Following an overview of domestic violence, this book places wife abuse in the legal context by exploring the historical development of the current legal structure and reviewing recent legal developments. Theories about violent families are presented and relationship issues that characterize a violent couple are described. A separate chapter presents the results of national surveys of therapists' awareness of family violence; this is followed by a feminist discussion of methodology problems inherent in the study of battering. Some traditional family systems approaches to battering are criticized for blaming the victim and excusing the batterer. Subsequently, the book presents a model for family therapy in which a violent couple might be treated. The remaining chapters explore treatment approaches, training considerations, the psychological and social impact of domestic violence on children, legal and ethical considerations for the therapist, the specific concerns of culturally diverse populations faced with domestic violence, child custody issues, issues affecting lesbian relationships, and the psychological characteristics of abused women who kill their husbands. Chapter references, 1 appendix