Counseling

If she answers to domestic abuse screening:

No

“I just want you to know that if anything like this ever does come up, this is a safe place to talk about it and get help.”

Yes, in the past

• see How to respond
• Document (see Documenting)
• Is it over (stalking)?
• Has she recovered?
  Assess depression, anxiety, PTSD
• Educate about effects on health
• Refer for counseling and/or community DV services (see Hotlines)

Yes, presently (no injuries)

• see How to respond
• Call Social Services 3-5091
• Document (see Documenting)
• Educate about effects on health
• Assess depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicidality
• *** SW or you to:
  • assess safety (see Safety)
  • child/elder/dependent adult abuse?  If yes, this requires mandatory reporting; see companion websites for Child Abuse and Elder Abusehttp://elderabuse.stanford.edu
  • patient safety plan (see Safety)
  • refer to hotline services (see Hotlines or Patient materials)

Yes, presently (with injuries)

• see How to respond
• Call Social Services 3-5091
• See Reporting for documentation and forms, with written report needing to be sent to police within 48 hours
• Call Police Dept. where incident occurred (call Palo Alto PD at 650-329-2413, and they will give you appropriate phone number)
• If abuser is in building, call security 3-7222
• Patient safety plan for when abuser is released (see Safety)
• Refer to DV hotline services

[Adapted from California Medical Training Center Guidelines for the Health Care of Intimate Partner Violence]