The role of counseling in rehabilitation of women experiencing domestic violence and other forms of abuse (A case study of women seeking counseling services at Nairobi Women's Hospital)

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the role of counseling in rehabilitating women experiencing domestic violence at the Nairobi Women's Hospital. The study focused on the type of violence that they experienced, the frequency, how they handled the violence and whether or not the counseling rehabilitated them. Domestic violence refers to the type of violence that is experienced at home between intimate partners. The type of abuse refers to:- Physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental and psychological abuse. In traditional Society Domestic Violence was common for the purposes of taming women so that they do "not grow horns" and to make them obedient and submissive. Counseling was done informally by mature women or aunties or mothers-in-law and women therefore never had trauma to cope with. Today domestic violence is rampant in our society purely due to domestic problems that are mainly social, financial and emotional. The changes in society may make it very difficult for women in violent relationships to seek counseling. The researcher wanted to find out whether those who seek counseling services are rehabilitated. This study was carried at Nairobi Women's Hospital which deals with women's related problems especially rape and domestic violence and offer free counseling services to the victims. This research made major findings which would be helpful in the study of the role of counseling in rehabilitating women undergoing domestic violence. The women clearly admitted that the type of violence included physical, emotional, financial and social violence. This led the women to be traumatized by the violence but physical violence in most cases is what led the women go to the Nairobi Women's Hospital where they received free counseling. It was also clear that women remained in the relationship because they hoped that their spouses would change, but more so because of the financial support and the love of their children. The women remained miserable because most of them had no better alternative than to stay in the relationship which over time led the relationship to be sour and they developed a battered women syndrome which they would not cope with unless a counselor intervened. After counseling women changed their attitude and became completely rehabilitated and more positive about their lives. These women recognized the role of counseling in rehabilitating them and strongly recommended any woman undergoing domestic violence to seek the services of a professional counselor.