Debra Lipscomb

Meeting the psychological needs for survivors of domestic violence

Psychology
April 2007
UIU-Madison Center

Since 1983, Hope House of South Central Wisconsin, a non-profit organization in

Sauk County, has provided shelter, advocacy, and education to people affected by

domestic violence and sexual assault. The organization has a volunteer board of

directors with an Executive Director hired in 1986 to secure funding, manage records,

promote services, and assist volunteers. Through grant funding, Hope House was able

to open a shelter and by 2001, Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Marquette counties were

receiving outreach services. Clients, who ask for emergency shelter because they are

in physical danger from an intimate partner, are given directions to the shelter and

supported with advocacy. Advocates work to empower victims who have had their

choices taken away from them. State and Federal grants have helped the agency grow

and to provide more services including legal advocacy, child services, sexual assault

advocacy, and volunteer coordination. Volunteers provide additional services such as

help with family living skills, and emergency transportation. This paper will discuss the

issue of services provided by a domestic violence shelter, particularly the absence of

psychological services to this vulnerable population. Pertinent background information,

definitions, and services available to the described population. It will elaborate theories

and research as it helps understand the issue and to describe possible solutions. The

latter will be evaluated with the help of theoretical considerations as well as data

available to choose a final solution.

Women and children are eligible for emergency shelter in a communal living

facility. Guidelines for staying at the shelter insure a safe and comfortable stay.
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Children are required to attend school while housed at the shelter. Through community

donations the shelter is able to offer food, emergency transportation, and

accommodation for basic clothing needs. Advocacy is offered to assist in breaking the

barriers that prevent victims from leaving abusers. Education about domestic violence

is a goal while in emergency shelter and a children’s support group is offered every

week as an opportunity to talk about their family relationship concerns with a trained

advocate. While staying in the shelter or calling the crisis line trained advocates

address safety planning including how to prepare to leave, what to take when you leave,

safety in your home, safety at work and public places, safety with a restraining order,

and safety during an explosive incident The most dangerous time for a battered person

is when they decide to leave the abuser (Eby, 2004). There is no specific safety plan for

everyone, each individual has circumstances which make their safety planning unique.

Frequently victims are in need of housing and job skills to find a full-time job as well as

with budgeting, family living skills, and social networks. An advocate is available for

outreach services once the victim(s) leave shelter. The goal of this advocate is to find

the victim in safe housing one year after they leave the shelter, supported by the

financial assets they need to continue their lifestyle change.

Hope House employs a legal advocate to offer victims information regarding

temporary restraining orders, victim rights and victim compensation options. The legal

advocate also has information about the criminal justice system processes, working with

law enforcement, finding an attorney for hire, custody and placement concerns, and

other legal matters pertaining to domestic violence or sexual assault. A trained

advocate is available to facilitate discussions during a peer support group. A separate

group is available for children to attend at the same time. The group is an opportunity to
 Lipscomb 3

validate feelings and discuss the violence that has been experienced. Shelter

Advocates are available on the 24-hour crisis line, 7 days a week to discuss victim

service needs and Outreach Advocates are available weekdays for outlying counties.

Self determination is the approach taken when women enter the shelter and they must

make their own personal choices and review safety planning as part of this service.

Education about the dynamics of the abuser and power and control vs. a healthy

relationship is explored.

Domestic violence is used to establish power and control with frequent

emotional/ psychological, verbal, physical, financial, and sexual abuse or threats

towards a partner that one shares an intimate relationship including heterosexual, gay,

lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships (Stiles, 2002). This repeated form of

control can reveal itself in several ways: intimidation, stalking, emotional abuse, and

isolation, using the children, financial abuse, and threats as well as withholding affection

or attention and forbidding someone to work, see family, socialize or keep property

(Berry, 2000). Domestic violence affects women and children of every ethnicity and

socioeconomic status. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2002)

offers the following statistics about domestic violence:

-50% of all injuries to women who come to emergency rooms are the result of
abuse.
-40% of all women who are murdered die at the hands of intimate partners.
-25% of suicide attempts by women are related to battering.
-75% of abusers experienced or witnessed abuse as children.

An annual estimate of 3 million children have witnessed domestic violence, many of

whom will suffer abuse as well (Stiles, 2002).

