Spouse abuse occurs in 20 to 30 percent of families. Although not all victims seek treatment, some women turn to shelters for safety and security. Few shelters receive government funding, however, and lack of funds limits the number of days women can spend in shelters and the services shelters can provide. Abused women frequently leave their homes in a rush and arrive at shelters with few resources of their own. They may need a great deal of help that shelters may not have time and resources to provide on a sufficiently prolonged basis. In addition, the abusive situation is generally multiproblematic and the solution is not simple. The amount of time a qualified counselor can spend with abused women and the number of sessions available may also be limited by a woman's decision to return to her spouse. A treatment approach is detailed for short-term treatment in the shelter environment that is based on crisis intervention and cognitive-behavioral techniques. The need to address broader social issues related to sex and gender stereotyping and the importance of recognizing the problem of abuse as a widespread social issue are emphasized. 35 references