A 40-year-old White male talking with a caseworker at the domestic violence prevention center.
Social worker: So, tell me more about your experience in the support group. I know you’ve been attending the sessions for the past 12 weeks.
Client: Well, it’s okay. Most of the guys are a lot like me. We want our wives to stay home with the kids. Things would be better if my wife listened to me and stopped hassling me so much.
Social worker: You want Lealie to back off and give you some breathing room.
Client: Definitely. She does things that aggravate me. Sometimes it feels as if she purposefully pisses me off. Like’s she just waiting to see what I’ll do next.
Social worker: What happens at those times?
Client: It depends. Sometimes I yell. Most of the time I leave now. I know that if I stick around, I’m likely to do something that I’ll regret, maybe hit her.
a) Most important aspects of the client’s statement:
I. He attends a batterers support group.
II. He feels as if his wife is purposefully testing him.
III. He has seen some change in his behavior since attending the group
b) Your summarization responses based on the entire dialogue:
Now you are able to identify certain situations that coule lead to hitting Leslie. Through the help of the support group, you’re learning other ways of dealing with your wife