Hope house provides many services for victims of domestic violence but does

not meet the psychological needs of the women and children suffering from the
 Lipscomb 4

traumatic experience. Currently, Hope House outsources AODA counseling and

treatment, an important service when battered women are more likely to suffer from

substance abuse (Chartas, & Culbreth, 2001). In 2000, 25, 021 incidents of domestic

violence were reported to Wisconsin Dept Of Justice with 61,124 hotline calls and only

6,212 women sheltered yet, many go unreported (Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic

Violence, 2002).

Wis

Data from the WCADV Wisconsin Domestic Abuse Incident Report (2002) states 44%

of domestic violence victims are injured during an incident but only 14% seek or receive

medical attention which leads one to assume a majority of women and children suffer

through a traumatic experience without physical or mental therapy. Treatment, at

shelters for domestic violence, focus on education about domestic violence yet battered

women suffer from multiple psychological problems. Prioritizing clients problems and

selection of interventions would be necessary therefore an advocate must be able to

provide options for the client to choose the best approach (Chartas, & Culbreth, 2001).
 Lipscomb 5

Research has shown that approximately 56% of women that suffer domestic

abuse are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (Danielson, Moffit, Caspi, & Silva,

1991). Survivors of domestic violence are more likely to suffer from a physical disability

and mental illness due to the trauma and poor coping skills (Raphael, Tolman, 1997).

Studies about the affects of domestic violence have discovered that 83% of women

suffer from depression, 60% post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 50% anxiety and

low self-esteem issues as well as 40% experiencing drug and alcohol use and abuse

(Waldrop, Resnick, 2004). Using this data regarding mental illness and how it affects

victims of domestic violence with the number of women sheltered in Wisconsin in 2000

displays a devastating number of women suffering from psychological disorders

 Lipscomb 6

associated with domestic violence, as pictured in the following graph:

Sheltered Wom

Substance abuse 40%

 Lipscomb 7

Very little research exists studying the effects of children witnessing violence in

the home. The research that does exist states that witnessing traumatic events,

including domestic violence, can cause developmental, cognitive, behavioral, social,

and emotional problems for some children (Stiles, 2002; Maker, Kemmelmeier, &

Peterson, 1998). Some researchers believe that emotional abuse affects the victim

much longer than physical abuse, when a women or child hears she/he is stupid, ugly,

and worthless it is internalized and affects her/his self image (Berry, 2000).

It is necessary for those working with the women and children in shelter to

recognize signs and symptoms of trauma, behavioral issues, and psychiatric disorders.

Battered women and children must heal the emotional and psychological wounds

associated with domestic violence to successfully break the barriers of leaving the

abuser and to lead a healthy, independent life. Attempts to help survivors of domestic

violence include use of shelters, crisis lines, family therapy, community resources, and

support groups. Shelters exist to offer victims a safe haven away from the abuser.

Across the nation non profit organizations have also formed to help battered women

with legal issues, divorce, temporary restraining orders (TRO), and child support.

Battered women and children lack social and coping skills which are directly

related and impacts mental health functioning and prevents the victim from developing

relationships (Liptak, 2004). Without social skills an individual is unable to communicate

with others, take appropriate social risks, listen actively to others and build trust or to

develop a network of people who could assist with achieving their goals (Liptak, 2004).

As women and children leave the isolation created by a violent home they will

frequently interact with other people forming social networks and personal relationships

as well as necessary contact with service providers assisting with the lifestyle change.
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Social skills will help develop and maintain relationships, develop identity separate from

the abuse, cope with stress, potentially achieve self actualization, and life satisfaction at

home, work and during leisure time.(Liptak, 2004). Developing or improving upon ones

social skills will ease the stressors of moving away from home, leaving the abuser,

potentially leaving friends and family as well as other support when relocating to a

shelter or safe community.

Social learning/ cognitive theory helps describes how it is possible that

individuals witnessing domestic violence will develop aggressive or antisocial behaviors

as avoidance coping mechanisms as well as poor decision-making skills in relationships

due to poor role models (Bandura, 1986). Therefore, childhood witnesses of domestic

violence are more likely to become victims or abusers as adults because they learned

how to interact with others, work through conflict and communicate through witnessing

caregivers’ relations and interaction (Chronister, & McWhirter, 2003).

Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) explains how the cycle of

violence affects the life of victims in relation to the abuser and offers guidance on the

method that may be used to solve or alleviate the problems facing women and children

as they try to overcome the affects of a violent home. A survivor of domestic violence,

feeling as though she is a hostage in her own home, will be unable to succeed in social

or work environment due to low expectations that influence behavior and coping skills.

The social cognitive theory is valuable in understanding the affects of domestic violence

on personality and behavior as it relates to the three areas of SCT: (1) self-efficacy

expectations: belief in one’s ability to achieve, (2) outcome expectations: belief about

the consequences of one’s actions and (3) personal goals. The three facets of SCT are

believed to have an affect on the development of interests, goals, and achievements,

 Lipscomb 9

and barriers to participating in group activities and socialization (Chronister, &

McWhirter, 2003). The experiences of women and children living in violent homes may

limit learning experiences due to socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and education

as well as limit how they are willing to interact with others. Abused women and children

often suffer emotional abuse and degradation leading the victim to believe they are

incapable of doing anything or succeeding. Isolation as a hostage in a violent home

reduces opportunities to explore interests, pursue certain activities or socialize with

others that share common interests. Battered women are subjected to repeated and

sometimes permanently incapacitating physical injuries which may influence self

efficacy and outcome expectations in addition to the abuser preventing victims from

seeking medical attention, exercising, eating nutritious meals or sleeping (Chronister, &

McWhirter, 2003). At the shelter, these women can work towards improving self

efficacy, outcome expectations and personal goals leading to a healthier, happier and

independent life away from the abuser. In time, as self efficacy improves the victim will

be more likely to maintain employment, becoming self sufficient, with greater

opportunity to become an active member of the community and improve the lives of

their children. Battered women and their children have many hurdles to overcome

therefore it is important for a shelter to address their psychological needs to eliminate

some of the setbacks faced such as loss of employment.

The emotional and physical states of fear and anxiety as well as pain and
discomfort may impair a victims job performance and increase absences
from work resulting in fewer opportunities to improve one’s life financially
(Maker, Kemmelmeier, & Peterson, 1998).

The loss of a job could lead the victim back to the abuser for financial support. Living in

a violent home may not present the victims financial resources, education, time, or

planning to explore personal interests but just to live day by day.

 Lipscomb 10

Women at the shelter experience many setbacks in their attempts to leave the

abuser and finding a life of their own. Whether the setbacks are due to lack of financial

support, debt, and lack of daycare may further enhance the depression and anxieties

related to domestic violence lowering one’s self efficacy. Shortages in funding,

resources and staff in domestic violence shelters limit the support options offered for

victims. Poor public policy limits the number of resources made available to battered

women within the community and government agencies. The welfare to work legislation

limits a victim of domestic violence to receive government assistance when they cannot

maintain employment due to lowered self efficacy.

Research has explored the consequences of domestic violence in reference to

the lack of adequate coping skills, poor mental and physical health, success of

treatments, effects of children witnessing family violence and the long term

psychological consequences for individuals witnessing or experiencing family violence.

Research has shown survivors of domestic violence often experience stress, fear and

anger after the trauma as well as a greater number of difficult life conditions yet, it has

nothing to do with personal weakness which many victims believe to bet the case (Eby,

2004). Victims of domestic violence will also exhibit high levels of arousal as well as

signs and symptoms of depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and

lowered self-esteem (Berry, 2000). Women, when they enter shelter, may have trouble

concentrating, startle easily, remain constantly alert, and have disturbing dreams or

memories as well as feeling hopeless about the future and experience work problems.

Some physical symptoms may include trouble eating, sleeping, severe headaches,

worsening of chronic medical problems and failure to exercise, diet, or practice regular

healthcare and hygiene (Eby, 2004). The trauma of domestic violence can affect the
 Lipscomb 11

victims with feelings of irritability, nervousness, fearfulness, easily upset, distrust others,

a negative self view, avoid people and unable to feel love, joy and only feel numb or sad

(Eby, 2004).

