women may recognize the problems in their
relationships and want their partner to change. Their goal is to return to the relationship, but only when their
partners agree to change. They might believe that, by coming into the shelter, their partners will take them
more seriously and be more motivated to engage in counselling and work on making changes.
Possible strategies:
- All of the above strategies may be helpful.
- Introduce the Power and Control Wheel and the Equality Wheel.
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- When she describes her partner’s behaviours, help her to determine how she feels when he does certain
things. For example, ask her how she is impacted when her partner calls her names in front of her coworkers. How does she feel when he goes drinking for days on end and leaves her without money to feed the
children?
3. Decision-making about the future of the relationship: A woman might enter the shelter after a serious
assault or when she has reached some sort of crisis. She may be unsure about her relationship. Her goal for
coming to the shelter is to have time and space to consider her options and test out being apart.
Possible strategies:
- All of the above strategies may be helpful.
- She may be ready to hear more educational information about abuse.
- Help her to look at the benefits/challenges of leaving versus the benefits/challenges of staying.
- Provide information regarding how children are impacted by domestic violence.
- Provide information about resources: housing, legal, parenting orders, and so on.
- Provide information about follow-up or outreach services.
4. Transitioning away from the relationship: Some women are very clear that they have ended their
relationship; however, they may still be struggling emotionally with the decision. Offer practical information
regarding the process of leaving and living on their own.
Possible strategies:
- Women who have decided to leave the abusive relationship are the women that shelters usually are best able
to serve.
- These women will require a substantial amount of information about community resources, and may require
advocacy in order to access services.
- They will need assistance with acquiring basic needs, such as housing, furniture, and access to financial
supports.
- Referrals to legal services are probable.
- If she is an immigrant or a refugee, she likely will require supports from immigrant serving agencies.
- She will need opportunities to deal with the complexities of emotions that may arise and she will need to be
supported in dealing with emotions around grieving.
She will benefit from being referred to a follow-up or outreach counsellor.
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A THREAD FOR YOUR TAPESTRY OF INTERVENTIONS
Baker and Cunningham (2008) developed ten principles for working with abused women in a shelter. Seeley
and Plunkett (2002) developed standards for counselling practices with women impacted by domestic abuse.
The following are suggested guidelines for supporting women in shelters: (Adapted from the work of
Baker and Cunningham and Seeley and Plunkett).
1. Counsellors work from an understanding that all forms of abuse are traumatic and that violence is never
acceptable.
2. Counsellors are clear about their stance on domestic violence. They name the abusive behaviours and
discuss the nature of domestic violence within a framework that views violence from a social and political
perspective (feminist perspective).
3. Counsellors place full responsibility for the violence on the individual that engaged in abusive behaviours
regardless of the challenges he/she may be having in his/her life. Women are encouraged to accept that it is
not their responsibility to take ownership for the abusive individual’s problems.
4. Safety of the abused individual and her dependents is the primary consideration of any intervention.
5. Address all safety concerns.
6. Complete a danger assessment within 48 hours of a woman entering a shelter.
7. Women are assisted with developing a safety plan specific to their individual situation.
8. Information is provided to women about possible legal responses.
9. Women are assisted with accessing legal services.
10. Attention is given to the welfare of the children in the woman’s care. The possible effects on children of
witnessing or experiencing violence are explained.
11. Post traumatic stress responses are normalized. Information about common responses to violence is
provided in order to assist women with understanding their reactions to the abuse.
12. Women are given basic tools to manage their reactions to trauma, such as grounding exercises,
containment strategies, and self-soothing activities.
13. Each woman is viewed as the expert on her own life and her choices are respected.
14. Each woman is seen as a unique individual with unique needs. Counsellors recognize and acknowledge
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the complexities of each woman’s situation.
15. Counsellors listen more than talk in order to understand the woman’s views and goals.
16. Counsellors do not pathologize coping and survival skills.
17. Counsellors adopt a strength-based approach by using their skills to empower women, assisting women to
identify their strengths, coping skills and personal resources. Women are encouraged to voice their own
opinions and are supported in making informed choices.
18. Counsellors bring a message of hope and healing.
19. Counsellor interventions are based on awareness and acceptance of where a woman is at in her journey.
20. Counsellors remain up to date on relevant information regarding domestic violence.
21. With the woman’s consent, counsellors work collaboratively with other professionals and service
providers to ensure she gains access to the services and supports that she wants.
22. Counsellors take responsibility for their own self-care; they seek support, consultation, and supervision as
needed.
g effective interventions
SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO STAY IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Davis (2008) authored a publication entitled: “When Battered Women Stay: Advocacy Beyond Leaving,”
which raises some fundamental issues and questions about supporting women who choose to stay in, or
return to, an abusive relationship. Davis points out that, for many women, leaving the relationship improves
their situation and front-line workers focus on assisting women to leave their abusive relationships for this
reason. But Davis also stresses that, for many women, leaving an abusive partner does not guarantee safety.
The time of leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous time. The reality is that many women
do not want to leave their relationships, but they want the abuse to stop.
Shelter workers have a role to play in providing supports to women who choose to return to their abusive
relationship (Davis, 2008). Often it is the follow-up or outreach counsellors that play this role, but it is
important that front-line counsellors examine their own beliefs about women remaining in abusive
relationships. Front-line counsellors should support the choices that women make and not judge them for
these choices. There may be times when women choose to return to their partners and you feel that their
situations are not safe. You can let a woman know that you are concerned about her safety and assist her with
developing a safety plan. If she has children and you believe that she is placing them at risk by taking them
into an unsafe situation, then remind her of the limits of confidentiality and that you will need to inform
Alberta Child and Family Services of her decision.
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Shelters continue to play a significant role in addressing the impacts of domestic violence. Sometimes the
smallest intervention may have the biggest impact on someone. You are in a position to have a tremendous
impact on the lives of women and children.
REFERENCES
Baker, L. and Cunningham, A. (2008). Helping Abused Women in Shelters: 101 Things to Know, Say and
Do. Centre for Children & Families in the Justice System.
Covington, S. (2003). Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women (Facilitator’s Guide). Minnesota:
Hazelden.
Davis, J. (2008). When Battered Women Stay… Advocacy Beyond Leaving. A Project of the National
Resource Centre on Domestic Violence. www.vawnet.org/.
Dienemann, J. (2009). Using a Model of Change to Provide Shelter Services. (Workshop notes presented at
ACWS training – March 4-5, 2009).
Dienemann, J., Campbell, J., Landenburger, K. & Curry, M. A. (2002). The Domestic Violence Survivor
Assessment: A Tool for Counselling Women in Intimate Partner Violence Relationships. Patient Education and
Counselling 46, 2002, 221-228.
Seeley, J. & Plunkett, C. (2002). Women and Domestic Violence: Standards for Counselling Practice. The
Salvation Army Crisis Service. Victoria, Australia.
www.salvationarmy.org.au/reports/Women&Domestic_Violence_Counselling_Standards.pdf
Tutty L. & Rothery, M. (1999). What Went Right: Working Relationships in Alberta Shelters for Abused
Women. Violence Against Women, Vol. 5, No. 8, 898-925.
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QUESTIONS: MODULE 2
1. What constitutes a therapeutic environment?
2. Why is a therapeutic environment important in shelters?
3. What are some of the interventions that you can use based on the various needs of women and their
stage of change?
4. Why is it important to understand where each woman is at in her own process?
5. How can you support a woman who chooses to return to an abusive relationship?
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