Relationship education and couples experiencing violence: Is something better than nothing?

Abstract

This article aims to apply a family systems framework to the practice of couple relationship education (CRE) as an appropriate resource for couples experiencing violence. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a multi-faceted phenomenon that adversely affects the health and well-being of individuals, families, and broader social systems. Inconsistent practices may involve excluding couples who report active violence in the relationship, as CRE is primarily prevention-focused and considered an insufficient response. However, CRE is a rapidly growing, accessible community resource that can be considered an initial gateway toward second-order change for couples experiencing violence. We offer specific recommendations for the practice of CRE, including systematic IPV assessment, practitioner training, resource utilization, and curriculum adaptations. Family systems tenets and existing research related to violence among couples support our conclusion that something is indeed better than nothing.