Recovery from these symptoms is a gradual process therefore it is necessary for

the victims of domestic violence to learn new skills and how to cope through this

troubling time. PTSD may occur after someone experiences a life threatening trauma,

in most cases when a woman seeks shelter it is the most dangerous time, the violence

has escalated in the home prompting the act of leaving (Eby, 2004). Depression leads

the victim to lose interest in daily or leisure activities and the victim may feel hopeless or

full of despair (Berry, 2000). Anger or aggressive behavior may be exhibited after the

trauma of family violence because the individual may feel the act was unjust or unfair

and that the police didn’t do enough to help or arrest their abuser. Alcohol and drug use

and abuse may escalate as a means of self medicating and escaping the recurring

thoughts and memories of the trauma therefore interventions are necessary to improve

coping skills.

Each shelter, across the nation, uses a similar approach when providing services

to battered women and children; educate clients about domestic violence, offer safe

housing, and assist with an employment search. Abraham Maslow (1970) developed

the Hierarchy of needs which structure involves a pyramid with each level meets a

specific needs. The needs are beginning with the basic needs progressing to life

satisfaction from physiological to safety, security, love, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and

finally meeting self-actualization needs (Maslow, 1970). This theory is employed by

domestic violence shelters when food, housing, safety and security are offered for the
 Lipscomb 12

victims, therefore, meeting the physiological and safety needs yet the higher needs, that

an individual requires to function in society, are neglected.

It is necessary to provide clients with a complete and comprehensive treatment.

Meeting the psychological needs for the survivors of domestic violence is important to

allow the client and family to thrive after leaving shelter and to succeed in life through

alleviating some of the affects of witnessing and experiencing the trauma of domestic

violence. Battered women use avoidance coping strategies and need to learn

appropriate social and coping skills. When the shelter fails to meet the psychological

needs a problem is created when self efficacy is low and social and coping skills are

lacking increasing the probability of the victims returning to the abuser.

Research of the homeless and therapeutic recreation interventions specifically

exercise, cooking and dance classes through vocational rehabilitation, stress

management, support groups and self esteem building activities, providing more than

just food and shelter, has proven to be successful regarding activities focused towards

self care and maintaining employment (Kunstler, 1993). Therapeutic recreation is the

specialized use of recreation and organized activities that assist in maintaining or

improving mental and physical health status as well as improving the overall quality of

life through predetermined health related goals (Carter, Van Andel, &Robb, 2003).

Therapeutic recreation interventions will assist the life change for victims of domestic

violence with leisure education and recreation participation to increase self esteem,

improve social and coping skills as well as learning activities of daily living (Carter, Van

Andel, &Robb, 2003). A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) within a

domestic violence shelter would assist victims in finding healthy options and give the
 Lipscomb 13

ability to make choices that will naturally move them towards self-actualization

according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (1970).

One study using therapeutic recreation activities to rehabilitate homeless men

and women succeeded by reducing the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, improved self

care as well as helping the homeless maintain employment giving them the ability to

pay rent (Kunstler, 1993). An additional study of the homeless found 40% women in

homeless shelters were battered therefore a therapeutic recreation program

administered in a shelter setting has the potential to improve mental health and self

esteem for victims of domestic violence. Within the research sample 80% of the

homeless women had emotional problems due to isolation, alienation, and fear of losing

children as well as difficulties in goal setting, social adjustment, sense of control, and

ability to trust which, could be addressed using therapeutic recreation interventions

within the shelter environment to address emotional problems (Kunstler, 1993).

Victims within the shelter, have the opportunity to learn how to play with their

children and develop social skills while exploring leisure interests and participate in

physical activities instead of resorting to substance abuse and avoidance coping

activities attributed to their experiences and trauma. Prevention of children’s potential

tendency toward poor social and emotional development suffering from dependency,

aggressiveness withdrawal, sleep disorders, abnormal fears and poor physical

coordination will be achieved through a recreation program and learning new skills while

staying in shelter (Kunstler, 1993). Creating a therapeutic recreation program, in house,

to directly assess client’s psychological needs and develop leisure education and social

skills as well as alleviating the stress causing depression, PTSD and lowered self

image. A recreation program developed specifically for meeting the psychological

 Lipscomb 14

needs of clients will improve the services offered and ensure lifestyle changes with the

opportunity to form healthy relationships. Therapeutic recreation as it relates to social

cognitive theory will assist the victims and their children to monitor thoughts, return to

reality, and teach coping skills and relaxation techniques while participating in goal

oriented activities. Empowering victims to discover who they are in relation to others

will remove barriers leading to self sufficiency and independence.

