IT IS ONLY RECENTLY THAT BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR BATTERERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, STUDIED, AND OFFERED PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION. RESEARCHERS INTO THE NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM SHOW THAT THE PREVIOUS PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC MODALITIES ARE INADEQUATE. MENTION IS MADE OF THE THREE PHASED CYCLE OF THE BATTERING SYNDROME AND ITS TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS. MOST THERAPISTS REFUSE TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH ACUTE BATTERING INCIDENTS AND INSTEAD CONCENTRATE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH INCIDENTS. SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS AND SKILLS WHICH THERAPISTS SHOULD USE IN WORKING WITH WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF TREATMENT MODALITIES AS CRISIS INTERVENTION, INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPHY, GROUP, AND COUPLES THERAPY. THERAPISTS SHOULD TRY TO EMBODY 17 BASIC ATTITUDES AND VALUES IN WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES. SUCH ATTITUDES AND VALUES WOULD INCLUDE (1) NOT ACCEPTING STEROTYPED MYTHS ABOUT BATTERING RELATIONSHIPS, (2) BE WILLING TO COOPERATE AND UNTANGLE BUREAUCRACY FOR UNSKILLED CLIENTS, (3) DEALING WITH THEIR OWN FEARS OF VIOLENCE, AND (4) HOLDING FEMINIST VALUES. IT IS PREFERABLE THAT ONLY WOMEN PSYCHOTHERAPISTS WORK WITH ABUSED WOMEN. TRAINING OF THERAPISTS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD DRAW UPON RECENT FEMIST FINDINGS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF BATTERED WOMEN. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)