Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Domestic Violence in Individual & Couples Therapy Webinar

NASW-WA Live Webinar

Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Domestic Violence in Individual & Couples Therapy Webinar

Date & Time: September 5, 2025, 9:00 am - 10:30 am, PST via Zoom
Price: $40/members, $60/non-members
CEUs: 1.5 CE Credits
Presenter: Nada Yorke, LCSW

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Webinar Summary:

Domestic violence is often overlooked in therapy, particularly when abuse is subtle or disguised as relationship conflict. This 90-minute webinar equips therapists with the skills to recognize signs of domestic violence in both individual and couples therapy settings. Participants will explore common challenges in identifying abuse, learn how to assess for coercive control and manipulation, and discover ethical and effective intervention strategies. Through case studies and practical tools, therapists will leave with a clearer understanding of how to respond safely and support clients experiencing domestic violence.

Objectives:

• Identify common barriers that prevent therapists from recognizing domestic violence, including client minimization, abuser manipulation, and therapy neutrality.
• Differentiate between high-conflict relationships and coercive control, recognizing key behavioral and emotional indicators of abuse.
• Utilize effective assessment tools to screen for domestic violence in both individual and couples therapy.
• Recognize signs of abuser manipulation within the therapy setting and understand the risks of couples counseling in abusive relationships.
• Provide appropriate referrals and safety planning resources to clients experiencing domestic violence.

strong>About the Presenter:

Nada Yorke, LCSW, owner of Yorke Consulting, has over forty years working in the criminal justice system as a probation officer, victim advocate, domestic violence expert witness and trainer for therapists, law enforcement, advocates, and other court personnel about the value of working with offenders to stop the cycle of violence. Ms. Yorke is a court certified expert witness for domestic violence and has provided professional consultation for the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) and the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) to develop and deliver training for probation and parole officers who supervise domestic violence offenders. Her research results from a prison program and subsequent community program have both been published and she created curriculum in both men’s and women’s editions and a youth curriculum to help adolescents develop “healthy relationships for life.