Barriers to children's domestic violence counseling: A qualitative study

Children appear to underutilize domestic violence counseling services. The aim of this qualitative study was to learn about the factors that former adult clients of a domestic violence agency identify as barriers to their child's participation in and completion of available services. Findings are based on interviews with 105 parents of 205 children. Less than one-third of the parents enrolled their children in a specialized group-counseling program for children exposed to domestic violence. Parents identified six categories of barriers to their children enrolling in or completing the program: (1) technical difficulties; (2) violence-related stress; (3) parent perceptions of children's need for services; (4) parental opposition to child's participation; (5) agency's acceptance of men's parenting role; and (6) child opposition to participation. Study results are discussed within two general explanatory categories: family related factors and agency related factors.