It is important that the women recognize “nontraditional leisure activities” which

are very important when considering daily stressors and include “socializing, visiting,

preparing food, shopping, caring for living things, self-care, home improvement and

maintenance, relaxing, intimacy, fantasizing and leadership or community service or

doing nothing at all” (Decker, 1997). Most people enjoy these activities on a regular

basis but victims of domestic violence are commonly held hostage in their own homes

and unable to participate in any of the activities mentioned. Recognizing these activities

as leisure, when given the time, and not a chore will make leisure more available to

battered women and their children. Interpersonal communication and relation skills can

be improved upon within a therapeutic recreation program. A CTRS in hospitals, clinics

and outpatient centers have proven to reduce substance abuse, reduce anxiety,

increased self esteem and leads to long term optimal health and well being (Kunstler,

1993). Victims will have greater opportunity to improve mental health, find meaning in

life and the ability to enjoy healthy relationships.

Some activities include, creative journaling, decision making activities, and

cooking classes. Therapeutic recreation interventions explore individual interests and

develop an exercise program to give a sense of physical and mental well being as well

as achievement. Expressive art therapies give the victim an opportunity to explore

 Lipscomb 15

thoughts and fears that may be difficult to describe with words. The CTRS assessment

would also identify barriers the client may experience that prevents the client from

experiencing pleasure either due to depression, PTSD or a low self efficacy as a result

of the domestic violence.

Another solution to improve mental health services within the shelter setting

would be to coordinate shelter services with community and government agencies to

find mental health programs for the clients and assistance within the community for the

children. This program would incorporate the use of community and government

agencies that provide mental health services as well as resources to improve one’s life

and become self sufficient. How a woman copes with abuse is partially determined by

the resources and social support available therefore improving services offered at Hope

House can only benefit the organization and community. A goal of many abusive

relationships is to restrict contact with resources within the community that may help the

victim cope. Hope house currently provides crisis intervention but adding a referral to

community agencies to provide long term support services for the victims after leaving

the shelter would better meet the psychological and personal needs of victim (Waldrop,

& Resick, 2004).

Sauk county listings for organizations that could potentially assist victims of domestic

violence to meet psychological needs include:

• Lime Ridge United Methodist Church offering counseling for children going
through a divorce
• Aspen Family Counseling
• Baraboo Psychological Services
• Clarion Center
• Innervisions-mental health provider
• Pathway Clinic
• Pauquette Center
• Lutheran Social Services providing outpatient mental health services
 Lipscomb 16

• Quaker Valley Counseling

• Sauk County Human Services
• Hope House Support Group meeting every Tuesday 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
• Sauk County Family Resource Center offering parenting classes
• Renewal unlimited- Headstart Program, Early Headstart, housing assistance
• Suicide Hotline 800-533-5692

Referral to the above community resources would provide services for the needs

unrelated to the experience of domestic violence to effectively promote healthy lives and

improving mental status for battered women and children (Eby, 2004). The community

agencies mentioned do have some hurdles to cross before an individual is eligible and

they must make and meet for appointments only between 9a.m. and 5p.m.. Most do not

offer free services and many women do not have health insurance for themselves or

their children so they must first find coverage, usually medical assistance, and then find

an agency that accepts medical assistance. Many of the agencies that do offer free or

lower cost services have long waiting lists and the victims will not have mental health

services when it is most needed. Once an individual from the shelter establishes a

relationship with a community or government agency the shelter and advocates working

for Hope House have no control of how the agencies will use confidential information,

many women do not want other people to know they are in a shelter for domestic

violence fearing being labeled or discriminated against.

Building a strong connection to community in a support group or a group sharing

common interests can validate emotions, and offer emotional and social support

(Maker, Kemmelmeier, & Peterson, 1998). Opportunities for belonging are especially

important after experiencing the isolation and trauma of domestic violence. Supportive

community services whether through groups, private clinics, or public assistance will
 Lipscomb 17

help victims make connections and begin the healing process as well as improve the

mental health of victims (Maker, Kemmelmeier, & Peterson, 1998).

