Case study: Psychosocial Treatment of
Victims of Domestic Violence
Laura Pavičić
A family of four
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Ž.D. boy (12)
Copleted 1st grade
Neglected
Abused by his father (and
mother)
• Enuresis nocturna, elbow injury
• M.D. girl (13)
• Cerebral paralysis
• Moved to specialized institution
for children and youth with
disabilities (20 km away) where
mother visited her periodically
• D.D. girl (15)
• Completed 6th grade (adapted
curriculum)
• Abused by her father; neglected
• Enuresis nocturna, headaches
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29.7.2017.
N.D. mum (47)
Victim for a long time
Not divorced from first husband
4 years of elementary school
Unemployed
Psychosocial Treatment of Victims of
Domestic Violence
2
About family
• Coming from the small village from the
continental part of Croatia
• Poor, isolated, withouth running water, living
in a cottage
• Poor hygienic habits, lice, untidy,
• Timid, shy, silent
• Provide only partial information
Our team
• Social worker
• Psychologist
• Pedagogue
We needed help from the “outside”
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A part of work conducted by our
team
Psychodiagnostic
Support with adaptation to new environment
Design of an individual plan
Education: rules of behavior, hygiene, healthy
nutritition, household budget, orientation in
town
• Family violence: rights of a child, rights of a
victim, security plans for mum and children,
self-protection measures
• Daily plans of activities
• Education: new school, school supplies,
tuition, support
• Individual psychological treatment
• Behavior modification
• Social skills training, relaxation techniques,
self –control, problem solving methods
• Spiritual retreat
• Parenting skills
Cooperation
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Town of Rijeka (meals at school)
Former elementary school (valuable information)
Elementary school in Rijeka
Volunteers (tuition in maths)
Center for legal assistance to victims
Caritas (clothes)
Church (support)
Family doctor
Children hospital (mediacal examinations)
• Croatian employment service (entry in the records,
assistance in job search)
• Croatian institute for health insurance
• Croatian institute for pension insurance (child
allowance)
• Center for social welfare (Ministry of social affairs
and youth): recommendation, payment, exchange of
information, co-decision, visit, pocket money,
financial assistance)
• Police (sexual assault)
• Registrar´s office (birth certificate, certificate of
citizenship)
4 years later...
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Ž.D. boy (16)
Placed in a foster family
Goes to school regularly
Lives peacefully and happily
Mum visited him occasionally
• D.D. girl (20)
• Extramarital community
• Three kids (one given for
adoption)
• Victim again
• Poverty
29.7.2017.
• M.D. girl (17)
• Cerebral paralysis
• Still staying at specialized
institution for children and youth
with disabilities
• Visits her brother for holidays
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N.D. mum (51)
Extramarital community
Lives in poverty
No violence
Unemployed
Psychosocial Treatment of Victims of
Domestic Violence
9
Questions
• What have we done?
• Family was transformed into ...?
• What would be the “happy end” for this
family? Did we ask them?
• What can we learn from this case?