Marital counseling with violent couples is complicated and challenging. Accurate early assessment is crucial to determine which modality ensures the safest and most effective treatment. Criteria for making this determination includes cessation of all physical violence. Couples should only be treated together if the violence is rated in the "mild to moderate" range. This determination is made by screening for drug/alcohol abuse, child abuse, assault, psychosis, and degree and frequency of abuse. Dyadic treatment may proceed if the abuse is in the expressive category, or the "mild to moderate" range, and there are few or no indicators of lethality. Safety insurance techniques include no-violence contracting, contracting to notify, separate living, and police intervention. Anger management techniques include scheduling conflict, problem discussion shelving, diversion/interruption techniques, relaxation, and dissipating anger. Communication techniques include active listening and conflict resolution. Awareness/insight techniques involve direct education and tape-recording disputes. 1 table and 24 references (Author abstract modified)