Many barriers exist outside of the shelter creating setbacks. Women, at the

shelter, do not always have proper identification, fees for services, security deposits or

rent monies as well as lacing personal or professional references. Many of the

resources listed are necessary to find housing, employment or health coverage for

children or themselves. Not only must the shelter introduce the clients to community

resources but the shelter must provide intervention to reduce the stressors potentially

causing poor mental health through community education. In order for the community

agencies, public and private, to effectively assist survivors of domestic violence

community education would be needed. Topics for presentations include: reasons why

victims stay in violent relationships, safety planning, health care response to domestic

violence, domestic violence in the workplace, and how to support a victim within the

community. The community may also be involved in community education and fund

raising to provide support to victims. Community resource agencies, once educated

about stress related to domestic violence, may be willing to modify application

processing until victims can obtain important documents and reference information.

The development of a therapeutic recreation program within the shelter would be

the best opportunity to meet the psychological needs of the women and children

survivors of domestic violence. Benefits of in house services for mental illness are that

not all clients will go to an outside agency to maintain confidentiality and avoid the taboo

of being a victim in a domestic violence shelter. The in house program could also work

with the women and children throughout the day during time between their searches for

apartments, daycare, employment, legal assistance, attending court hearings, and when
 Lipscomb 18

the children are home from school. Currently, most of the day the clients in shelter are

restless, waiting for return calls. The government and community agencies are usually

only open for business Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Within the shelter, after

5pm, there exists no programming, meetings or activities when the women need the

most assistance as well as the children after school. During this time would be an

excellent opportunity to explore leisure interests and develop recreation activities

specific towards coping with the symptoms of mental illness related to experiencing

domestic violence. Many negative behaviors are expressed, moms are stressed,

children scared and the mothers do not always have the parenting skills to cope after a

traumatic event and seeking shelter. Therapeutic recreation teaches coping skills and

prepares the victims for difficult situations outside of the shelter, which could include

child custody hearings, TRO injunction and other official proceedings. The therapeutic

intervention, within the shelter, have the ability to stimulate and encourage the client to

explore new activities.

New positions are created at Hope House through grant proposals. The agency

could begin writing a grant proposal to support a Certified Therapeutic Recreation

Specialist to work in house to meet the immediate needs of the clients served.

Implementation of the therapeutic recreation program would consist of receiving a grant

proposal to add this service to the current services at Hope House. Once approved,

Hope House would then search and hire a CTRS. Only one CTRS would be needed to

train the other advocates as recreation assistants to assist with program implementation

and activities after 5pm and in between appointments outside of shelter. The CTRS

would develop assessment tools to determine interests of individual clients as well as

their children at the shelter and revamp the support group to improve attendance,
 Lipscomb 19

domestic violence and leisure education and the support provided. The CTRS would

work 5 days a week (M-F) with daily leisure education , social activities in groups as well

as one on one. CTRS would work with the Children’s Coordinator to develop programs

specific to meeting the needs of children that witness trauma or experienced abuse as

well.

Therapeutic recreation programs developed for battered women at Hope House,

a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, would meet the psychological needs of the

families at the shelter through developing leisure awareness, social interaction skills,

leisure resources and leisure activity skills. Leisure education (is social in nature) and

social interaction skills will assist the women and children with decision making skills,

and the ability to fully function in their leisure time; some skills learned could include

grooming, hygiene, communication and etiquette, relationship building skills, and

personal presentation (Carter, Van Andel, & Robb, 2003). Leisure resources provide

information about community, family, government and personal resources for a future

independent life. Therapeutic interventions are flexible and can be adapted to fit the

needs of an individual. The CTRS would have to understand the details of low self

esteem, depression and PTSD as well as substance abuse to be able to develop a

program to aid clients in developing appropriate leisure pursuits that alleviate the

stresses of daily life, improve quality of life, and give the clients a sense of self that was

lost when held hostage in an abusive relationship. Csikszentmihalyi (1990) states

“People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of

their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.” Recreation

programs and services within the shelter help victims achieve a life closer to happiness

through alleviating the mental illness related to domestic violence and provide coping
 Lipscomb 20

and social skills when the clients participate in self-controlled, goal-related, meaningful

actions, offering a cost effective means to solving the social problem of domestic

violence.